3 years in the RGV, Then last year we darn near froze in Apache Junction for 3 months, finally seemed to get warm the days we left. No thanks, TOO big, TOO impersonal and mostly NON-RV's. Most folk own Park models and have known each other for years, so social groups have been formed. WE are reserved back in RGV at Texas Trails in Pharr, so we can go back and see our FRIENDS again, next year.
Superstition Sunrise in Apache Junction was nice enough, smallish, all gravel sites and nice facilities. One citrus tree at each site, but although nicely done it resembled a Rabbit Warren and had few RV'ers. Park Model Folk are nice enough, just a slightly different breed, after 20+ years as an RVer, I prefer the company of fellow travelers.
CharlesOK wrote: 3 years in the RGV, Then last year we darn near froze in Apache Junction for 3 months, finally seemed to get warm the days we left. No thanks, TOO big, TOO impersonal and mostly NON-RV's. Most folk own Park models and have known each other for years, so social groups have been formed. WE are reserved back in RGV at Texas Trails in Pharr, so we can go back and see our FRIENDS again, next year.
Superstition Sunrise in Apache Junction was nice enough, smallish, all gravel sites and nice facilities. One citrus tree at each site, but although nicely done it resembled a Rabbit Warren and had few RV'ers. Park Model Folk are nice enough, just a slightly different breed, after 20+ years as an RVer, I prefer the company of fellow travelers.
Don't forget to keep your awning rolled up next winter!
Chris
My Rig
2001.5 2500 STD CAB AUTO SLT 4x4, CTD 4:10's, Bomb'd to Tow
2005 Cardinal 29WBLX.
I could also make comments about how we didn't like the folks in the RGV, how it was too small, nothing to do, no concerts, no spring training, no theatre, etc. You are going back because of friends, and yet you rail against the fact that most people in the park you were in had friends that they socialized with? And there are lots of Park Models in the RGV.
Barb
Barb & Dave O'Keeffe - full-timing since 2006 Traveling catpanion Shadow (age 15) Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS) Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) FMCA - F337834, SKP #90761 Our Blog
Barb Sorry if you took it that we didn't like the folk in AZ. I believe I indicated they were "Nice enough". As far as "Railing" the OP asked for honest opinion. I providede our perspective. I restate my premise, which was pointed out by other posters. RV people are just not Park Model people. City folk and travelers are as different as day and night. No railing intended. If I were to complain about anything, it would be the very size of the PHX Metroplex, the barrenness of the desert and the Nighttime temps which were VERY cold for our tastes. Just my read of the situatiuon. I do recognize that last year was unseasonably cold everywhere, but AZ is not RGV and will never be the same experience. We have also been in FL extensively during the last 20 years in our RV's, no desire to go back there either. Bugs and Humidity and Floridians. Has anyone discovered a cheap way to get our RV's to Hawaii??
My experience after three snowbird winters in Arizona, is that most Park Model owners got there in a RV to start with. They stayed a year or two and decided that it was easier driving back and forth from the North in a car and bought a park model. In most of the older parks these people have been doing that for 20 or 30 years in some cases, and there are long established friendships. They will be cordial to you on the street, but they are not out to embrace a lot of new friends.
So as a RVer, give me a newer park with no or a low percentage of park models.
That's why we are at Canyon Vistas! Only one third park models and most only switched from a RV in the last couple years. So we are still one big happy family!
I also feel that park owners only "use" RVers to migrate the park to park models. Selling you a park model sinks the hook very deep. After you are hooked then rate increases can happen regardly. By then you have your Arizona Room built on and you are not going anywhere!
