Thought I would ask where everyone will be Wintering this year?
We began our slow trek South at the beginning of September from Washington state. The highways are full of RV's and it seems like there are more than ever. It's interesting to see the combinations going down the road.
Our route has included Toutle, WA (Mt. St. Helens), Pendelton, OR (Pendelton Roundup), Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, Moab, UT (Arches National Park), Cortez,CO (Mesa Verde National Park), Aztec, NM (Aztec National Park) and tomorrow we will move on to Santa Fe to see more ruins followed by 9 days at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We've spent half the trip dry camping/boondocking.
After the Balloon Fiesta we will work our way slowly across New Mexico and Arizona. We'll store the RV in West Tucson and begin our 750 mile drive south for our winter in Mazatlan. This will be our fourth year being snowbirds in Mazatlan.
We continue to love the RV/Mexico lifestyle and are looking forward to another warm Winter.
Where will you spend your Winter this year?
Talensnana said
07:40 PM Sep 25, 2016
We will be starting in the Vegas area and then go from there.
laurly said
07:26 AM Sep 26, 2016
After finishing up a great summer workamping in Custer, SD, we'll be wintering in the Central Coast of CA. Right now we'll be staying in Greenfield at Yanks RV Resort. Have family in Salinas, and enjoy staying in the area. Can't beat the weather! Mid 70's for the most part :)
Hogladyrider said
04:28 PM Sep 26, 2016
After spending March thru September in the New England states, 5 months of that workamping at Boston/Cape Cod KOA and then some travels thru Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York we will be spending the winter at our home base in Silver Springs, FL where we own a lot in a 55+ RV Resort.
Next summer we head out west to spend the summer in South Dakota workamping........life is good.
Susan
Fulltiming since Sept. 2015
NWescapee said
07:09 PM Sep 26, 2016
We'll most likely be in AZ, no firm plans yet, too early in the year to head that far south, we tend to move around the state throughout the winter, love exploring "new to us" locations but we have some favorite locations that we just "have to" go back to each winter. Hanging out in northern CA for a few weeks until the more mild temperatures return to AZ.
TRAILERKING said
08:17 PM Sep 26, 2016
We will be in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada...................
LOTS and LOTS of snow........and COLD!
Thanks for asking.
RonC said
08:58 PM Sep 26, 2016
Texas ... close to family.
MarkS said
10:14 PM Sep 26, 2016
First winter full-time and we will be in Denver close to the grandkids for the holidays. In Jan we will head for AL to see the mother. We are only a couple weeks away from packing out permanently.
Barbaraok said
10:18 PM Sep 26, 2016
We're on our way to Mesa, AZ right now. We're outside Morgan Hill, CA with a wildfire over the next ridge. The Santa Ana's are strong this fall. Hotter here (Morgan Hill) today than in Mesa!
-- Edited by Barbaraok on Tuesday 27th of September 2016 12:22:33 AM
legrandnormand said
11:19 PM Sep 26, 2016
Leaving mid October from Quebec, we'll slowly head to B.C. by visiting the Prairies and the Rockies; mid December, we'll head South and spend a month in CA, 2 months in AZ, another month in UT and NE, another month in NM, TX and LA and head back home late April.
dream reachers said
11:59 PM Sep 26, 2016
We spent the summer in Indiana on a volunteer project, We are now in Colorado enjoying the cool weather through Oct. We will travel to Al. to spend Nov. and Dec. with family and then most likely to southern Tx. to spend Jan. - Mar. on another volunteer project, church construction.
monde48 said
04:18 AM Sep 27, 2016
We will spend the winter in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas
Hdrider said
06:22 AM Sep 27, 2016
For the first time in almost 4 years of fulltime we are going to see how sitting in one spot for 3 months fit's with us. We have a spot reserved in Casa Grande Arizona from Oct 15th to Jan. 15th then we will head to Quartzsite for a few weeks. After Q we will just bounce around like normal.
jayc said
07:59 AM Sep 27, 2016
We'll be back at the Inks Lake state park in the Texas hill country from October until the end of January, as we have done for the past 5 years. Then we will go to Mission TX in the Rio Grande Valley for February and into March until the rally season begins.
bjoyce said
09:40 AM Sep 27, 2016
We will be a in the same campground as Barbaraok starting right after New Years.
dianneandsteve said
09:52 AM Sep 27, 2016
Delaying our trip south this winter so I can knock off a few items on my bucket list. Next month we're heading to Tanzania, Rawanda, Amsterdam, Paris and the D Day landing beaches at Normandy. Never been on that side of the planet before so we are pretty excited. We'll spend Christmas with family then start working our way to Quartzite in January then who knows...
