Well, Donna, we've bounced around for four years now, trying it all. That is what I would recommend that you do. However, we have made the following observations:
The Texas Gulf coast, around Rockport and Aransas Pass, is nice but tends to be cloudy, foggy and rainy. Temps from the 40's to 70's. Also, very little traffic.
The Texas Rio Grande Valley, from Brownsville to Mission tends to be windier, dry, and pretty warm with temps in the 70's to 90's. It is also VERY inexpensive, with RV sites anywhere from $200 to $600 (about half of what you will pay in Florida). There is a lot more traffic here than along the Gulf, but it keeps moving.
South Louisiana is wet and cooler, a lot like the Texas Gulf coast, but, (I hate to say it, because I don't want to start a war), it is also dirtier. Ditches, roadways, and vacant land is covered with discarded trash, debris and bottles. If you like to eat, however, the Cajun food can't be beat. Same with the music!
The Florida Panhandle is nice, with less traffic, less congestion, less people, but it is cooler than it is further south. It even drops below freezing on occasion at night.
South Florida, from Tampa down to the Keys, is the most popular, but it is also the most congested. Temps are usually in the 70's to 80's, and sunny most of the time. The downside is that it takes hours to get anywhere due to the traffic, and the costs are much higher due to the popularity of the area. You will pay two to three times more for a site in south Florida than in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi are all nice with cooler temps, but correspondingly fewer people. Prices are better than Florida, but that is only if you are away from the Gulf coast. As you approach the water, the prices go up dramatically.
I guess the point is, all of these places have their plusses and minuses, but the biggest plus is that they are a lot warmer than where you are coming from - and even if they tend to get chilly at night, you will rarely, if ever, see snow. If you have the time and money to travel the entire Gulf region, that would be my recommendation since you will be able to see what each area has to offer, and what the shortcomings are. Click here to find some RV parks with websites. Pick the state you're interested in, then start searching. The daily rates are always the most expensive, with price reductions typically at a week, a month, three months, and the whole season. If you don't want to travel, and you're looking for someplace to sit down for the whole winter to save money, then research the areas you think you might be interested in (via this forum to start) and start making calls for reservations. Then go down there and watch the blizzard videos on the weather channel while you're enjoying your favorite cold drink poolside!
avan wrote: Our winter preference is Naples, FL - dry, consistent temps in the high 70's/low 80's, rarely windy but often a light balmy Gulf breeze and 95% sunshine. Lots of activities, beaches, golfing, fishing, boating, nearby Everglades. Winter park pix in my sig.
we spend our winters in Brenda Arizona, 15 minutes east of Quartzsite. This will be our 5th year. Temps between 65-73f during day, some chilly nights. Since there is no humidity, the air does not hold any daytime warmth. Yuma is 80 miles south, lake Havasu is 80 miles north. Palm Springs Ca. is about 2hrs. west and Phoenix is 125 miles east. We do big shopping is either Yuma or Parker Az, sometimes in Blythe Ca.(35 miles) We are gold prospectors, so this area is perfect for us. like to attend the big rock and gem vendors in January. Our park is surrounded by BLM land, we have an ATV, as do 95% of the other park occupants. You can leave the park on the ATV and ride for miles. Picking an area depends on what you like, if you play golf, Brenda is probably not for you. We have nice amenities in the park, with heated pool/activities/mini golf/music jam sessions/crafts/ and a few pot lucks on the major holidays. We think rates are reasonable, we pay 1500.00 for the year, and could leave the 5'er on the site if we wanted during the summer. We continue to drag her home. maybe someday we will try the RVG or possible Florida. planning is 95% of the fun..its not the destination-its all in the adventure of getting there! Good luck. Dona
Dona and Elvin
2004 6.0l F350 turbo-diesel/4x4/crew cab/shortbed-wedgewood blue)
2007 Open Road 359RL3S
2004 Yamaha Kodiak 400 ATV
Retired early and ready to see North America!
"Why would anybody spend 4 1/2 years in Omaha living in an RV through the winters? Doesn't make sense.
OTOH Omaha is a wonderful place to live through the winters in a home."
No 1, rent was a lot cheaper and I was broke.
No 2, rent was a lot cheaper and I was not going broke.
No 3. rent was free, and I saved a lot of money over paying rent.
No 4. Never ever said I was a rocket scientiest......................
RGV - GREAT PEOPLE, winter Texans are treated very well down there, the price is right for rental site's. You will not be disappointed. MISSION/MCALLEN AREA
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