If you've never been in a snowbird park, you'll be amazed at the number of activities which are offered. Swimming, dancing, rockhounding, lapidary, crafts of all varieties, etc. But if you're not going to use these facilities, you can get by for a lot less. Rates can be from $50 to $350 per month.
Do some experimenting before you settle into one place. When you eventually choose one spot, and return year after year, you'll LOVE going back and seeing your old friends again. You have a ready made community.
About Florida: It is very different from place to place. Key West is unique. And it has the best climate. It's expensive and it's jammed. Not only traffic jams, but people jams. Everyone should try it once. In the central and northern part, you may find some freezing weather. The Florida Panhandle has fantastic beaches and great seafood (Alligator Point), but it can get quite cold. There aren't many snowbird spots on the Atlantic coast. The central part of Florida has the least expensive parks -- some advertising $99 per month. But these are not necessarily top of the line. Very few of the parks are actually "on" the beaches. Some advertise "near beaches" -- but "near" might be a bit further than you'd like. Note: Florida isn't friendly to dogs! State Parks won't allow them. Also, a disadvantage of Florida is the humidity; and in some places its quite buggy.
Lower Rio Grande Valley: If you like the coast, do South Padre Island. Lots of fish markets and fishing. Also, the produce is grown nearby.
Arizona: Mesa and Yuma are the high spots. In Arizona, you'll find people from all over, but a high concentration of nice folks from the Pacific Northwest. Yuma is great, but it is located near an air base. So there is a noise factor. If you don't like jet airplanes, stay out of Yuma. You can go just a bit east and be away from it. Sun Vista is one of the top parks. Mesa has lots of huge parks. But all around Phoenix there are lots of places. Tucson has nice parks, though it's a few degrees cooler than Phoenix. Yuma has two great boondocking areas. Quartzsite has 50,000 RV sites, most having minimal or no services. The Imperial dam area, especially the Senator Wash area, is actually in California, but it relates to the Arizona area.
Southern California: Boondocking is favored at "the Slabs", near Niland. El Centro is another favorite place, though there is aerial spraying and some natural desert dust. Up the road there are lots of parks near Palm Springs. The biggest congregation of snowbirds is in the Hemet area. It is not typical of Southern California. It's more rural.
Tip: The least expensive daily cost is renting on an annual basis. The next least expensive is a "seasonal" rate, which is several months. Monthly rates are more. Weekly still more -- and daily the highest cost.
The Bottom Line Advice:
Reserve NOW. All the good parks will fill up early. So if you're planning on going somewhere for sure for January and February, be sure and have your reservations early. Snowbirds tend to go back to the same places year after year; and they'll make their reservations at the end of the last season.
If you're new to snowbirding, pick your first park where you have a friend. That will help get you up and running.
Before you settle in on one special park, try out as many different places as you can, first. Otherwise you risk missing some places you might enjoy better. Write to the Chambers of Commerce in the areas ou target -- you'll get LOTS of information.
SPECIAL TIP FOR RIO GRANDE VALLEY INFORMATION: Write to: Les Johnson, Route 7, Box 508, Harlingen, TX 78552 . He has two outstanding publications for RVers interested in the Rio Grande Valley. "The Park Book", and "The Guide Book".
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