5 Super Sun Belt Destinations for Winter Fun

Make towering palm trees, open-air dining, and silky beaches part of your winter travel plans. Visit one of the Encore RV Resorts or Thousand Trails locations in the Sun Belt regions of the United States to discover fun-loving communities that embrace recreation and a rich social life in beautiful settings.

With resorts across the United States, Encore and Thousand Trails make it simple for RV travelers to swap frost on your window for fun in the sun.

Encore Riverside, Arcadia, Florida

Discover the Sunshine State’s laid-back side in a resort that sits on the Peace River. Encore Riverside invites travelers to relax in a laid-back setting with a full menu of Sun Belt fun. Water lovers can take a dip in one of the resort’s swimming pools or drop a line in the clear current of the waterway. Boating and paddling are also on the menu, with the Peace River serving up lush scenery at every bend.

Active travelers can hit pickleball courts and shuffleboard, with golf for couples and singles. The social scene includes coffee socials, a dancing hall, bingo and card games, and other planned activities. Guests can choose to stay on a variety of full-hookup RV sites, including pull-through sites. Stay for a while and experience all four seasons by securing an annual site, making it easy for RVers to make lifelong friends and build a real sense of community.

Florida’s Cowboy Country: Beyond the resort, some of Florida’s most untamed regions beckon. Start in Arcadia, which boasts the state’s finest antique shopping district. Then wander up and down Oak St., where retailers and charming restaurants compete for your attention.

The spirit of the “Florida Crackers,” a nickname born from cowboy whips, shines at Arcadia’s renowned Fall Rodeo, October 16–18. As part of the professional rodeo circuit, the championship event puts winners on track to ride at the National Finals in Las Vegas, so expect to see the best of the best give it their all. The event draws a crowd with junior competitions, faux shootouts, food, music, and more.

Encore Miami Everglades, Miami, Florida

Can you find an RV resort between a world-class urban setting and an iconic national park? The answer is “yes” at Encore Miami Everglades, which puts guests in striking distance of some of the most compelling attractions in the Sunshine State. Set on 34 acres amid mango, avocado, and palm trees, the resort is 10 miles from Everglades National Park, 10 miles from the Atlantic Coast, and 30 miles from downtown Miami. Key Largo is just 30 minutes south.

The resort offers much more than a tropical setting. Pickleball courts will keep those competitive juices flowing, while shuffleboard and volleyball also beckon fun-seeking guests. The fun continues with potlucks, regular exercise, and big-screen movie nights. Join jam sessions on the deck or get your heart pumping by following the one-mile walking/biking trail around the park. You can even get a blood pressure and weight check on-site.

RVing guests can choose from a variety of full-hookup RV sites, and annual sites are also available for booking.

Hot Florida Attractions: A short drive from the resort, Florida’s most vibrant city entices visitors with gourmet seafood, long sandy beaches, and a cultural scene that pulses with Cuban rhythms. Visitors might be tempted to hang out on the sand or in an open-air restaurant in Miami Beach, but you’ll discover several treasures in the city’s heart. Explore the Fendi Miami Design District Boutique to experience high-end shopping amid distinctive architecture and color. In Miami’s Art Deco Historic District, neon signs illuminate sleek buildings painted in pastel hues.

Get a taste of island life. Key Largo offers an extensive watersports menu, and its top attraction is John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, a 53,000-acre expanse of Atlantic Ocean waters that preserves fragile reefs while providing a haven for diving enthusiasts. Book a scuba or snorkeling tour with a local outfitter to explore an otherworldly environment. For something truly wild, embark on a thrilling airboat tour of the Florida Everglades. This 1.5-million-acre ecosystem pulses with exotic wildlife that thrives amid sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and marine estuaries. 

Voyager RV Resort, Tucson, Arizona

Stay at a 55+ RV resort that sits in one of the Southwest’s most dynamic cities. Voyager RV Resort in Tucson welcomes travelers to a warm and welcoming community with ample resort-style amenities. Several activities — from sports to classes to social events — keep campers busy.

