Endless Summer: Snowbird Adventures and Destinations

An RV snowbird trip is so much more than a winter escape. It’s your chance to immerse yourself in a new part of the country, experience unfamiliar customs and cultures, sample different culinary traditions, and enjoy an entirely new climate. You can join a snowbird flock and fill your days with lively social gatherings, making friendships that last a lifetime. Or you can travel independently, moving from one roost to the next while staying one step ahead of Jack Frost.

Your snowbird adventure can be as relaxed or as active as you wish. Once you’ve made your way south, there are countless ways to enjoy the season.

Get to Know Your Roost

Wherever you settle, take time to discover the area’s history, attractions, natural beauty, and recreational opportunities.

The outdoors offers something for nearly everyone. Explore national, state, county, and regional parks; wildlife refuges; national and state forests; scenic byways; fisheries and fish hatcheries; nature parks and centers; aquariums; zoos; and game reserves. Many offer guided hikes and tours, educational seminars, and opportunities to observe and photograph birds and other wildlife.

Bird-watching is especially rewarding in the Sunbelt, where many colorful tropical species reach the northern limits of their range. Botanical gardens and other public gardens are also wonderful places to explore, relax, and capture memorable photographs.

If you prefer a little more adventure, consider hiking, biking, horseback riding, golfing, geocaching, boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or ATV excursions. Perhaps casinos, theme parks, dancing, antiques, or rock hunting are more your style. Whatever interests you, you’re likely to find something nearby.

Stop by the local visitor information center and pick up a copy of the area’s newspapers to learn about current happenings. You may discover flea markets, arts-and-crafts classes, organized hikes, sporting events, RV shows, farmers’ markets, fairs, festivals, parades, and annual celebrations you won’t want to miss.

Join the Flock

Seek out people who share your wanderlust and enthusiasm for RV travel. Snowbird communities offer a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills, and become part of an active social scene.

Many snowbird parks provide resort-style amenities designed for long-term guests. You may find a welcoming community center, a well-appointed clubhouse, an activity building, complimentary cable or satellite television, high-speed Internet, swimming pools, heated spas, and fully equipped fitness centers. Larger RV resorts often feature multiple halls and breakout rooms for classes, activities, and special events.

Depending on the park, you may also have access to computer rooms, game rooms with pool tables, tennis and shuffleboard courts, pickleball facilities, and arts and crafts rooms frequented by quilters and sewing enthusiasts. Other amenities can include nine- or 18-hole golf courses, fenced dog parks, stocked lakes, hiking and biking trails, croquet courts, movie theaters, ballrooms, dining options, and a full calendar of organized activities.

Some senior-oriented RV parks offer hundreds of scheduled activities, making it easy for snowbirds to stay active, engaged, and entertained throughout the winter.

Arts and crafts are especially popular. Classes may include painting, woodworking, lapidary, jewelry making, silversmithing, wire wrapping, gourd painting, Swedish blanket making, watercolor painting, woodcarving, pottery, and ceramics. Whether you’re an experienced artist or simply curious to try something new, there’s likely to be a class that catches your interest.

Go Rallying

From January through early April, RV show season is in full swing. If you’re shopping for a new RV or thinking about upgrading your current one, an RV show is one of the best places to compare options. Dealers and suppliers gather in one location, giving you the chance to explore a wide range of recreational vehicles, accessories, and services — often at special show prices.

Two of the biggest events on the RV show circuit are the Florida RV SuperShow at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, held January 13–1u, and the Quartzsite Sports, Vacation and RV Show in Quartzsite, Arizona, held January 15–23. Other RV shows are scheduled throughout the Sunbelt with snowbirds in mind.

Good Sam Events are another great way to enjoy the camaraderie of RV travel. Attend a state rally, or peruse the latest RV models for sale and at an RV show. Fantasy RV Tours take you on excursions to exciting destinations with fellow Good Sam members.

Festivals, Fun, and Photos

By February and March, local festivals, parades, and annual events are in full swing, offering plenty of opportunities to celebrate regional history and culture. Major celebrations include the Florida State Fair in Tampa, held February 4–16; the Arizona Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace in Apache Junction, held on weekends from February through March; and the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in Tucson, Arizona, held February 11–14.

Share your adventures with fellow Good Sam member travelers via Facebook or Instagram.

When spring approaches, it’s time to start thinking about the journey north. From late February into early March, many snowbirds begin planning their return to their northern homes. Others wait until winter’s worst has faded into a distant memory.

You don’t have to make the trip home all at once. Some snowbirds break the journey into segments, taking several weeks—or even a month or more — to reach their destination. Consider following a different route on the way back so you can explore new attractions and discover places you may have missed on the journey south.

And remember, when snowbird season ends, your RV adventures don’t have to.

The following RV Parks cater to snowbirds:

Arkansas

Dew Drop In, Clinton

Indiana

Columbus Woods-N-Waters Kampground, Columbus

Maine

Moorings II Oceanfront RV Campground, Searsport

Mississippi

EZ Daze RV Park, Southaven

North Dakota

A Prairie Breeze RV Park, Menoken

Pennsylvania

StonyBrook RV Resort, Lehighton

Virginia

Chesapeake Campground, Chesapeake
Cozy Acres Campground & RV Park, Powhatan