Possible snowbird next year.

[theoldwizard1]

I have been retired for awhile and now that the grandkids are in school, we are not as closely involved with them. I am getting sick of MI winters (lack of sun more than the cold or even the snow). FL would be our likely destination, hopefully near the west coast.

How do you find a place to stay ? Not set on FL, but the daytime high temps should be in the 60s in January-March.

Do most people head south in the late fall and return for Christmas (can't miss that) or just wait until after the new year.

Last, is 18-24' TT "big enough" for 2 people used to having their own space in a 1400 sq ft house ? I want to keep the size "reasonable" in case we want to take any long trips during the rest of the year.

[pawatt]

Rio Grande Valley, warmest and nearly 500 parks, South Padre Island, beach and fishing, Rockport and Port Aransas,less crowded and fishing, Hill Country, cooler but scenic and uncrowded.

[theoldwizard1]

LynnandCarol wrote:
You should consider south TX !

I am not familiar at all with TX. Where are good "Winter Texan" locations with those very reasonable prices !!

[bighatnohorse]

Same here. Short darker days, lots of cloud cover when not raining and wet weather sends us south.
The weather turns to krap in the last two weeks of September - that's departure time if possible. I don't know how the weather turns in Michigan, but we like to stay ahead of the storms when we're southbound.

National forest campground tend to close in October. It means making sure that we have an overnight spot. Walmarts are a last resort.

Arizona has plenty of boondocking spots - so no problem upon arrival. For Florida/Gulf Coast you'll need to do your own research.

Hope that helps.

[Dick_B]

We normally go for the month of January and need to make reservations at our favorite spots. Now we make them each year for the next year. February seems to be busier than January. Don't know why.
If you are really loose with your schedule you probably don't have to make reservations for short stays. For week or month stays reservations are a must.
I'd start calling now...

[LynnandCarol]

You should consider south TX! We snow birded in FL for 10 years and then decided to try south-TX and never went back to FL. Texas is considerably more reasonable cost wise and less crowded. We are paying $400 month plus electricity, and as I write this on our patio on Dec. 2nd in shorts and T-Shirt. It some times gets chilly and a light jacket is required, as it is sub-tropical (not tropical). Snow birds are known as Winter Texans in TX.

[hatchhanlon]

Your post contained four paragraphs, which to me dealt with about the same number of questions. Because we are on somewhat similar trajectories, with me being a couple of years ahead of you, I offer you this advice.

First, focus on the Gulf side of Florida. You can go to Texas, Arizona, or California, but I believe that South of a line from Tampa across the State offers the best weather and snowbird experience.

Second, your best friend should become RV Park Reviews. Decide what level of accommodations that you prefer, e.g. resort, campground, cost, traffic, shopping, etc., and then do the research. To me, recreational opportunities, both in and out of the park, were important factors and my selection was influenced by these interests. In our locale, you would need reservations six or more months in advance for better or any lots in the months of January and February, but folks start leaving in Mid-March and April is very empty. We pay over $1,000. per month for a medium-grade site on an extended stay plan, but I have friends that camp in areas close by for $700.

Third, since we have grandchildren and because my wife dictates the holiday schedule, we leave the day after Christmas. If it were up to me, I would head South the end of October and come back North for a week in late December. I am lobbying my four kids and DW to hold an early Christmas on the Saturday of Thanksgiving week, and then stay in Florida until April 1. Still working on it.

Lastly, I am part of the minority as far as size of rig is concerned. Although we have a late model 40’ fifth wheel, we travel and stay in a 25’ travel trailer. The fiver is for our three month stay during summers in Traverse City, you know where that is, and the TT is our choice for the winter, due to a variety of factors. We also have two Golden Retrievers, but since we are active outside, the space really isn’t even an issue. We are not big TV watchers or lounge chair users, so you will have to decide what amenities you need for the quality of experience that you are seeking.

Good luck, the search is half the fun.

[NanciL]

Our progression:
1. When the kids were all grown, we got a pop up and did a few weeks here and there and in Florida after Christmas.

2. Then we bought a 19 footer and did the same , but caught in a snow storm one year going down

3. So we moved our schedule to leaving before Christmas, ( all the kids and grand children came to our house for thanksgiving every year)

4. Then one year they couldn't make it because we had a big snow storm at our house

5, So we traded the 19 footer and got a 25 footer and started coming south before Thanksgiving

6. We played the "Reserve America game" every year to get two week stays at a time in the Florida Keys

7. That got real old after a while, so two years ago we bought our own RV lot

8. this year we sold the 25 footer and got a 40 footer bunk house one which will stay permanently at our new site. We came down the first week in October

9. And the kids and grandchildren are booking the weeks they will be staying with the first to arrive two days after Christmas.

Life is good and we are happy campers and the commute coming down will be without towing a trailer ever again.

jack L
Jack L