Ckerr said
12:19 PM Sep 27, 2016
Maybe we can plan an informal RV-Dreams get together here in Mission, TX. BBQ & ****tails at our place!
Hdrider said
01:49 PM Sep 27, 2016
Ckerr wrote:
Maybe we can plan an informal RV-Dreams get together here in Mission, TX. BBQ & ****tails at our place!
Mission Texas is on my bucket list but have not made it any farther south (in the RV) than San Antonio so far. But your idea is a good one.
Team Murc said
10:11 AM Sep 28, 2016
After spending the summer in Bar Harbor we will winter and workamp at Collier Seminole SP in FL.
NWescapee said
07:13 PM Sep 28, 2016
Steve and Dianne - can't wait to catch up with you 2 in Q, and hear all about your adventures in Africa!!
el Rojo and Pam said
06:27 AM Sep 29, 2016
dianneandsteve wrote:
Delaying our trip south this winter so I can knock off a few items on my bucket list. Next month we're heading to Tanzania, Rawanda, Amsterdam, Paris and the D Day landing beaches at Normandy. Never been on that side of the planet before so we are pretty excited. We'll spend Christmas with family then start working our way to Quartzite in January then who knows...
I hope y'all have a blast in Africa. Hey save a little money for the RC airplane...I've been practicing.
-- Edited by el Rojo and Pam on Thursday 29th of September 2016 06:28:42 AM
dianneandsteve said
07:06 AM Sep 29, 2016
Thanks Dale, Ruth, Red and Pam. After this trip Red I think it will be another year of kite flying for me. I'll just have to watch you and Dave do the RC thing.
jayc said
04:29 PM Sep 29, 2016
Sounds good Carol. Keep us posted.
Bruce and Robin said
08:31 PM Sep 29, 2016
Since we are still a year away from our full time journey, we will be right here in Southwest Florida for 7 months until the Spring Rally in Sevierville, TN. We can't wait, but a lot of work ahead of us.
Bruce & Robin
fun2travel said
08:33 PM Sep 29, 2016
We will finish up workamping in southern Georgia in November. Then work our way west, spend a month in Tuscon, then the rest of winter workamping close to Phoenix. Getting anxious to head west
Neil and Connie said
03:12 PM Sep 30, 2016
North Fort Myers FL…we're here a bit before our normal Nov 1 date since Connie needed some eye surgery and will be leaving right after Easter.
carolinakids said
09:12 AM Oct 15, 2016
Florida, for Dec.,& Jan. then head west for Feb.
Honeydeaux said
09:22 AM Oct 15, 2016
Abbeville City RV park in Abbeville Louisiana for the holidays. Visit with family and friends.
Terry and Jo said
06:37 PM Oct 18, 2016
In our case, and perhaps for two winters, we will be near Grants Pass, Oregon at a retreat center as Ranch Hosts. But, most of you know that we tend to stay in one place for extended periods of time so we can see more of the country in that area.
Terry
legrandnormand said
09:58 AM Oct 19, 2016
This winter and our final one, we'll be at the Heritage Village in Okeechobee, Florida. http://www.heritagevillageflorida.com/english_index.shtml
The following year, we will be on a long 7 month trip, from october to end of april.
mike54 said
08:57 PM Oct 27, 2016
I'm in Mission Texas until April
Sparrky said
04:03 PM Oct 29, 2016
Within days of a Southward travel. Feels like we have waited to long. First time for being Snowbirds. I would rather think that we are sun birds as we are seeking sun. Wondering how it will be as far as warmth goes at each stop and it will take us into December to get to Webster FL and boondock with family till Jan and then fly to SA for a couple of months. Stops in Gettysburg and points South of there.
