New to this. Best weather in winter??? Help?

[readytogo94]

My husband is 1 year or so from retiring and we're off after that. We are trying to gather all the info we can to decide where to stay in the winter. We live in Wisconsin and it sure isn't going to be there!

We do plain to travel, but we also are going to be on two social security checks and that's it so we have to be frugal. Although we will take advantage of boondocking, we do want to stay at one park long term once we get t here...and drive around in our car. We are planning to buy a used Class A motorhome...hubby is a mechanic and very handy. We'll have time to fix it up before we hit the road.

So far we have looked into the SW, mainly Arizona. I'm kind of thinking maybe Florida has nicer winter weather, more parks to choose from, and more to do...and I love that ocean. It will be a hard cell to hubs, but with more info...maybe.

Where have you found the best winter weather, the most to do, the nicest people and cheap campsites...all we need is basic hook ups, not a resort. We like the long term rates and will definitely join a club.

If anyone has ANYTHING that will help us decide where to go, please speak up. Every place is an option. We are getting rid of our apartment and will be free to travel. In the summer, we will RV camp out here in Wisconsin by family and, hey, our summers here are cool too.

In the meantime, no opinion is a useless opinion, good or bad. I am very social and am liking the idea of volunteering or working. Both of us are most comfy with down home people who are non-materialistic. We love animals and will be bringing our two mutts.

Thanks in advance for any/all responses.


Pam

[Dutch_12078]

In all the winters we have spent in Florida, I don't recall ever being anywhere, including the Everglades, where we were overly bothered by bugs. The most annoying bugs we usually run into are the black flies in the Adirondacks in the summer.

[Lauren]

DW and I grew up 40 miles west of Chicago and we remained in the Midwest in working lives. We spent a lot of time all over FL. Retired to CO in 1995 and got to AZ first time in late 90's.

Once in CO we never went back to FL and fell in love with AZ - no humidity and less bugs and snakes.

AZ has places like Phoenix area (where we would never live due to extreme heat, pollution and unGodly traffic) to mountain towns like Benson. We moved from Estes Park in 2003 to 25 miles south of Tucson at 3000 ft elevation and can be in the mountains in under a half hour to hike, etc. We look at a 9500 ft peak from our back yard. AZ is desert and mountains - plenty of each.

Been all over AZ a lot in the 5er. So much to do and see.

Yuma has great weather in the winter to be sure and, though not a lot to do in the area, the KOFA Refuge is a great place to hike, drive, etc.

Wherever you choose, be safe and enjoy.

[rockhillmanor]

readytogo94 wrote:

Wow. You are all so kind and helpful.

I hate bugs. And hub is negative about Florida.bWe will see.

So fsr, on psper, Yuma sounds good. We are not looking to spend a firtune. Our entertainment will be walking, hiking, checking out wildlife and birds, shooting, flea markets, chatting with friendly campers.

Hidden gem - north central Florida - Rainbow Springs area. I have no mosquitoes here where I ended up buying a winter home. this area is amazing.:C

[readytogo94]

Wow. You are all so kind and helpful.

We will definitrly try different places, including states that are not as busy for snobirds. I am looking at Alabama. I know people whoblove it there in winter.b

I am guessing we will end up in AZ and drive around to see the ocean ehen we feel like it.

I hate bugs. And hub is negative about Florida.bWe will see.

Laughing at wearing heavy clothes at at 50 degrees in the warm weather srates. in Wisconsin, I dont even wear a cost when its 50. Heck, at 30 I usually to just throw on a heavy sweatshirt.


So fsr, on psper, Yuma sounds good. We are not looking to spend a firtune. Our entertainment will be walking, hiking, checking out wildlife and birds, shooting, flea markets, chatting with friendly campers.

I would live tou be a host. I am a friendly people person. And we need to watch our budget.

Keep the great suggestions coming. We are going to buy a cheap used motorhome A or C as husband us a very handy man and a mechanic.

How is Nevada?

[Busskipper]

pjsky wrote:
Yuma AZ is the sunniest, warmest, driest, most bug free place in the USA. We have spent 11 seasons(six months per year) there and will be going back for our 12th time his fall. I have said that when I die, I hope it is in Yuma because it is as close to heaven as one can be when alive. Nuff said.

