S.W. Florida filling up.

pawatt wrote:

fchammer1 wrote:
Having experienced both the RGV and SW Florida, I feel qualified to compare the two. First, lay aside two arguments: both have many wonderful restaurants with many wonderful offerings, and both have a plethora of activities and attractions to entice snowbirds. Not much difference there.

Two big differences are the temperatures and the winds. The RGV is colder -- much colder. In the RGV, you're going to go from coats in the mornings to T-shirts in the afternoon -- provided it warms up that particular day. If not, shiver. In Florida, shorts and T's make up the uniform 24/7.

I bike regularly, but never in Florida have I had the RGV experience of wind so strong that my bike and I traveled 1/10 of a mile without pedaling once. It then took me 20 minutes to push my bike back to the starting place. Ugh!

Ever had a cookout & picnic outside in the RGV? Where are the picnic tables? Nope? Not at Tropic Winds in Harlingen! Why? Too windy is the answer. Check the RV awnings in the RGV. Did you ever see so many ways to tie down and secure awnings against the daily winds?

If your idea of an idyllic snowbird experience is enjoying a gentle breeze while sitting under a palm tree with a book in one hand and a cold drink in the other, Florida is the place to be.

If economics guide your choices, remember that central Florida rivals the RGV in costs, but also remember that you generally get what you pay for in both places. Cheap beer is available if that's your choice. So is the RGV.

Having spent 12 seasons in the RGV I find this to be very inaccurate.

I think one's viewpoint is swayed by the type of snowbird you are. One that is mobile and living out of a moving RV will have hammer's viewpoint. One that is not so mobile that can build structures to negate the wind and cooler temps will have another.

fchammer1 wrote:
Having experienced both the RGV and SW Florida, I feel qualified to compare the two. First, lay aside two arguments: both have many wonderful restaurants with many wonderful offerings, and both have a plethora of activities and attractions to entice snowbirds. Not much difference there.

Two big differences are the temperatures and the winds. The RGV is colder -- much colder. In the RGV, you're going to go from coats in the mornings to T-shirts in the afternoon -- provided it warms up that particular day. If not, shiver. In Florida, shorts and T's make up the uniform 24/7.

I bike regularly, but never in Florida have I had the RGV experience of wind so strong that my bike and I traveled 1/10 of a mile without pedaling once. It then took me 20 minutes to push my bike back to the starting place. Ugh!

Ever had a cookout & picnic outside in the RGV? Where are the picnic tables? Nope? Not at Tropic Winds in Harlingen! Why? Too windy is the answer. Check the RV awnings in the RGV. Did you ever see so many ways to tie down and secure awnings against the daily winds?

If your idea of an idyllic snowbird experience is enjoying a gentle breeze while sitting under a palm tree with a book in one hand and a cold drink in the other, Florida is the place to be.

If economics guide your choices, remember that central Florida rivals the RGV in costs, but also remember that you generally get what you pay for in both places. Cheap beer is available if that's your choice. So is the RGV.

Having spent 12 seasons in the RGV I find this to be very inaccurate.

Having experienced both the RGV and SW Florida, I feel qualified to compare the two. First, lay aside two arguments: both have many wonderful restaurants with many wonderful offerings, and both have a plethora of activities and attractions to entice snowbirds. Not much difference there.

Two big differences are the temperatures and the winds. The RGV is colder -- much colder. In the RGV, you're going to go from coats in the mornings to T-shirts in the afternoon -- provided it warms up that particular day. If not, shiver. In Florida, shorts and T's make up the uniform 24/7.

I bike regularly, but never in Florida have I had the RGV experience of wind so strong that my bike and I traveled 1/10 of a mile without pedaling once. It then took me 20 minutes to push my bike back to the starting place. Ugh!

Ever had a cookout & picnic outside in the RGV? Where are the picnic tables? Nope? Not at Tropic Winds in Harlingen! Why? Too windy is the answer. Check the RV awnings in the RGV. Did you ever see so many ways to tie down and secure awnings against the daily winds?

If your idea of an idyllic snowbird experience is enjoying a gentle breeze while sitting under a palm tree with a book in one hand and a cold drink in the other, Florida is the place to be.

If economics guide your choices, remember that central Florida rivals the RGV in costs, but also remember that you generally get what you pay for in both places. Cheap beer is available if that's your choice. So is the RGV.

There is a lot more to Florida than just the east and west coast. Many RVers (snowbirds) haven't discovered this yet.

ryoung

joebedford wrote:

John&Joey wrote:

sher9570 wrote:
...there is nothing in Texas that even compares to the beaches of Florida...

Very true.

SPI seems to compare quite nicely but I have zero interest in beaches so what do I know?

Shhhh.... Yes, what do you know ;)

John&Joey wrote:

sher9570 wrote:
...there is nothing in Texas that even compares to the beaches of Florida...

Very true.

SPI seems to compare quite nicely but I have zero interest in beaches so what do I know?

sher9570 wrote:
...there is nothing in Texas that even compares to the beaches of Florida...

Very true.

Getting back to the original comment, I noticed that he said his friend tried to book for the month of February only.

Many RV parks will not book for a month because they want to rent for the full winter season. If they book the month of February, that site is not available for an all season snowbird.

If he tries again in January, he will quite likely find a place. RV parks are seldom completely filled up all season.

Pretty much all of Arizona is "beach" except without the corroding salt water!

GoPackGo wrote:
I spent the winter of '14/15 outside Phoenix and the winter of '15/16 in N. Ft Myers.

I came back to Florida because I missed seeing something that was growing and GREEN. I also like going to the Gulf nearby. The Keys, etc.

People will say Florida is too buggy, has too many snakes, fire ants, alligators, bears, and they're right. It's also getting crowded too. But there sure are a lot of people who want to spend the winter down there.

A few years ago, there was so little water in the Lake that the COE restricted when boaters could pass through the locks. They were afraid of salt water intrusion. So everything has a cycle. That's what an 'average' is all about.

Not trying to start an argument. To each their own.

Your absolutely right on all points...we keep going back to the west coast of Florida because of the gorgeous white sand beaches of Anna Marie Island...there is nothing in Texas that even compares to the beaches of Florida...but that is my opinion, there are no gorgeous Gulf beaches in Arizona either.
There is a very good reason for the traffic in Florida, and clearly March is the worst, but if it wasn't so desirable that it grows year after year you know you have found "the place", even with the traffic.

Sher