LPD218 Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Hello, The wife and I are looking to becoming "Snow Birds" this winter and are looking for recommendations for a two month stay to get away from the Midwest winters. We are looking for fairly nice pad sites and understand that grass may not be an option. We have four small dogs. Does not need to be a resort location. We prefer the Southwest as opposed to the Gulf Coast and Florida areas. Any recommendation are appreciated! Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis M Posted August 24, 2015 Report Share Posted August 24, 2015 Desert Trails in SW Tucson is a very friendly park that is dog friendly as well - two dog runs, one for large dogs, one for smaller. Sites are gravel, not pads. Tucson winter weather features cool night and warm days with very little rain. We will be spending our 7th winter in our regular spot at Desert Trails this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPD218 Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks, I am making a list of suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill w/bus Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Rio Grande Valley. Drier than Florida and Gulf Coast. Fewer bugs. Less cost for camping. In our campground, with all the amenities, for a two month stay you are looking at about $14-15/per day. You can get a lot less expensive but its just a parking spot. We have been in Florida 3 winters, Southwest 1 winter and now three in the RGV. Like the RGV the best. Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theeyres Posted August 27, 2015 Report Share Posted August 27, 2015 x2 for Desert Trails out of Tucson. Wintered there several years until we hung up the keys and bought a s&b in Green Valley, just below Tucson. If you want a more hectic life, the Phoenix/Mesa area is fine, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinseypw Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Warmest, driest spot by far is Yuma. We boondock so I cant suggest a park but there are tons there. When Phoenix got snow last winter we got 58 degrees and a few showers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I am making a list of suggestions. That is by far the best idea. We never wintered in the same place two years in a row, except for the first two, which we learned from. Why live in a home with wheels, if all you ever do is to go to the same places over and over? And how can you know that you have found the place that you like best if you have not spent time in all places? We spent 3 winters in AZ in 3 different areas, 2 in FL in different locations, 1 in LA, 3 in TX, and almost no repeats after the first 2 in CA and those were the only times we spent consecutive seasons in the same location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbaraok Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 Deleted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Joyce Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 I find people vary a lot in what works for them, so getting around is the only way to tell. Many love places we don't, many hate places we love. We have spent winters or parts of winters all over Florida, Texas, Arizona and California for 12 years. For us we have two snowbird places we love, Fort Myers Florida and Mesa Arizona, and many other places we do not love. But, we would not have found those places without traveling everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lots2see Posted August 29, 2015 Report Share Posted August 29, 2015 OK. Tongue in cheek. There are two extremes as for where to spend some time Snowbirding. At the extreme low cost end you will have a place to park with hookups and not much else. The nearest grocery store and other services will be 10 miles away - if you are lucky. At the other extreme will be a place that rousts you out at 6 a.m. ever morning with a full day's itenary guaranteed to keep you busy until they play Taps at 10 p.m. that night. Of course you can opt out of certain activities on select days with approval of the entertainment committee. After all you are paying for all those activities and they want you to get your moneys worth. So would you rather be out camping in a lonely national forest all by yourself or do your interests lean more towards Times Square at New Years? Or maybe something in between. There's a Snowbird campground for everybody. You just have to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D&J Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Where ever you go be sure to tell them you have 4 dogs upfront not after you get there, I'm not against dogs because we travel with two but many CG will only take two. Denny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richfaa Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Just my opinion ..try different areas out.. We first went to the SW for the winter Apache Junction. Very nice and had a good winter but we did not care for the desert environment. Snowbird friends talked us into trying Florida in the Disneyworld area. It was perfect. We still travel around but we prefer Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted August 30, 2015 Report Share Posted August 30, 2015 Yes I agree ...try different areas out. We tried coastal areas and find we prefer the desert...so as you can see we are all different. You might find that 4 small dogs could be an issue with some rv parks so make sure you check that out as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave O Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Where ever you go be sure to tell them you have 4 dogs upfront not after you get there, I'm not against dogs because we travel with two but many CG will only take two. Denny The 2 dog max and no "vicious breeds" is what Desert Trails has listed on their website. Dave O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phaeton10 Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 With 4 dogs, you are going to find out you are not welcome in most RV parks. I have heard of a family that had 4 and they all looked the same. They took 2 out at a time and got away with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reed and elaine Posted August 31, 2015 Report Share Posted August 31, 2015 Arizona, California and New Mexico have a huge amount of BLM and Forest Service lands where you can happily boondock for nothing. There are no hookups of course and do not suggest that you try this full time; however, you might want to try it for a few days to a week at a time to see if it is something you might enjoy. We spent two weeks with a fellow boondocking couple north of Silver City and about 5 km south of the Gila River and saw no one except the rancher who had Taylor Grazing rights in that time frame. You do have to be aware of Coyotes and Javelina with small dogs. Reed and Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeldog Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 We keep a 5th wheel year around in Bouse, AZ and fly back and forth. Been going there for about 8 years. The campground isn't for everyone, but we love it there. We have lots of friends and look forward to meeting back up with them every winter. It is mostly "blue collar" types. The biggest/most popular activity is wandering around the desert on quads. Most everyone there has some type of off road vehicle. Bouse has a couple of "general stores" however, the nearest "shopping" (Walmart,Safeway) is 25 miles away in Parker. The place has few amenities, just clubhouse, restrooms with free showers and laundry. Your dogs would be welcome there, many folks buy those portable fences to put around their lot for the dogs to play. The park is inexpensive to stay at. It has full hook-ups and they deliver propane to you site if you leave your bottles out. They are usually full in Jan & Feb so you need to reserve early. http://www.desertpueblorv.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheeldog Posted September 2, 2015 Report Share Posted September 2, 2015 Oops.....deleted double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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