Just don't die in the Summer or you might not think your in Heaven:B

[pjsky]

Yuma AZ is the sunniest, warmest, driest, most bug free place in the USA. We have spent 11 seasons(six months per year) there and will be going back for our 12th time his fall. I have said that when I die, I hope it is in Yuma because it is as close to heaven as one can be when alive. Nuff said.

[Busskipper]

Dance Chick wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
I STILL can't stop laughing when I am in Florida and the temps drop to a whopping 50 degrees and everyone is running to put on their winter coats, scarfs, gloves and boots. :B

Well, that's because we have so few chances to wear those cute boots and coat we bought. Gotta wear 'em when we can. 😉

It's a Fashion thing - I'm still sweating from the Humidity and the locals have on these Coats and Boots with the tags on them:B

[Dance_Chick]

rockhillmanor wrote:
I STILL can't stop laughing when I am in Florida and the temps drop to a whopping 50 degrees and everyone is running to put on their winter coats, scarfs, gloves and boots. :B

Well, that's because we have so few chances to wear those cute boots and coat we bought. Gotta wear 'em when we can. 😉

[rockhillmanor]

New to this. Best weather in winter??? Help?

I am originally from the Midwest/Chicago and IMHO, JMHO,...
ANYWHERE there is NO snow, NO blizzards, and NO below zero temperatures.:W

I STILL can't stop laughing when I am in Florida and the temps drop to a whopping 50 degrees and everyone is running to put on their winter coats, scarfs, gloves and boots. :B

[Roy_Lynne]

I think if I were on a tight budget I wouldn't go to Florida, instead I'd been looking along the Mississippi, Louisiana area. We found this cute little town in eastern Texas called Fulton and we might just go back, and there are tons of nice RV parks in the Rio Grande Valley.

[Merrykalia]

I know that many parks in the SE are looking for camp hosts. The duties vary from park to park, so you will have to make contact with them and see what is required of their hosts. Most require a certain number of hours each week, but the camping is free, as is the power, water and sewer and sometimes cable. You will only have your regular food bill, insurance, etc.

We camp host in Virginia and the park designates the duties. We are in the SW corner in the mountains. We get snow, we get cold, so this is not as far south as you want to go. I know that Va State Parks were looking for some campground hosts in the eastern part of the state for the winter months. (I got an email about it on Friday).

Look at SC, GA, AL, MS and LA state parks. These states may get cool and even cold for a few days, but NOTHING like Wisconsin. It does get below freezing on occasion, but not enough to have to winterize if you are living in it. The night temps will get cold, but then the daily temps are above 50-60 degrees. The closer to the coast you get, the less likely you will have freezing temps.

With coming from the snow belt, the temps in AZ may be too hot for you, even in the winter!

[Dance_Chick]

As suggested, you'll need to try different places. As a native Floridian, I love Florida winters, but haven't been to the other winter choices in the winter to compare. I often find on many things whether food, CGs, location, or just about anything, what someone tells me is fabulous doesn't turn out that way for me, or conversely, what someone tells me is awful, isn't so bad after all. To each his own on everything.

[Dutch_12078]

Our longest stay at one park in Florida is usually the month of February at the Escapees RV Club owned Sumter Oaks RV Park in Bushnell. The member monthly price is $340 plus electric for full hookups. We also spend anywhere from a few days to two weeks at various state and federal parks in Florida at very reasonable rates. We haven't found our Florida average cost per night to be much different than it is in any other part of the country we've been to. If you must stay at the high end resorts right on the coasts of course, your costs will be much higher...

[jplante4]

We did Florida last winter. The further south you get, the more expensive it is. We didn't get any further south than Sarasota. If you call around looking for cancellations at the state parks etc, you could probably catch a deal. We averaged about at about $250 per week.

We liked the panhandle, but it does not stay above 70 there over the winter.

We were headed for the RGV when we ran out of time. Next winter trip, we'll probably go directly there.

[Thunder_Mountai]

I would second the Yuma area for weather. With all the parks in there, you should be able to find a work camper position with a free site.