We are considering going south for the winter next year but not familiar with the parks in Texas. I'm doing some internet research but I'd like to ask for recommendations. Can anyone recommend a park that has a good woodshop and nice excersize room with good treadmills? I'd like to go to RGV but DW is a little paranoid about being too close to the Mexican border so we would consider as far north as Corpus Christi. Thanks!

My in-laws have been in the area during the winter almost 30 years, due to their advanced ages this year they didn't venture south. We have been coming to the same park that they own in now for 10 years. We own our lot and are 3 miles from the border west of Mission on I-2/US83. We are in a gated community as many are here in "The Valley". When people cross the border the last thing they do is hang around here. They head north asap, The Border Patrol catches some at check points on US77 and US281 about 60 miles north of The Rio Grande.You will see Border Patrol vehicles just about anywhere on I-10 and south, so if she is concerned about "US non-residents" being in the area, it's going to greatly limit your options for warm weather. We do not cross the border any more. At one time we would cross a couple times per month, but not in the past 3-4 years. BTW way the weather has been great since we got here in early November, the best we've had in the past two years. The low last night was 64°, now at 11AM it's 78° and breezy. The high temps have been in the mid-80's for the past week or so.

We would recommend the Rockport area and I would be making reservations for next year by the first of the year. The area has gotten super popular and most folks will be reserving when they leave this spring! Not sure about resorts with wood shops?? But the amenities should list these items on their various web pages. Like to visit the Corpus Christi area, but would not stay there.http://www.rockportrvparks.com/http://www.rockport-fulton.org/

Certainly no one spending the winter in the valley has had any "horror" stories of life down here. Everything is normal, just as it is in Corpus, etc.Are there illegals coming across the border? Well, yes. Are they raping and pillaging in our retirement parks? NO! We don't see them. That is not a reason for not coming to the valley. We have great weather. This year has been spectacular down here, lots of activities and festivals for entertainment. Parks have lots of different activities and you can stay very busy if you like.Our park is gated, but the gates are open during the day. We don't have any problems with security, etc. Lots going on, great restaurants, etc. I enjoy sitting out after dark (no bugs) and feeling the gentle breeze, reading, or just watching the walkers and bike riders go by. Very safe to be out any time of the day or night. Nothing to fear.Corpus is nice as well, but I think our weather is a bit better in the Rio Grande Valley. Why not try it out?Dale

Yeah I've talked to enough people about it that I have no reservations about the RGV area but like I said she's a little paranoid. It's just her nature. If I ever get her down there she'll probably get over it. I've been looking at a park called Canyon Lake RV Resort in Mission on the Web that looks pretty nice. Anyone familiar with it?

Teacher's Pet has a relative who used to spend every winter there. We have visited them there and it's a nice park with nice people. They have been known for their Rock n Roll jam there. Sadly, we heard the Canadian couple who ran it were killed in an RV accident on their way home last year. So I'm not sure they still have that Jam, although they do have a country Jam. There are other Jams in the valley and you can visit any of them. I would suggest if/when you come to rent a spot for a week and visit other parks in the area, then you can decide where you want to stay. You might want to do a week at many different parks to see what they have to offer. There is plenty of availability.Dale

Park recommendations? | Good Sam Community

Scottiemom
Nomad
Dec 15, 2015
I would say no need to make reservations. Plenty of availability. We are on the far west side in Mission, but we like it here. Ours is an ownership park but there are rental parks all around us with lots available.

Dale
her_I
Explorer
Dec 14, 2015
pawatt wrote:
Falcon35 wrote:
We stayed Casa del Valle last year and would have gone there again this year if we had gone back to the valley. We had gone to an other park in Alamo for a number of years and liked it there but we got sick of the small sights. If I were going for the RCV for the first time. I would go down with out reservations and go to a park in the center of Valley and check into a park for a week. From there I would check out many parks until I found out the one for us.

I feel that this is very good advice.
X2
pawatt
Explorer
Dec 13, 2015
Falcon35 wrote:
We stayed Casa del Valle last year and would have gone there again this year if we had gone back to the valley. We had gone to an other park in Alamo for a number of years and liked it there but we got sick of the small sights. If I were going for the RCV for the first time. I would go down with out reservations and go to a park in the center of Valley and check into a park for a week. From there I would check out many parks until I found out the one for us.

I feel that this is very good advice.
Falcon35
Explorer
Dec 13, 2015
We stayed Casa del Valle last year and would have gone there again this year if we had gone back to the valley. We had gone to an other park in Alamo for a number of years and liked it there but we got sick of the small sights. If I were going for the RCV for the first time. I would go down with out reservations and go to a park in the center of Valley and check into a park for a week. From there I would check out many parks until I found out the one for us.
pawatt
Explorer
Dec 13, 2015
qtla9111 wrote:
pawatt wrote:
qtla9111 wrote:
Casa del Sol is a good park.

Is it possible you mean Casa Del Valle, I thought the lots were very small in Casa del Sol

Yep, I goofed. I always get the names mixed up. It's Casa del Valle in Alamo. Sorry about that. We like it there.

Yes, I thought it was a nice well kept park when I was last there, several years back though.
qtla9111
Nomad
Dec 13, 2015
pawatt wrote:
qtla9111 wrote:
Casa del Sol is a good park.

Is it possible you mean Casa Del Valle, I thought the lots were very small in Casa del Sol

Yep, I goofed. I always get the names mixed up. It's Casa del Valle in Alamo. Sorry about that. We like it there.
her_I
Explorer
Dec 13, 2015
pawatt wrote:
qtla9111 wrote:
Casa del Sol is a good park.

Is it possible you mean Casa Del Valle, I thought the lots were very small in Casa del Sol
Lots are small there and not much in the way of amenities.
pawatt
Explorer
Dec 13, 2015
qtla9111 wrote:
Casa del Sol is a good park.

Is it possible you mean Casa Del Valle, I thought the lots were very small in Casa del Sol
her_I
Explorer
Dec 13, 2015
qtla9111 wrote:
Casa del Sol is a good park. Typical of most RGV snowbird parks. Very clean and up to date. We spent several weeks there over the last two years. Further east is Kenwood Rv Resort with an indoor pool and minutes to Harlingen.

Victoria Palms has a wonderful pool, jacuzzi and gym with a beautiful club house, no beverages allowed which I don't understand but the sites are a bit rundown.

We have enjoyed Retama Village-Bentsen Palm Rv Park but it is a bit expensive for us. Very nice amenities and the birding center is right there. They have free bikes to take to the park which is nice for exercise and they have a good gym too.
There is a small woodwork shop there. We found all the amenities (including pool)to be small for the number of sites. Very nice sites and rentals.
qtla9111
Nomad
Dec 13, 2015
Casa del Sol is a good park. Typical of most RGV snowbird parks. Very clean and up to date. We spent several weeks there over the last two years. Further east is Kenwood Rv Resort with an indoor pool and minutes to Harlingen.

Victoria Palms has a wonderful pool, jacuzzi and gym with a beautiful club house, no beverages allowed which I don't understand but the sites are a bit rundown.

We have enjoyed Retama Village-Bentsen Palm Rv Park but it is a bit expensive for us. Very nice amenities and the birding center is right there. They have free bikes to take to the park which is nice for exercise and they have a good gym too.

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