Rob_Fla said
06:46 PM Oct 29, 2016
I am currently in Ft Pierce FL, moving to Hollywood FL tomorrow, then to Tampa and Orlando in November, will spend the month of December in Tallahassee FL (daughter and family lives in Tallahassee)
Will be in Orlando FL and Tampa FL in Jan, no sure where after that :)
kb0zke said
07:15 PM Oct 29, 2016
Monday we leave Stockton State Park for Cabin Diesel, Big Cabin, OK for some service work, then down to Hobbs, NM by the weekend for a two-week Habitat For Humanity Care-A-Vanners build. After that we'll go to Carlsbad to visit friends, then to Big Bend. After that we'll start working our way back east. There is a possibility of a Laborers For Christ project in Tulsa, but other than that we don't have any particular plans. We need to be back up here in April to host again, then to a graduation in May, and finally up to Wyoming for grandchild #3.
pkhalin said
04:36 PM Oct 30, 2016
We are currently on our last stop (Kingman AZ) before getting back to Lake Havasu City for the winter, where we were last winter. This summer we made a huge loop from Havasu over to Sevierville for the ed rally (which was informative and fun. kudos to Howard and Linda), up to PA, over to SD (to change residency), then back down through WY and CO to AZ. This was our first year of summer traveling. Stayed about a week in each place and did day trips from each. Saw a lot of stuff, much of it historical, and had a lot of fun. It's been pretty good.
Cindy T said
06:40 AM Nov 3, 2016
We're both still working so we're staying in Colorado!
RonaldNC said
09:30 AM Nov 3, 2016
We're spending our second "full-time" winter in San Diego... hard to beat!
Terry said
12:06 PM Nov 3, 2016
We are currently on a road trip to Az from Saskatchewan (Northern Sask.) and plan a lazy trip down I 25. We are currently in Cheyenne and will be in Casa Grande, Az for the winter about Dec. 1st. About March31st we slowly return to Saskatchewan
bjoyce said
10:58 AM Nov 4, 2016
I still recommend that newbies not "winter" the first couple winters. Move around, stay 1 week to a month in different places and get a feel for the areas and types of campgrounds available. There are real differences between campgrounds, so two in the same area can leave you with a very different impression of the area. Also, states can be very different depending on where you stay.
Using Florida as an example, there is a lot of difference between Northern, Central, Southern Florida and the Keys are different again. The Gulf Coast is different than the interior and the Atlantic Coast is different than the Gulf Coast. We ended up liking the Fort Myers area the best, but others hate the traffic or the campground costs. Our second choice is the Port St. Lucie area. Other places we have stayed in Florida are around Panama City, Lake City, Carrabelle, Jacksonville, Ocala/Silver Springs, Webster (The Villages), Tampa Bay, Bradenton/Sarasota, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Miami/Homestead/Florida City, Fort Lauderdale, Middle Keys, close to Key West, Orlando area, pretty much everywhere. In each of those places people were wintering and loving it, often saying it the was "best" and in many cases not having real experience with other areas or campgrounds. The same with the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Only you can figure out if you want to experience Mexico, be close to beaches, have hikes in the desert, do activities in the campground, be close to shopping, rest in rural areas, etc.
legrandnormand said
04:41 PM Nov 4, 2016
Terry wrote:
We are currently on a road trip to Az from Saskatchewan (Northern Sask.) and plan a lazy trip down I 25. We are currently in Cheyenne and will be in Casa Grande, Az for the winter about Dec. 1st. About March31st we slowly return to Saskatchewan
We are also on the road to Florida for sunday, we are actually now in North Carolina with the perfect weather compared to Quebec in Canada.
TheNewhalls said
08:33 AM Nov 6, 2016
We are wintering at Royal Coachman in Nokomis, FL
LandL said
08:52 AM Nov 13, 2016
We would like to travel to Mexico but have never done so. Do you own a home there or rent? Appreciate any info! Thanks.
