alba
N.B.
New Member
Joined: 03/24/2008
View Profile
 Offline
|
Hello:
We are first timers. We hope to spend next winter in south Texas or Arizona(Tucson). Duplicate bridge and pet tolerance are the main criteria.
Thanks
|
answerswillvary
eastern washington
Moderator
Joined: 10/22/2003
View Profile
 Online
|
Moved from Campgrounds, Resorts and Attractions
Check out the RV.NET BLOGS at blog.rv.net
|
pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
Moderator
Joined: 01/19/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
alba, Welcome to the RV.NET forums & the snowbird lifestyle. You will get much good advise & information here.
In order to help you better it would be good to list some more specific wants & interests and possibly a price range.
We are completing our 4th year in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas & have quite a good knowledge of this area. There are about 700 RV/Mobile parks in this area ranging from basic to deluxe.
Other members are knowledgeable in AZ area parks. The bigger snowbird areas in AZ are Apache Junction, Yuma & Quartzite
* This post was
edited 03/27/08 07:36am by pawatt *
|
alba
N.B.
New Member
Joined: 03/24/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Hello again:
I omitted to ask for information about rv parks in these areas. My wife loves to play duplicate bridge and I enjoy walking my dogs and just being outdoors.
thanks
|
NevadaJim
Minden Nevada U.S.A.
Senior Member
Joined: 11/04/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
You might look into the Voyager in Tucson they have what you are looking for plus a lot more they do have a web site with pictures sites are close but the way they park you this does not seem to be a problem. That said we like it and have been there for the last 4 winters. Have fun
JimandJerry@charter.net
|
|
|
karmasasha
st paul minnesota , usa
Senior Member
Joined: 02/22/2004
View Profile
|
Welcome to RV. Net and the Snowbirds forum!
I loved the Tucson area when I traveled out there one winter. Because of gas prices and the longer distance for me coming from Minnesota I will probably return to Texas (first winter was 1997)
I have never stayed in the RGV but rather a short distance up the coast in the Corpus Christi area. This coming winter I am hoping to get a reservation at the Sand Dollar in the Rockport, TX area or at a campground on Baffin Bay. I have to wait until the end of this month to ensure the regular returnees have first dibs. (my Mexico trip may be postponed re fuel costs)
What ever you choose in Texas I think you will find it so very interesting in its multiple terrains that you will want to return.
Have a great day, Andrea
Andrea and Rommel the large gentle Rottie
Inga, my 1989 Winnebago Class A 27 ft (454 P30) with 100,000+ miles and going strong!
|
pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
Moderator
Joined: 01/19/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
If you decide on south Texas There are 3 primary snowbird or (Winter Texan Areas)
I will write a bit about each as I get time.
The Rockport, Fulton, Port Aransas area is just north of Corpus Christi and fronts on the gulf coast.
Port Aransas is on the north end of North Padre Island & accessible by free ferry at Aransas Pass or by bridge from Corpus Christi. There are several RV parks here & Mustang Island State Park. Some areas permit free camping on the beach. There are many fishing opportunities by pier, surf fishing & charter boat. There are many areas to walk and drive on the beach. At some times of the year there is quite a bit of seaweed and litter on the beach. This area is not very busy & the traffic is usually not bad. The area is often windy and blowing sand from the dunes can be aggravating. The temperatures are usually a few degrees cooler than the Rio Grande Valley. If you like fishing or walking the beach this may be your paradise.
If you prefer the mainland Aransas Pass also has fishing and a few RV parks on the bay side.
The most RV parks in this area are located in the Rockport/Fulton area. They are many parks to chose from and not all are listed on the web so it is good to do some research here. Some are very nice and have many planned activities every day, some are not so nice. Rockport and Fulton are on the bay side of the island and the water is not as clean here, there really are no sandy beaches but the fishing is often good. There are also more restaurants in this area. You can get some good seafood here, both fresh off the boats and at restaurants. The closest larger city is Corpus Christi. The Texas State Fishing Pier is here and I think it is over a mile long. Goose Island State Park is also close by.
