Fall Photography
Hello Niki and Jack, While searching for the best trails to follow next fall for the Pixel Gypsy's (a group of between four and six RVers who are all photographers) from Oklahoma to Maine and down the East coast, I happened upon your web sit.  It is so well done with great tips and trails. Very exciting! We are venturing out for a local trip next week and was trying to put some information together to get our Fall planning under way.  Your site offers an all in one.  Just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed reading and studying your trails. One of our group are full timers while the rest of us are Want-A-Be's.  Carol and Steve D. travel around the US all year and venture back to Oklahoma to join us some each year. I plan to steer the rest of our group to your web site but just thought I would touch base with you.  A great resource you have and I appreciate the time you have taken to record all of the information. Photography is a passion.  It is simply seeing in a small frame a part of what we all see with our eyes.  Like I mentioned, our little group of gypsy's are planning to leave Oklahoma the end of September and head Northeast then follow the turning leaves down the East coast for five or six weeks.  When we get our route laid out, I may give you a shout for some pointers. Thank you again recording such a wonderful log of your adventures.  Look forward to following some of your trail tracks.  Have a great week!  -Fran

Hi Fran, Thank you so much for the kind comments. We do put some time into it but it is a labor of love. We just paid a visit to your website and were very impressed. What an artistic eye you have for nailing a scene and bringing out the beauty! Love the Keeper of the Light. If your group ever ventures towards the Adirondacks - our Summer home - or the Tampa/Clearwater area - for the colder months - send us a note and we can point you to some dynamite picture possibilities.
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How can I get a list of the American Legion Posts that have RV parking and those that have hookups. The only thing that I can see on the list of Campsites are privately owned RV parks. FMCA Elks has a map and the locations with the info need for the RV parking at the Lodge. -Al

  At one time there was such a list and then that website went down and I have yet to find it anyplace. We have put together our own list of American Legion Posts with RV camping available at http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/fraternal.htm.
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Great site. Thank you for sharing. We just bought a new MH and have 2 cats.    How do you deal with the cats on the road. They are declawed on front feet. Thank you. -Roscoe

Hi Roscoe,
No problem so far traveling with our 2 cats. Our 2 have declawed front feet as well. They sit up on the front seat console in the truck and usually just nap. The litter box fits fine behind my seat though they seldom use it and the food and water bowls sit well behind Niki's seat. We always move the litter box and food/water into the RV before we move the cats in. It's just home each night to them but with different scenery. Thank you for your kind comments. _______________________________________________________________________________

I'm trying to figure out the best route to Myrtle Beach from fort DeSoto Florida  whether I go up 17 or I stay on 95 and go over any and all insight will be appreciated we are riding in 35 A with a flat tow. -JKM

Good Morning Steve,
We stop in Myrtle Beach on our way North nearly every Spring and have tried several routes. I'll give you our favorite; We stop at Jolly Acres in St, George overnight. It's just a short ways off I-95, it's Passport America, nice people and Shugg's Restaurant is one of our favorites on any route (see our review under St. George: http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/diningreviews.htm#SOUTH%20CAROLINA).
From Jolly Acres we take US-78 South towards Goose Creek where we pick up 52/Alt 17 and follow it into Georgetown where we pick up 17 into Myrtle Beach. Alt 17 is a good road and takes you through the SC countryside. We pulled our 38' 5th Wheel over it with no problems.
US-17 is a scenic route but with a LOT of tourist traffic. There is also a humungous bridge in Charleston (which I try to avoid at all costs as I am in the vertically challenged population). We have taken US-17 all the way from its start below Charleston to Norfolk in the past and do recommend it if you have a lot of time to enjoy it. Much to see and enjoy. We try to keep each day under 200 miles and spend at least 2 nights at each stopover to explore an area.
We have also done I-95 to Florence and then US-76 to US-501 and down many times though usually coming from the North. It is probably the easiest if you are in a hurry and it doesn't add a lot of time to the trip overall.
That's our 2-cents for what it's worth. We try to enjoy the journey as much as the destination and are usually in no hurry. Be sure to check out our friend's Myrtle Beach page at funbeaches.com. She does a great job of covering MB. _______________________________________________________________________________

Hi,My name is Kathy and I was wondering if you could help me out. Until November 2014 I had lived an worked in a rv park in Az.  I moved across country and while traveling through Georgia,I lost my travel trailer. I have arrived in Jupiter,Fl and I am looking for park work I do have a nice truck and a nice tent I was given by a law enforcement officer after I lost my travel trailer. I'm trying to save up funds so I can get another trailer. Would you know of any campgrounds or rv parks that might employ me. I don't have any problems passing a background check as I use to be a lic. Security guard. If you have any contacts here in Florida or any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate them. I thank you for your time and may the roads be nice to you and have safe travels.
Sincerely,Kathy.

