We have been on a search for a home in the northeast and have come up empty. We are running out of time and will probably have to escape here till spring next year. We spent winter in Florida a few years ago and I wont get my husband back down there for anything, so in my mind the only other place to winter would be west, maybe Arizona? Love to hear advice on where to go and how to get somewhere to park. We don't mind floating from place to place for the 6 months or so, not sure I want to be parked the whole time in one place anyways, but have no clue where to go or how to find places to stay months or weeks at a time. Mind you we are doing this in a small travel trailer, so it not quite as fun and great as it sounds. Any help, advice or suggestions would be appreciated, not looking forward to this at all. Thanks in advance.

Before giving advice I'd like to know what was wrong with Florida.

2oldman wrote:Before giving advice I'd like to know what was wrong with Florida.Ditto, and what sort of place are you looking for: resort, boondocking, etc.

I agree with the other posters, pretty hard to give a recommendation when we don't know why Florida was such a failure.But to take a stab at it, there are generally three other states people consider besides Florida. South Texas is considered to be the cheapest option with the most marginal weather. Arizona has options ranging from nearly free (Quartzsite) to very cheap (Yuma) to much higher prices (Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix). California offers pretty much the same range with the area around El Centro/Salton Sea being least expensive (starting with the slabs and working your way on up) to the Palm Springs area where monthly rates can exceed $3000. You can choose your amenities in all those states ranging from bare bones to full on country club resorts.

So-Cal has a lot of options, as does Az. and south Texas. But we have considered Mobile to New Orleans south coast area too.

And there are all sorts of different parts of Florida too: Keys, South of I-4, North of I-4 and the Panhandle are all completely different from each other. May as well be different states. There is also a wintering crowd down around Terlingua TX if you like blasted desert....heh.But this is looking like one of those posts where someone tosses something out and then vanishes w/o a trace.

Help with full timing over the winter | Good Sam Community

agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 02, 2019
Bill.Satellite wrote:
2oldman wrote:
Before giving advice I'd like to know what was wrong with Florida.

My guess is EVERYTHING! FL is a horrible place!

Spread the word please and keep some of the 1000 people a day that are moving here from doing so. We actually prefer the mountain west but that of course is because we've been living here our whole lives and are jaded.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Sep 02, 2019
luvmydogs wrote:
We have been on a search for a home in the northeast and have come up empty. We are running out of time and will probably have to escape here till spring next year. We spent winter in Florida a few years ago and I wont get my husband back down there for anything, so in my mind the only other place to winter would be west, maybe Arizona? Love to hear advice on where to go and how to get somewhere to park. We don't mind floating from place to place for the 6 months or so, not sure I want to be parked the whole time in one place anyways, but have no clue where to go or how to find places to stay months or weeks at a time. Mind you we are doing this in a small travel trailer, so it not quite as fun and great as it sounds. Any help, advice or suggestions would be appreciated, not looking forward to this at all. Thanks in advance.

Nearly all of AZ is so much better than FL it's hard to recommend a specific place. There are excellent RV parks in Tucson, Benson, Phoenix, Casa Grande, Yuma and Quartzsite (for a brief stay during the RV show). Too many places to mention. Even Flagstaff if you want a nice blast of cooler weather and work in a visit to the observatory that discovered Pluto.
So many places. So little time.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Sep 02, 2019
2oldman wrote:
Before giving advice I'd like to know what was wrong with Florida.

My guess is EVERYTHING! FL is a horrible place!
pianotuna
Nomad III
Sep 02, 2019
Or, you could stay where you are?

https://forums.goodsamclub.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24160748.cfm Winter Camping

luvmydogs wrote:
We have been on a search for a home in the northeast and have come up empty. We are running out of time and will probably have to escape here till spring next year. We spent winter in Florida a few years ago and I wont get my husband back down there for anything, so in my mind the only other place to winter would be west, maybe Arizona? Love to hear advice on where to go and how to get somewhere to park. We don't mind floating from place to place for the 6 months or so, not sure I want to be parked the whole time in one place anyways, but have no clue where to go or how to find places to stay months or weeks at a time. Mind you we are doing this in a small travel trailer, so it not quite as fun and great as it sounds. Any help, advice or suggestions would be appreciated, not looking forward to this at all. Thanks in advance.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
Sep 02, 2019
WHERE in Florida makes a big difference. I too spent the first couple winters way down south where everyone recommended. It sucked. Giant skeeters all day long and at night forget going outside, humidity, and outrageously and Imho unnecessary rates for what you get packed in like sardines. etc etc etc.

I found what I think is the best kept secret of Florida and down right beautiful. North central Florida, beautiful word class blue springs, clear blue rivers. And Pine trees and forests that look like forests.

I liked it so much. Reminded me of back home plus the springs and plethora of activities, and minus the snow! :)…..Well I just bought a home here.

Soooo, Florida living or snowbirding is NOT just in the south near the oceans. :W
agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 02, 2019
And there are all sorts of different parts of Florida too: Keys, South of I-4, North of I-4 and the Panhandle are all completely different from each other. May as well be different states. There is also a wintering crowd down around Terlingua TX if you like blasted desert....heh.

But this is looking like one of those posts where someone tosses something out and then vanishes w/o a trace.
Tom_Barb
Explorer
Sep 02, 2019
So-Cal has a lot of options, as does Az. and south Texas. But we have considered Mobile to New Orleans south coast area too.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Sep 02, 2019
I agree with the other posters, pretty hard to give a recommendation when we don't know why Florida was such a failure.
But to take a stab at it, there are generally three other states people consider besides Florida. South Texas is considered to be the cheapest option with the most marginal weather. Arizona has options ranging from nearly free (Quartzsite) to very cheap (Yuma) to much higher prices (Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix). California offers pretty much the same range with the area around El Centro/Salton Sea being least expensive (starting with the slabs and working your way on up) to the Palm Springs area where monthly rates can exceed $3000. You can choose your amenities in all those states ranging from bare bones to full on country club resorts.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Sep 02, 2019
2oldman wrote:
Before giving advice I'd like to know what was wrong with Florida.

Ditto, and what sort of place are you looking for: resort, boondocking, etc.
2oldman
Explorer II
Sep 02, 2019
Before giving advice I'd like to know what was wrong with Florida.

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