This is not a busy area so traffic is seldom a problem. This area is also several degrees cooler than the Rio Grande Valley & can be windy & damp at times. The terrain is mostly flat coastal plain.
* This post was
edited 03/26/08 12:20pm by pawatt *
|
pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
Moderator
Joined: 01/19/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
By far the biggest snowbird or Winter Texan area in Texas is the Rio Grande Valley.
The local chamber said 150,000 Winter Texans spent the winter in the Valley this winter.
The Rio Grande Valley is located at the far south tip of Texas and is nearly as far south as Miami FL. It stretches from South Padre Island west to Rio Grande City and borders the Rio Grande River & Mexico to the south. Some cities in this area include Brownsville, Harlingen, Donna, Weslaco, Alamo, Pharr, Edinburg, McAllen, Mission & more.
There are about 700 RV & mobile parks in the area. Some are deluxe resorts with indoor & out door swimming pools, and so many planned activities you couldn’t possibly participate in half of them. Others are just a basic place to park. Prices are reasonable ranging from under $200.00 a month to about $650.00 a month plus electric.
The selection of dining and entertainment is unlimited with many entertainers from Branson & other northern areas spending the winters in the Valley. There is also much local Country Western & Mexican entertainment.
Golf courses are plentiful and reasonable.
Fresh fruit and produce is plentiful at farmers markets, flea markets and at roadside stands. You may even have a grapefruit, orange or lemon tree on your RV lot. If you like flea markets they can be found every day of the week. If you are a birder the Rio Grande Valley is the location of the World Birding Center with 100’s of varieties of birds wintering in the area. There are also several state parks, wildlife refuges and a butterfly park.
There is good access to every kind of medical care but the waits are often long.
The cost of living in this area is among the lowest in the country. There is easy access to Mexico for shopping, dining and entertainment. Many Winter Texans even get their dental work done and buy their medicine in Mexico at very reasonable costs.
The terrain is mostly flat costal plain much not more than 100 feet above sea level.
There are many tropical trees, plants an flowers but some say the scenery is unattractive.
The most common negatives I hear are that it is too windy and dusty. The traffic can be heavy. There are many poor and run down neighborhoods. There are also many reports of drug and other smuggling in the area.
The western Valley generally has better weather than the costal areas, less wind, less rain and fog and a few degrees warmer.
|
pawatt
Brainerd MN / Mission TX
Moderator
Joined: 01/19/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
alba,
re your question about dogs being allowed. Most all RV parks in Texas allow dogs. BUT most also have restrictions.
Common pet restrictions are:
No more than 2 dogs and not over 20 pounds each.
Certain breeds that are considered aggressive are not allowed.
Some parks restrict dogs to certain areas of the park.
Problem barkers may be asked to leave.
All require that you clean up after your pets.
If your dogs are over 20 pounds ask even if they have a size limit because many parks will make an exception for size with a well behaved dog.
|
Ron & Shirley
Lake of the Ozarks Missouri / Donna Texas Winter
Senior Member
Joined: 12/13/2004
View Profile
|
pawatt wrote:alba,
re your question about dogs being allowed. Most all RV parks in Texas allow dogs. BUT most also have restrictions.
Common pet restrictions are:
No more than 2 dogs and not over 20 pounds each.
Certain breeds that are considered aggressive are not allowed.
Some parks restrict dogs to certain areas of the park.
Problem barkers may be asked to leave.
All require that you clean up after your pets.
If your dogs are over 20 pounds ask even if they have a size limit because many parks will make an exception for size with a well behaved dog.
Our Park has a dog weight limit of 35 pounds. But then again I have never seen anyone with a scale weighing dogs. There are many "nice" dogs in our park who carry their 35 pounds well.   
Shirley
Ron & Shirley
2005 Itasca 37B Suncruiser W24 Workhorse Chassis
To Discover New Oceans We Must Lose Sight Of The Shore
|
|
|
