Snowbirding in AZ and TX

[geomoore]

My wife and I are considering spending part of the winter in either the Tucson area or Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Can anyone recommend (or warn us away from) any rv resorts in either area. Both destinations are an easy two day drive from our home in Amarillo, TX. 

[tbutler]

We've been wintering in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) since 2001.  We obviously love the area.  There are plenty of RV parks to choose from and they range from the really nice with paved parking and ready storage sheds for your outdoor supplies to simple gravel and dirt parks.  So you can go as inexpensive to as expensive as you desire.  Parks are located generally from Mission to Brownsville along US 83 and US 83/77 and also out toward Port Isabel and South Padre Island.  You can find several sources of information on parks in the RGV.   Selected RGV Parks, Many More RV Parks in the RGV, You might find other references, there are something like 70 different parks.

The cost of living in the RGV is really low.  We now have a lot for a mobile home and can park our motor home on the same lot.  Rent is less than $4000 for the year.  RV lots in our park rent for less than that but you have to pay your electric bill.  You can of course get a lot for a day, a week or a month.  Many people decide to make improvements to their lots and thus rent them for the annual fee.  You won't find that arrangement in every park but some allow individual improvements.  Another reason to go seasonal is that if you are staying for four or five months the difference becomes smaller and if you like the location, the annual is the way to guarantee your lot.

You will find parks that have many organized activities to keep you a busy as you want to be.  Likewise, if your idea is to relax, enjoy the sun and warm weather and maybe make a few friends, you don't have to go all out chasing every activity.  Some parks have heated pools, others have dance halls with a regular schedule of dances.  There are parks located near state parks and parks located right near the beach on South Padre Island.  Some parks are located in or near cities and others are in rural areas.  The RGV is a major metropolitan area with plenty of shopping, dining, entertainment and recreational activities within an easy drive from almost anywhere.

We play golf once a week almost all winter.  There are always a few days when it is too cold for us (but not the Canadians).  If you play golf you'll benefit from the experience you have gained with the wind in the Panhandle.  You will have no problem finding people to join you in golf, tenns, instrumental and vocal music, theatrical performance, and a host of other activities.  Fishing opportunities abound with the ocean fishing out of South Padre Island being the deluxe version. 

If you are interested in wildlife, the RGV is a major destination for migrating birds.  They come from all over North America, some winter here others pass through in fall and spring as they journey to Central and South America.  In addition there are quite a few birds that come from Mexico and are found nowhere else in the United States.  Numerous nature centers as well as the State Parks feature the wonderful variety of birds and people come from all over the world each fall for the RGV Birding Festival in Harlingen.  The RGV also features the National Butterfly Center in Mission.  Butterfly enthusiasts journey to the RGV as well and the wide variety of North and Central American butterflies can be see

There are several college campuses, multiple quality hospitals with many specialists in senior care.  The valley is definitely multicultural and as far as we are concerned, this is a delightful experience.  There are many immigrants from Mexico here, some have been here for generations and others have very recently arrived.  You will find several languages spoken almost everywhere. 

I always recommend that you come south without reservations or with reservations for a short period of time in one park.  Use your time at the first park to go out and explore the valley and visit several other parks to get an idea of what is available.  In recent years parks saw a decline in visitors with the increased prices for fuel but that has now passed and there are more visitors.  The peak time is in January and February, at other times, most parks have some spaces available. 

The hot summer weather begins to abate in early October.  We usually return sometime in late October, family schedules dominate our timing or we would be there in early October.  Our winter months are December and January.  During those months temperatures will frequently be in the 50's and 60's during the day with night temperatures in the 40's and 50's.  There are usually a few days when the temperature drops below freezing by a few degrees.  Last year we had no freezing temperatures and several years ago we had three periods of freezing temperatures for two or three days.  We even had snow one Christmas Eve, about 3 or 4 inches that melted by the next afternoon!  February usually sees temperatures starting to warm and by March days are usually around 80 degrees and nights in the 60's.  April and May it warms up by the end of May we are long gone for the summer.  April generally begins the real retreat of the snow birds, Easter and tax schedules drive people back to their northern homes.  We pack the motor home and head for cooler weather, family visits and exploring the USA and Canada.

[desertdeals69]

We like Voyager in Tucson.  They have everything.

[RKSPAS]

We winter in Hill Country, a laid back western type atmosphere. Fredericksburg RV Park is our destination for this year. Have several friends from Amarillo we enjoy being with. And...Hill Country not that far away!

[RKSPAS]

Oops, forgot to mention, "Snowbird" is a Florida, Arizona term.

"Winter Texan" is the term to use. If ya say "snowbird", everyone will know you're a "Newbie"!!