Guests will find lots of ways to break a sweat here. Sixteen pickleball courts give travelers a chance to compete with a minimal wait, and tournaments give players a chance to show their stuff. Slow things down at the golf course, where a challenging layout and desert scenery make for a fun day on the links. Stay in shape with the fitness center, Zumba class, or indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Afterward, unwind in the hot tub. An on-site health clinic addresses wellness needs.

A host of activities allows guests to expand their horizons and learn new skills. Ceramics, a quilter’s club and classes, glass fusion, and lapidary shops engage hobbyists. Nature lovers can take one of the nature/hiking trails that surround the park.

Reserve a spot at one of the many RV sites, including pull-through spaces. Annual RV sites, vacation homes, and hotel rooms are also available.

Terrific Tucson: As Arizona’s second-largest city, Tucson boasts a slew of historic and natural attractions. Check out El Presidio Historic District, one of the oldest inhabited areas in the country. The neighborhood features restored adobe houses in the Spanish-Mexican and Anglo-American architectural styles. You’ll also find the little city block of Old Town Artisans here. This restored 18th-century marketplace is packed with shops and galleries selling a wide range of crafts, jewelry, art, home décor, and more.

 Saguaro National Park flanks the city to the east and west, home to the tallest species of cacti in North America. These giants can live for over 200 years and grow up to 70 feet tall. Hike or take a horseback ride through a variety of trails to see these mammoth plants silhouetted by a glorious desert sunrise or sunset.

Encore Lake Magic, Orlando, Florida

As the name suggests, Encore Lake Magic puts guests close to the Sunshine State’s central region’s enchanting theme parks. After a day of thrills and chills in these amazing realms, guests can relax, unwind, and have fun at this outstanding resort.

Spanning 67 acres, the well-appointed resort offers guests plenty of fun-filled activities. A ballroom/banquet hall lets guests dance the night away to live entertainment. More fun awaits in the billiards/game room, where guests can sharpen their pool skills or enjoy a variety of games.

A swimming pool, spa, and dog park add to the recreation possibilities.

Stay on one of the full-hookup RV sites, or opt for a cottage (available in 4- and 6-sleeper floorplans).

Central Florida Fun: Known as the Theme Park Capital of the World, the Orlando area is home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Florida, Disney World, SeaWorld Orlando, and an abundance of attractions and entertainment venues. Travelers could spend weeks exploring it all, but they shouldn’t sleep on some of Orlando’s natural attractions. The Tibet Butler preserve is a 438-acre expanse of protected wilderness with towering pines and lush swamps. Owls, ospreys, and other animals make this a fun excursion.

Equally scenic is Lake Baldwin, a beautiful expanse of water that can be explored by a 2.5-mile paved path. Hike, bike, or stroll along this unhurried environment.

ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort, Mesa, Arizona

This resort seamlessly combines warm weather, great golf, and lots of amenities for an unparalleled travel experience. Add a wonderful community spirit to the mix, and you won’t want to leave ViewPoint RV & Golf Resort.

Guests can take a dip in the resort-style swimming pools or compete on the perfectly manicured tennis court. A ballroom, fitness center, and hair salon/massage services add to the list of perks.

Golfers can polish their skills at the nine-hole executive course, or get serious on the 18-hole championship golf course. On both courses, lush greens and fairways challenge players, while palm trees, wildflowers, and rugged mountains on the horizon complete the picture.

Scheduled activities add to the festive environment, while guests can immerse themselves in a variety of classes and hobby groups in fields like technology and woodworking.

Mesa Adventures: The third biggest town in Arizona boasts several cultural and fun attractions. Mesa is the spring training ground for the Chicago Cubs and Las Vegas A’s. Every March, hundreds of thousands of fans flock to Mesa to watch more than 200 MLB baseball games in just 30 days. Catch the Chicago Cubs play at Sloan Park and the Oakland A’s at the recently renovated Hohokam Stadium.

Trade urban luxury for wilderness adventure in Apache Junction. Nearby, you’ll find the Superstition Mountains, the region’s largest mountain range. Reaching 3,000 feet, this rugged landscape boasts stark volcanic peaks punctuated by boulder-strewn canyons. From hiking trails and wildlife viewing to horseback riding and camping, the Superstition Mountains and Lost Dutchman State Park are the perfect destinations for outdoor enthusiasts.