Snowbirds looking for travel suggestions in TX, AZ - 2014

[VidlerRVTravels]

Hello fellow Snowbirds!

My husband and I are full-time RVers from Canada who have spent our winters in sunny Florida. We are currently travelling in Florida until the end of February 2014.

On March 1st we will be leaving Florida (Titusville area) and heading west.

Our plan is to stop in the Florida Panhandle a few days before leaving the state(we love a particular park in the Malibu Beach area).

Places we want to visit (our bucket list) include:
1. New Orleans
2. Texas (somewhere in the state??)
3. Arizona (the Grand Canyon) and finally,
4. Nevada (Las Vegas)

Our plan is to cross back into Canada in Alberta in the spring (mid May) so to stay within our 182 days in the States. If the weather isn't conducive to that, we will make an alternate route to return back into Canada. Our final destination is Southwestern Ontario.

Since we've never been out in the southwest, I am asking for help from any Snowbirds, Winter Texans who are in that location to give us some suggestions and help as to:

• what to see (attractions you've loved)
  what NOT to miss
  good camping areas and RV resorts
  possible difficulties we may encounter
  possible travel routes

We travel in our 38' 5th wheel RV and tow with a Ford F-250. We are active RVers, I am a professional photographer and we blog about our experiences.

Looking forward to hearing from any of you who may offer suggestions and/or help.

Eileen

[vermilye]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:
A bit different route is to go north in Texas to Caprock Canyons SP and Palo Duro SP. Not the Grand Canyon but very worth the trip.

Second that Carlsbad Caverns is a must see.

Unfortunately that was the first cave I ever saw. The many I've seen since are all nice/ interesting - but when you start with the world's best first....

Actually, if you are into caves, check out the Caverns Of Sonora in Texas. I've been to a number of caverns, and this is by far the best.

[BarbaraOK]

When in Phoenix area try and get to the Musical Instrument Museum. Another great museum in Phoenix is the Heard Museum - one of the very best museum for Native American art.

Barb

[VidlerRVTravels]

Thanks everyone for some great suggestions. We will be looking at plotting our our trip. So great to be able to hear about your experiences and looking forward to having our own experiences.

Happy travels!

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

A bit different route is to go north in Texas to Caprock Canyons SP and Palo Duro SP. Not the Grand Canyon but very worth the trip.

Second that Carlsbad Caverns is a must see.

Unfortunately that was the first cave I ever saw. The many I've seen since are all nice/ interesting - but when you start with the world's best first....

[Fizz]

I rate Carlsbad Caverns right up there with the Grand Canyon. Don't take the elevator down, choose the walking path.

[John_Joey]

Just something to think about, but both New Orleans and Galveston Island are Cruise Ports to the Caribbean. The major cruise lines go out of them and both are very inexpensive. Sometimes it's just nice to take a vacation from the vacation.

[pawatt]

I suggest following the gulf coast all the way to South Padre Island Texas, along the way explore Galveston Island, Rockport, Mustang Island, Corpus Christie. At the LA TX border get on the Bolivar Peninsula, take the free ferry to Galveston Island & drive on the Barrier islands as much as possible to North Padre Island. The ferries are free and fine for big rigs, the roads are good. You will miss the horrible traffic in Houston. From South Padre Island head North to San Antonio & then the Hill Country then head west to Big Bend National Park.

[Executive45]

New Orleans...remember it's Naw'lins...Ponchartrain Landing RV Resort. Free Shuttle takes you to the French Quarter. Visit the open air market. Take the bus tour, skip the paddle wheel tour.

Texas...from Naw'lins, stay along the Gulf Coast of Texas. Take the free ferry, (2 1/2 miles) into Galveston. Have your camera ready for the dolphins. Take the driving tour downtown to see the tree carvings. Stay at the Sandpiper, (only if you can get inside) or Jamaica Beach RV Resort. Continue west to Corpus Christi then north to San Antonio. Places to stay along the way Goose Island SP..camp on the gulf, Corpus Christi SP. Outside San Antonio stop in Kerrville at Buckhorn Lake RV Resort. Upscale resort, but be sure to go into town and walk along the river. Holiday Express in town has a swimming pool in the shape of the State of Texas.

Arizona...Lots to see in the Tombstone/Tucson area. Grand Canyon..Trailer Village at the South Rim is the only CG with full hookups. Recommended as the free shuttles pick you up at the park and will take you everywhere along the south rim. You won't need your car. Heading east you can follow the "Mother Road", Route 66. In Seligman, eat at the RoadKill Cafe, good eats. Stop in Winslow and "stand on the corner" of Eagles fame. See Meteor Crater. Stay at the KOA in Holbrook. Good base to see the TeePee Motel of CARS fame downtown, Petrified Forest and Painted Desert. Day trip to Four Corners and be in four states at the same time.

If you want photos etc. check out my blog below...lots of pics and info about that route.....PM if you have questions......Dennis

[Ron_Butler]

Stay along the Gulf Coast as much as you can. It's great!! Here's some of our memories from that route.

Pensacola - visit the Navy Air Museum. It is one of the training bases for the Blue Angels, but not sure what their status is now!!

Rockport TX. we love - great seafood. USS Lexington in Corpus Christi. You should also take in Mustang Island (dry camp on the beach, private RV resorts, or Mustang Island SP) and San Pedro Island.

Big Bend NP in TX. - well worth the trip in, but have full fuel tanks and fresh food before you drop south into the park.

Now for Arizona - since we now winter here. Grand Canyon is great. I would also HIGHLY recommend to go north into the Navajo reservation and take in Canyon de Chey - take the Navajo guided jeep tour in the bottom of the canyon. You will also pass the Hubbell Trading Post. It is one of the last true Indian trading posts still operating. Truly authentic Navajo blankets and turquoise jewelery. You could also take in Monument Valley as well.

Also, if you want to spend time in the Phoenix/Valley of the Sun area, Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West outside of Scottsdale has fascinating tours.

If you want to go west into Utah from the Navajo reservation head up to Moab. They have some of the greatest national parks. Canyonlands (3 sections to it); Arches NP; Capital Reef NP - with one of our all time favorite national park campgrounds-Fruita); Bryce Canyon NP - which we think is one of the top 3 or 4 for scenery; and Zion NP.

Of course, you could route yourself through Tetons NP and Yellowstone NP if you have never been through there.

See our hot links for further information and pictures of all of these areas.

Have a great trip!

[jimtoo]

Hi Eileen,

I can't help you much in La.. but there is lots of good food there.

When you come to Texas I would suggest you travel IH 10 through Houston area to San Antonio, TX. There are nice RV places around.. I would suggest Alamo Fiesta RV Resort just West of SA on the edge of town of Boerne, TX. Not a fancy place, but nice, easy on and off freeway, close to a lot of things to visit. And its only a 30 minute drive to downtown SA.

In San Antonio plan on at least 3 days. Tour the downtown area, easy access. Visit the Alamo and some of the old Missions and the River Walk. You can park in one of the buildings downtown, ride the bus all over for one fee, on and off all you want. I think they have 3 different routes you can use.

Then your not far from the hill country, Kerrville, Tx,, Fredericksburg and lots of other places.

Spend 3-4 nights in Alamo Fiesta and move to Kerrville for 3-4 nights at the Buckhorn Lake Resort, very nice place and tour the hill country from there.

Jim M