Thinking about being a snowbird...

2gypsies wrote:

samven1 wrote:
I plan on trying Quartzite this year.

I suggest you have a few other backup places to stay just in case Quartzite is not for you. :) It's quite different than anything you've ever seen.

I have a friend in Canada who full times and usually spends winters in Mesa. Says he has no desire to stay in Quartzite.
I'd still like to stop by for awhile and check it out for myself, so maybe one day, we can accomplish this. It's usually summer when we're out that way, so again, may not ever get the full experience.

samven1 wrote:
I plan on trying Quartzite this year.

I suggest you have a few other backup places to stay just in case Quartzite is not for you. :) It's quite different than anything you've ever seen.

I live full time in a Class A unit so I can't give advice on going south for the winter but I can tell you about living in one for a period of time. It is an adjustment in personal spaces and attitudes but doable. I enjoy the ability to take it and go. I'm in Texas and away from my home state and enjoying the much warmer temps than at home. Enjoy the trip and go to a place you just like to be.

I plan on trying Quartzite this year. I did the Florida Keys last year and if you dont have reservations at least 6 mos in advance you wont find any place you can stay for more than 2 or 3 days at a time. But I dont leave until after the New Year because of the Grandkids. Coming from the East coast AZ is a monster drive but its one of the few places I have not been.

2gypsies wrote:
Lone Pine, Death Valley or Big Bend are not considered warm in winter. :)

Ahhhhh, probably not, but maybe better than a temperate marine climate or most anywhere in Wash. state.
On the east coast, you'd be surprised at how many winter in Myrtle Beach.
Just came back from there, where we ran the heat, day and night for the most part and it's not Jan. either.
Seems to be a mecca for Canadians and maybe because of the cost savings this time of year.
Hell, we even refer to Jacksonville ....as up north and with what you're used to, I guess.

Lone Pine, Death Valley or Big Bend are not considered warm in winter. :)

stepdad wrote:
Hey good folks,
My wife retired in June and with these frigid temps in Washington State lately we've been thinking of snow birding maybe next year. The house won't be a problem as my son or daughter can take care of the house while we're gone. What do snowbirds do? Saddle up in October and head south? Where are those little snowbird cities?

Any info or advice will be most appreciated.

~Thanks, John (stepdad)

Quartszite AZ is the mecca and especially for those wanting to live off the grid, but some prefer Mesa that's not all that far away.
You can always head for Southern Cal or the Lone Pine/Death Valley area.
Some go as far down as Big Bend, TX as well.
All this depending on your tastes, preferences and budget.
We did it the other way around and just moved south permanently. We're now known as summertimers, rather than snowbirds, but do have 12 mons out of the year for whatever we choose to do. No winterizing of the coach is required with this method, either.........

Mr.Mark wrote:
John, we stop often at the Leaf Verde RV Park in Buckeye, AZ, just west of Phoenix. This is a major snowbird park and is very clean. This park recently sold to a corporation that was family owned for over 30 yrs

Safe travels,
MM.

There are many RV winter parks in the surrounding areas. Make your reservations as soon as possible. Many of the RV parks are filled with Rver's who come every year. I make my reservations a year in advance. Spring training baseball attracts many rver's. There are many many snow birders from Canada every winter season.

Read our blog for the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. :B Goes back to 2009.

stepdad wrote:
This is awesome! All your replies are wonderful! I think we're sold on Arizona. Also, do folks make reservations for these RV parks before you leave the house or do you just pack up and go? Is there a specific list of all these parks that are "snowbird" parks?

~Thanks, John

You should make reservations this time of year if you are planning an extended stay. However, if this is your first trip you may not be sold on your first choice so don't make a long term reservation until you are sure you will be happy there. Use Google Earth to take a look at the parks in the area. Take a look at RVparkreviews for another perspective and do some research on local amenities. AZ is a very big State so where you choose to go will make a big difference in what you find when you get there.
Yuma would be my 2nd to last choice only surpassed by my least favorite place....Quartzsite!