True North: Reverse Snowbirding Leads to Fun in the Sun
Sunbirds spend summer in higher latitudes
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Each winter, a great migration takes place….and no, I’m not talking about on the plains of the Serengeti. I’m talking about the migration of snowbirds from the cold northern climes to the warmth and sunshine of southern hotspots like Florida and Arizona. But come the summer months, the move is reversed as snowbirding becomes sunbirding, and the cool, clean air of the Northeast, Great Lakes region, Pacific Northwest, and Canada invites reverse snowbirds to beat the heat back up north. Luckily, some of the top destinations in the country await these reverse snowbirds on the move.
Northeast
Take Maine, for example. With its dramatic coastline and succulent summer lobster feasts, it might be the ideal destination for reverse snowbirds. Outdoor lovers can explore Acadia National Park and the charming town of Bar Harbor, while the beaches of Ogunquit and the refined New England luxury of Camden offer bustling, but still relaxing environments. A short drive to the west across the border with New Hampshire, more pristine beauty awaits. The Ossipee Lake area is the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the iconic White Mountains and is close enough to Lake Winnipesaukee for summer resort lovers to get their fix, too.
Acadia National Park. Photo: Raphael Assouline
Lake George, that most classic of American summer destinations, in New York’s Adirondacks, is a must for boating, fishing, and ice cream enthusiasts, while the wineries and waterfalls of the state’s Watkins Glen/Finger Lakes region inspire the kind of return visits that memory-making is made of. If skies bursting with stars, the sweet smell of pine forests, and the inimitable feel of swimming in a spring-fed lake is your idea of summer, the northeast is truly hard to beat.
Great Lakes Region
Speaking of lakes, sunbirds headed to the Midwest will also have plenty to choose from. Door County, Wisconsin, is a particular favorite with its impossibly charming small towns, lighthouses, and seaside cafes that offer postcard-worthy views of Lake Michigan. Lake Geneva, also in Wisconsin, is a bit closer to the Chicago metro area and boasts Gilded Age mansions, estate gardens, and a surprising amount of nightlife for a relaxing vacation destination. For outdoors enthusiasts, the national park scene in this region is off the charts.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
Head to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior or Sleeping Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan for some of the country’s most iconic lakefront vistas and a plethora of welcoming and easy-to-access camping sites in the surrounding areas. The crystal clear waters, great fishing, and crisp lakefront air is the perfect antidote to those hot and humid southern summers.
Pacific Northwest
If you’re the kind of reverse snowbird who likes their summer months with more than a hint of salty sea air, then the Pacific Northwest is for you. The natural draw here is the Olympic Peninsula, and particularly, Olympic National Park, in Washington State. There is an endless array of campgrounds to choose from, many of which offer seaside locations and views of whales breaching just offshore. The Hoh Rainforest, one of the park’s most spectacular sights, is a must for anyone who loves biodiversity in all its glory. Turns out, there’s more life per square inch in the Hoh than anywhere else on Earth!
Washington’s Cape Disappointment. Photo: Dale Nibbe.
For a bit more seclusion, head south to Long Beach on Cape Disappointment. It’s definitely more of a foggy, windy locale than a sun-in-your-face destination, but the atmosphere is unbeatable. Other PNW hotspots include the Crater Lake/Umpqua National Forest area in Oregon, where you’ll be treated to both thunderous waterfalls and stellar views of the Milky Way and beyond from the area’s numerous secluded lakes, and the Cascade Lakes Scenic Byway, a 66-mile route through central Oregon that highlights the glacial lakes and stunning, snow-capped mountains of the Cascade Range.
Canada
If Maine or Washington are somehow still too summery for you, there’s always Canada, that incredible expanse of diverse environments and ever-friendly locals known as the Great White North. For one, there’s the stunning beauty of the Vancouver area, including the sprawling Golden Ears Provincial Park, where you can canoe among towering hemlock forests or simply sit by a babbling river and watch a bald eagle hunt for fish while the world rolls by. Near the country’s opposite end is the Thousand Islands region straddling the Ontario-New York border. Known for its incredible scenic beauty and ornate mansions, it’s a must for outdoors and history lovers alike.
Photo: Meritt Thomas
Be sure to make time for a craft brewery tasting session, one of the region’s most enjoyable and delicious claims to fame. If its high drama you’re after, Canada doesn’t disappoint. It’s no surprise that many RVers cite the glacial lakes and rugged mountains of Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta as among the most magnificent views they’ve ever seen, while others prefer the expansive Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick for their larger-than-life vistas. Combined with a Prince Edward Island road trip, you’ve got the makings of an unforgettable Canadian adventure.
Greg Donahue
James Donahue is a writer and outdoors enthusiast whose travels have taken him to 45 states and nearly as many countries around the world. When he's not hiking, biking, or fly fishing (or writing about all three), you can usually find him exploring the beaches up and down the East Coast with his wife and daughter.