Russ Ranger said
06:04 PM Nov 15, 2016
We purchased a condo on the new marina in Mazatlan 8 years ago as part of our retirement plan. At that time in our lives we thought that retirement would involve living aboard a trawler in the Summers and living in Mexico during the Winters. As we approached our early retirement in 2013 our desires and plans changed to a motorhome and seeing the USA in an RV. We sold the trawler and bought the motorhome and had our plan in place for retirement.
With hindsight being 20/20 my recommendation to anyone would be to travel and rent a home in Mexico before settling down. Renting is so inexpensive that it is less costly than staying in an RV park in the states. It's hard to know what lifestyle you will decide you want within Mexico until you have tried several locations.
Many love ocean side RV parks, some love living in historic old town areas and some love being in strong expat communities. The options are endless. I'll repeat something that I've said many times on this forum, RV'ing can be done so many different ways and it evolves as it goes. And Mexico is the same way, we continue to grow in our experience here.
Using Mexico as part of our plan has made a big difference in our finances. It is really cheap to live here and therefore leaves more cash available for our RV travels and other world travels. I went for my annual dental cleaning and check-up on Monday - cost was $24.01 US dollars. Many other parts of life are a bargain down here.
Now for the big disclaimer.... Mexico is a foreign country and many people will not appreciate the change of mindset that is required to live here. If you are the type of person that enjoys an adventure and being in a different culture it may work for you. My thought is that if you have lived through the change from sticks & bricks to RV'ing than you are probably wired a little different than most folks. You may be cut-out for the Mexican adventure.
Life is good.... South of the boarder.
LandL said
07:38 PM Nov 19, 2016
Thank you! We are definitely cut from different cloth 😀 We would not be living in our RV. We would like to rent. We think Mazatlan might be a good fit. Know any goo realtors? 😀 Thanks for listening!
jimindenver said
11:00 PM Nov 29, 2016
Anywhere warm. I am so sick of being cold that I'll take anywhere warm, even hot, anything but cold. I leave for the Q 1/1 and will let the thermometer guide me after that.
We use to love Mexico. Two or three trips a years for two or three weeks at a time. The hotel bills were stupid so it was time to buy or see the rest of the world which we tried to. We went back to PV after 10 years in March and remembered why we fell in love with it in the first place. I remember renting being much less expensive and would love to spend a month or two down there or any number of places. Thank you very much.
In Laymans Terms said
07:14 PM Jan 11, 2017
pkhalin wrote:
We are currently on our last stop (Kingman AZ) before getting back to Lake Havasu City for the winter, where we were last winter. This summer we made a huge loop from Havasu over to Sevierville for the ed rally (which was informative and fun. kudos to Howard and Linda), up to PA, over to SD (to change residency), then back down through WY and CO to AZ. This was our first year of summer traveling. Stayed about a week in each place and did day trips from each. Saw a lot of stuff, much of it historical, and had a lot of fun. It's been pretty good.
Paul and Kim, where do you stay at Lake Havasu? We have decided on that and the Parker area for our first stop this coming fall, and are looking for recommendations for the area. Thanks for any info you can share!
In Laymans Terms said
07:18 PM Jan 11, 2017
Terry wrote:
We are currently on a road trip to Az from Saskatchewan (Northern Sask.) and plan a lazy trip down I 25. We are currently in Cheyenne and will be in Casa Grande, Az for the winter about Dec. 1st. About March31st we slowly return to Saskatchewan
Thinking of you today, Terry, as the wind blows 40-60 km, and with the windchill it is -43! Take your time in Arizona - make that a very slow trip home!
Another Saskatchewan sufferer ;)
Dutch said
08:09 PM Jan 11, 2017
We left upstate NY on Monday at 6 deg F. Tonight we're in Ft Chiswell, VA, and the high today was 51, and should hit 61 tomorrow. The forecast high for our Friday stop in Ridgeway, SC is 72. I'm pretty sure we're heading in the right direction!
RetiredVagabond said
09:16 AM Jan 12, 2017
I traveled South from Montana late this last Summer to Arizona. I've been here since Sept 21st.
I'm planning on staying in the Southwest this whole year. Tomorrow I will be moving from Lost Dutchman SP to Lake Pleasant. I'm having my fifth wheel serviced in Surprize, Az, then moving to the Quartzsite area until early February.
