How To Become An RVing Snow Bird

By Jane Kenny RV Lifestyle Specialist

A recreational vehicle is perfect for retired snow birds who want to live in their established home during spring and summer and move to a warmer climate during the winter months, or visa versa. More often than not, the trips back and forth are planned for a slow relaxing drive, generally not the most direct route, but rather one with inviting and interesting stops along the way.

Popular seasonal destinations for RVing snow birds looking for a place to roost are Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. In Florida, snow birds are all over the central and southern parts of the state. In Texas, they head for the Rio Grand Valley region and in Arizona, it’s the Valley of the Sun – Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa area. The population in Mesa alone swells by more than 200,000 during the winter season. Flocks of snow birds are also migrating to the southern Arizona towns of Tucson, Casa Grade and Yuma. In California, RVing snow birds generally land in Imperial, Riverside and San Diego Counties.

When snow birds migrate to the alternate seasonal home base, they drive there in the RV, set it up and reside in it for the six months or whatever part of the year they will be there.

RVing snow birds congregate in RV Parks featuring activities designed specifically for the 55 and over crowd. Golf, tennis, horseshoes, shuffleboard, bocce ball, billiards and bicycling are among the recreational activities. Many age-qualified parks can be classified as upscale resorts with amenities such as a pool, spa, fitness center, restaurants, lounge, hair salon, bingo and live shows. They also feature entertainment, special events, dancing and meeting rooms for clubs of varying interests such as computers, book club, arts and crafts, a community orchestra and more. Snow birds can rent or own their sites at these parks.

About the author: Jane Kenny’s second book, RV RETIREMENT, How To Travel Part-Time or Full-Time In A Recreational Vehicle, is available from Roundabout Publications at www.TravelBooksUSA.com (1-800-455-2207) or at Amazon.com.