Baren desert in Arizona - you must not have gone out very far - - it is teaming with lots of different types of wild life, plants, etc., which makes it very, very interesting. It is funny that you feel so hostile towards people who stay in Park Models - - but then I never think of the park as being the reason for our being in an area. It is where we park, put our heads on our pillows at night, and return to for meals, etc. We interact with some of the people around us (including a few in Park Models) but our whole life doesn't revolve around that. There are so many things to do in the Phoenix area, that we never get to do and see all on our list. In contrast, we found the RGV very limiting - I mean how many times can you go across the border for drugs and drinks? Plus, we can do that in Arizona if we want to- - but no good jazz concerts, no good theatre, etc. In fact, if one doesn't spend most of their time IN the park, then there isn't much to do at all. Yes, it was colder than normal last year. But we've been in Texas when they get snow in Brownsville - - not a normal occurrence, but it does happen. In fact, the year before we noticed all of the cold temperatures in the RGV as we were sitting out in the sunshine in Mesa. So, if you don't like Mesa, no one says you have to go there - - but that doesn't mean that it is bad for other people. I'm sure those who like Florida are also not appreciative of your disparaging remarks about them.
dantrim wrote: We thought about Meridian when we were in the area a couple of years ago and went in to see what it was like. The streets were narrow(old school), and the majority of units were permanent park models, spaced very close together. Decided it was not what we wanted and went to Canyon Vista, in Gold Canyon, a few miles further east on Rt. 60. It is still close to the major shopping areas, but far enough away to get away from the noise. Very nice, newer park with a mix of park models and class 'A's, and 5th. wheels. They do allow pets, but do have pet-restricted areas, for those who don't want to be around them.
You must need your eyes checked...Meridian RV doesn't have ANY park models...strictly RV's...
Gold Canyon is nice, but the road (60) is two lane out that direction and sometimes very heavy traffic...
Valle de oro(sp) is very nice combination of both park models and rv's...and just of the 60 and easy access to the 202...The last couple of years we have stayed at pueblo El Mirage and like it fine...although it is not really close to mesa..
Gary And Cathy
'05 Dolphin 5342
Honda Element following us
"The Dolphins"& Pacnats
GS, FMCA 365597 Rallys attended FMCA Albany, Or.'06 FMCA Redmond, Or.'07 FMCA Quartzite, Az. '10...but not again Good Sams "The Rally" Redmond Or. '11
HMM, lets see, 3 months in AJ and never even rolled out the awning once, Yes, I am careful in the RGV while using the awning. I usually pick a site that gives us afternoon shade without need for the awning. First year I made that mistake, not now.
You find me a nice park in Florida which has no bugs and low humidity and CHEAP prices, I will go again and try somewhere there. Sorry if the FL folks are offended, not my cuppa joe.
Now who's railing Barb. My DW LOVES all the activities in the park, I enjoy sitting in the sun, having a beer with Friends and Jawboning about anything but politics and religion. For what it is worth, some of us have done the "Tourist" deal and could care less about culture, museums and theatre.
I was in Mesa, did have a few days where it was cold, but not three months. Wore shorts most of the time, had the awning out a lot. In fact we bought new chairs with cover that comes up over the top for shade for those days when the wind was more than we fill safe in leaving the awnings out. Sat outside with my morning coffee almost every day, top up on the chair so I could read on the iPad.
We were there from mid-December to mid-March. Can't believe that temperatures were that much colder in Apache Junction, especially since we had friends there and often had dinners in the evening sitting outside.
Sad that you "could care less about culture, museums, and theatre" - there were so many good things to do and see in the Phoenix area.
Isn't Florida and "No Bugs" and oxymoron? Sure had bugs around when we were there a couple of years ago. We didn't like it, didn't like being treated as a source of money but we were in the way, so we have found other places we like more.
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, finally seemed to get warm the days we left.
No thanks, TOO big, TOO impersonal and mostly NON-RV's. Most folk own Park models and have known each other for years, so social groups have been formed. WE are reserved back in RGV at Texas Trails in Pharr, so we can go back and see our FRIENDS again, next year.
Park Model Folk are nice enough, just a slightly different breed, after 20+ years as an RVer, I prefer the company of fellow travelers.
Rallys attended