BTW: While warmer than Montana, the nightly temps in the desert are holding at the mid 40's and occasionally dipping into the 30's.
Thought I would ask where everyone will be Wintering this year?
We began our slow trek South at the beginning of September from Washington state. The highways are full of RV's and it seems like there are more than ever. It's interesting to see the combinations going down the road.
Our route has included Toutle, WA (Mt. St. Helens), Pendelton, OR (Pendelton Roundup), Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, Moab, UT (Arches National Park), Cortez,CO (Mesa Verde National Park), Aztec, NM (Aztec National Park) and tomorrow we will move on to Santa Fe to see more ruins followed by 9 days at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We've spent half the trip dry camping/boondocking.
After the Balloon Fiesta we will work our way slowly across New Mexico and Arizona. We'll store the RV in West Tucson and begin our 750 mile drive south for our winter in Mazatlan. This will be our fourth year being snowbirds in Mazatlan.
We continue to love the RV/Mexico lifestyle and are looking forward to another warm Winter.
Where will you spend your Winter this year?
We will be starting in the Vegas area and then go from there.
After spending March thru September in the New England states, 5 months of that workamping at Boston/Cape Cod KOA and then some travels thru Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York we will be spending the winter at our home base in Silver Springs, FL where we own a lot in a 55+ RV Resort.
Next summer we head out west to spend the summer in South Dakota workamping........life is good.
Susan
Fulltiming since Sept. 2015
We will be in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada...................
LOTS and LOTS of snow........and COLD!
Thanks for asking.
We're on our way to Mesa, AZ right now. We're outside Morgan Hill, CA with a wildfire over the next ridge. The Santa Ana's are strong this fall. Hotter here (Morgan Hill) today than in Mesa!
-- Edited by Barbaraok on Tuesday 27th of September 2016 12:22:33 AM
Leaving mid October from Quebec, we'll slowly head to B.C. by visiting the Prairies and the Rockies; mid December, we'll head South and spend a month in CA, 2 months in AZ, another month in UT and NE, another month in NM, TX and LA and head back home late April.
We will spend the winter in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas
We'll be back at the Inks Lake state park in the Texas hill country from October until the end of January, as we have done for the past 5 years. Then we will go to Mission TX in the Rio Grande Valley for February and into March until the rally season begins.
Delaying our trip south this winter so I can knock off a few items on my bucket list. Next month we're heading to Tanzania, Rawanda, Amsterdam, Paris and the D Day landing beaches at Normandy. Never been on that side of the planet before so we are pretty excited. We'll spend Christmas with family then start working our way to Quartzite in January then who knows...
Mission Texas is on my bucket list but have not made it any farther south (in the RV) than San Antonio so far. But your idea is a good one.
Steve and Dianne - can't wait to catch up with you 2 in Q, and hear all about your adventures in Africa!!
I hope y'all have a blast in Africa. Hey save a little money for the RC airplane...I've been practicing.
-- Edited by el Rojo and Pam on Thursday 29th of September 2016 06:28:42 AM
Thanks Dale, Ruth, Red and Pam. After this trip Red I think it will be another year of kite flying for me. I'll just have to watch you and Dave do the RC thing.
Sounds good Carol. Keep us posted.
Bruce & Robin
North Fort Myers FL…we're here a bit before our normal Nov 1 date since Connie needed some eye surgery and will be leaving right after Easter.
In our case, and perhaps for two winters, we will be near Grants Pass, Oregon at a retreat center as Ranch Hosts. But, most of you know that we tend to stay in one place for extended periods of time so we can see more of the country in that area.
Terry
This winter and our final one, we'll be at the Heritage Village in Okeechobee, Florida. http://www.heritagevillageflorida.com/english_index.shtml
The following year, we will be on a long 7 month trip, from october to end of april.
Within days of a Southward travel. Feels like we have waited to long. First time for being Snowbirds. I would rather think that we are sun birds as we are seeking sun. Wondering how it will be as far as warmth goes at each stop and it will take us into December to get to Webster FL and boondock with family till Jan and then fly to SA for a couple of months. Stops in Gettysburg and points South of there.
