Family Nesting – Tips for Snowbirds

Snowbirds. Otherwise known as those smart people who get in their RV to leave the cold weather behind and head somewhere warm for the winter. Snowbirds tend to flock in the region known as the Sunbelt, which is essentially the southernmost states beginning with California and extending eastward to Florida.

Being an RV snowbird is an exhilarating experience. As a full-time family, it is the time of year when we can reconnect with old friends and know we are all going to be in the same area for an extended period. The other seasons usually have families moving at a faster pace and doing a lot more exploring. Winter is a time to settle in and relax for a few months.

Why We Do It

To us, being a snowbird means lots of campfires with new and old friends. The parents talk about life, and the kids run around enjoying crisp winter nights. And there are impromptu field trips to local museums, zoos, or attractions that are way less busy than in the summer. The pickleball courts are busy with adults of all ages learning a new sport or playing challenging matches. And the pools are filled with kids splashing around or adults lounging during “adults only” swim time or in the “adults only” pools.

Snowbirding in an RV park is like living in the 1980s, “Stranger Things” style, but without the monsters. People ride bikes all over the place. Everyone is out and about chatting and getting to know each other. It is a fun thing to experience. And I guarantee, once you experience it, you will want to do it again!

Where We Go

You do need to plan in advance for your stay. Parks can quickly fill up in the winter, and you may end up at a less-than-desirable campground if you haven’t booked your preferred place ahead of time.

Popular snowbird locations in the US include Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Southern California. And for good reason. The weather is normally MUCH milder in these locations compared to the northern states. However, we have learned (after 7 years of being snowbirds from Wisconsin) that if you are looking for the warmest weather in the winter, including warm nights, you will want to be somewhere south of Orlando, Florida. Here’s why:

Southern California does not normally experience beach weather in the winter (at least to us) and can be rainy (despite its reputation). It still beats being in the cold northern states and Southern California has a lot of great food and fun cities to experience. There are also some national and state parks you can explore during the winter months.

The same can be said for Texas; wintertime there isn’t exactly the epitome of beach weather to us, and there are a lot of storms and wind. We liked getting to know the awesome community at South Padre Island, which is at the southernmost point in Texas. While the water is still warm in the fall, in the winter it is cold so we wore wetsuits. We enjoyed saving turtles from the freeze (yes, it did get that cold) and many fun nights out on the town.

Arizona can have beautiful sunny days, but cold nights. If you like the high-desert climate, this is the place for you. And there are lots of opportunities for hiking. And hiking in 60–70°F is much better than hiking in the summer heat. We highly recommend the state parks of the Florida Keys. They tend to fill up a year in advance. There are cancellations, but it can be hard to grab one.

Our Favorite

Our overall favorite place for snowbirding is Baja California, in Mexico. Similar to Florida, you have to

get way down to the Baja California Sur area, which is the southern half of Baja. Compared to California and Florida, Baja offers super-cheap winter RV resort prices and camping options. There are also lots of boondocking locations on the beach for FREE or only a few dollars a night. And don’t forget there are always tons of tacos, fresh fish, and margaritas.

Be sure to take a road trip down the whole Baja Peninsula. Remember that it is Mexico and can be very different from the US, but it is an awesome adventure and a gorgeous place to explore. If you prefer a bit more adventurous winter, and don’t mind leaving some of the luxuries of the US behind, Baja is a great option.

The Time is Now

Regardless of where you decide to nest for the winter, take the time to enjoy being in the sunshine and outside all winter enjoying the endless summer life. Trust us; after just one season of endless opportunities for swimming, boating, barbecues, shopping trips, tours, and the like, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

Snowbirding Tips

Above all else, just do it. When your friends and family send pictures of the latest snowfall or iced-over driveways, you can send pictures of you sitting outside enjoying the sunshine, toes in the sand, and a cold drink in hand. That never gets old. Well, maybe it does to some of our friends and family, but not to us.

Have a solid idea of where you want to go and where you want to stay. Then research to find out when you can book your stay. Some places book a year out, some just a few months, so don’t wait until the last minute. But if you do procrastinate, you can still enjoy the snowbird lifestyle, but you’ll have to be more flexible about where you end up staying.

Once you arrive at your destination, be social! Get yourself out there to meet and talk to people. The majority of snowbirds we have met are super friendly and can’t wait for Happy Hour to get together to share a drink and good conversation. Don’t be shy; part of why we love RVing so much is the sense of community.

Great Gear

When planning your snowbird winter, there are a few things you will want to make sure you have with you.

A comfortable chair to sit in while you hang out around the campfire with your fellow snowbirds.

A propane firepit is so easy to use and so nice to have! Starting a real fire means getting wood, making sure the wood stays dry, and cleaning up after the fire. With a propane firepit, you simply turn it on. It also means your hair and clothes don’t smell like a campfire at the end of the night, and it cuts down on annoying smoke wafting in to neighboring campsites.

Winter will be when you slow your travels down a bit and stay in one spot for longer, so investing in a good set of tire covers will help your RV’s tires last longer.

Warm winter campgrounds will most likely be full and that can mean electricity issues. Protect your rig and appliances with a quality surge protector.