Will be in Orlando FL and Tampa FL in Jan, no sure where after that :)
We are currently on our last stop (Kingman AZ) before getting back to Lake Havasu City for the winter, where we were last winter. This summer we made a huge loop from Havasu over to Sevierville for the ed rally (which was informative and fun. kudos to Howard and Linda), up to PA, over to SD (to change residency), then back down through WY and CO to AZ. This was our first year of summer traveling. Stayed about a week in each place and did day trips from each. Saw a lot of stuff, much of it historical, and had a lot of fun. It's been pretty good.
We're both still working so we're staying in Colorado!
Using Florida as an example, there is a lot of difference between Northern, Central, Southern Florida and the Keys are different again. The Gulf Coast is different than the interior and the Atlantic Coast is different than the Gulf Coast. We ended up liking the Fort Myers area the best, but others hate the traffic or the campground costs. Our second choice is the Port St. Lucie area. Other places we have stayed in Florida are around Panama City, Lake City, Carrabelle, Jacksonville, Ocala/Silver Springs, Webster (The Villages), Tampa Bay, Bradenton/Sarasota, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Miami/Homestead/Florida City, Fort Lauderdale, Middle Keys, close to Key West, Orlando area, pretty much everywhere. In each of those places people were wintering and loving it, often saying it the was "best" and in many cases not having real experience with other areas or campgrounds. The same with the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Only you can figure out if you want to experience Mexico, be close to beaches, have hikes in the desert, do activities in the campground, be close to shopping, rest in rural areas, etc.
We are also on the road to Florida for sunday, we are actually now in North Carolina with the perfect weather compared to Quebec in Canada.
We are wintering at Royal Coachman in Nokomis, FL
We would like to travel to Mexico but have never done so. Do you own a home there or rent? Appreciate any info! Thanks.
With hindsight being 20/20 my recommendation to anyone would be to travel and rent a home in Mexico before settling down. Renting is so inexpensive that it is less costly than staying in an RV park in the states. It's hard to know what lifestyle you will decide you want within Mexico until you have tried several locations.
Many love ocean side RV parks, some love living in historic old town areas and some love being in strong expat communities. The options are endless. I'll repeat something that I've said many times on this forum, RV'ing can be done so many different ways and it evolves as it goes. And Mexico is the same way, we continue to grow in our experience here.
Using Mexico as part of our plan has made a big difference in our finances. It is really cheap to live here and therefore leaves more cash available for our RV travels and other world travels. I went for my annual dental cleaning and check-up on Monday - cost was $24.01 US dollars. Many other parts of life are a bargain down here.
Now for the big disclaimer.... Mexico is a foreign country and many people will not appreciate the change of mindset that is required to live here. If you are the type of person that enjoys an adventure and being in a different culture it may work for you. My thought is that if you have lived through the change from sticks & bricks to RV'ing than you are probably wired a little different than most folks. You may be cut-out for the Mexican adventure.
Life is good.... South of the boarder.
We use to love Mexico. Two or three trips a years for two or three weeks at a time. The hotel bills were stupid so it was time to buy or see the rest of the world which we tried to. We went back to PV after 10 years in March and remembered why we fell in love with it in the first place. I remember renting being much less expensive and would love to spend a month or two down there or any number of places. Thank you very much.
Paul and Kim, where do you stay at Lake Havasu? We have decided on that and the Parker area for our first stop this coming fall, and are looking for recommendations for the area. Thanks for any info you can share!
Thinking of you today, Terry, as the wind blows 40-60 km, and with the windchill it is -43! Take your time in Arizona - make that a very slow trip home!
Another Saskatchewan sufferer ;)
We left upstate NY on Monday at 6 deg F. Tonight we're in Ft Chiswell, VA, and the high today was 51, and should hit 61 tomorrow. The forecast high for our Friday stop in Ridgeway, SC is 72. I'm pretty sure we're heading in the right direction!
I'm planning on staying in the Southwest this whole year. Tomorrow I will be moving from Lost Dutchman SP to Lake Pleasant. I'm having my fifth wheel serviced in Surprize, Az, then moving to the Quartzsite area until early February.
BTW: While warmer than Montana, the nightly temps in the desert are holding at the mid 40's and occasionally dipping into the 30's.