Hi Kathy,
We are very sorry to hear about you losing your trailer. That had to be one of life's worst moments!
You may or may not have looked on our website but I have listed 17 websites that list current Workamping jobs. he best - bar none - is Colleen's which is very first on the list on our page at http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/workkamping.htm.
They are all Free sources and most keep current.
I wish we had an opening to tell you about but we don't so dig in and start contacting the places that sound interesting to you. We do get alerted to jobs open from time to time directly as well and will keep your email address on file.
Let us know how you make out
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Hey Guys!
I just discovered your website and enjoy it. My wife and I live just outside Cincinnati, Ohio and we plan to be snowbirds in about a year. We are currently researching rigs and believe that we want a 38 ft class A RV. We're undecided on whether to get a gas or diesel model. We considered the 5th wheel idea but she wants to be able to get up and walk back to the bathroom and perhaps get a sandwich out of the refrigerator. My research shows the cost to be the same. We are going to tow our 2011 Honda CRV with 4 wheels down. I have a friend who does this from Wisconsin.
What are your thoughts on RV's...what made you decide on the 5th wheel and would you do it again? Did you consider the Class A? What are your thoughts on engine types?
We are now Facebook friends, so I'll be watch there too. Thanks, Bruce.

Hi Bruce,
Good to have you aboard. Whichever RV you choose I think you both will love the lifestyle you will soon be embarking upon.
I spent most of my working life in Upstate NY and I knew the number one priority after retirement in 2008 was no more Winters. I was divorced and came down to Florida to decide what I was going to do with the new chapters in my life. My older brother and his wife had been spending partial and full Winters down here for some 29 years so it was a good place to start.
To make a long story short - Florida is a great place not only for great weather but good pickings for buying an RV - always a big turnover. I quickly found a good bargain on on a used, gas, Allegro Class A, purchased a toad for towing my little Suzuki and headed back to the Adirondacks for the Summer where I lucked into a Workamping Host position and thus began the second half of my life.
I really didn't care for the way the motorhome handled on the road though it was very well built and comfortable otherwise. My brother had owned travel trailers and warned me about how they handled on long trips so I opted for an F-150 and a 24' 5th Wheel with a slide. I towed that back to Florida the following Fall with no problems. That Winter I met Niki and quickly found that 24' would not be comfortable for 2 people.
We went BIG with a new 38' Coachmen 5th Wheel with 3 slides and traded up to an F-250 gas truck. A beautiful rig with plenty of room and perfect if we were going to park it beside a lake somewhere. First, I am not a truck driver and secondly there was a great deal of set-up and take-down when moving from place to place. We traded down (in size) to a 32' Excel 5th Wheel with 3 slides and one of the few truly built for full-time and 4-Season travel. We love it.
You brought up a good point in the wife would like the ability to get out of her seat to make a sandwich or whatever while you are on the road. Speaking from experience - you - the driver will want that ability as well. Since they haven't made a coach with automatic pilot yet you'll need a rest area. They are plentiful as are truck stops, shopping malls, Walmarts and Cracker Barrels to name a few. Choose the right 5th Wheel and you will have access to the fridge and bathroom without having to open the slides. The truck unhooks and re-hooks faster than you can do the same with a tow behind on a motorhome and we usually unhook even on the rare occasion we spend only one night at a campground.
Yes I am biased towards 5th Wheels pulled by trucks and I would suggest that you look at both motorhomes and 5th wheels with an open mind. We did not want a diesel truck and Niki didn't want to drive a dually. I researched every make of truck until I found the best combination of engine, suspension and rear end to safely pull what we wanted weight-wise in a trailer then we ordered that combination from the Ford factory. It has worked well for us since December of 2012.
Apologies for the long ramble but I wanted to give you an idea of my thinking on the subject. It boils down to bigger is not always better and secondly you might consider a pros and cons sheet for your choices. I would also suggest you consider going to a big RV Show like Tampa or Hershey and not just the regional shows with local dealers. When you find one you like visit the factory they would love to have you.
One final caution - beware of dealers! They are professional salespeople at best and used car salesmen at the worst. How good is their service department because that is what you will be visiting more often. I have a couple of stories about big dealers and service departments for another time if you want to hear them. Bottom-line is if I need major repairs that I cannot do myself I will take it back to the factory in Kansas.
We wouldn't trade this life for anything but we have learned some lessons along the way. We wish you both the best and we will always be here to try and answer any questions that you want to shoot our way.
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Looking to fill in for camp hosts as we begin our retirement and more time in the RV.  We live in Western WA.  Have a new RV 2015 Holiday Rambler Augusta 25.  Just back from a West Coast trip.  Want to explore BC and Alaska next.  We could come to you and you could have a week or so off....  Is anyone doing this? Thx.  Esther

Hi Esther,
You will find hundreds of openings on the 20 free websies we have listed on our website at http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/workkamping.htm.
We do see caretaker or farm/ranch sitter type jobs quite often especially on "Colleen's Workers on Wheels" we have listed. Some are long term and some may be negotiable.
It takes a little research work but you can find just about anything you are looking for on the Web.

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My wife and I are in our second year of camping. Now fully retired, and looking at a foot of snow outside our Cincinnati home, we are ready (we think) to head south this fall/winter. We have really enjoyed reading about your travels and would appreciate some advice.
We are considering just "bouncing around" warmer climates (Florida, etc.) We would like the freedom of leaving a campground after a day or so (especially if it is not  a place we like) but  would like the option to stay longer, if it is a nice place, close to attractions that interest us, etc.
Because of various reservation policies, we are hesitant to give out a credit card number ahead of time. Is it too risky to not have a reservation? Might we encounter mainly full campgrounds in warmer climates? We want to enjoy our snowbird exploring without being tied to a reservation to move to another campground by a certain date.
Thank you so much, -Jeff and Sheila

Hi Jeff,
This retirement thing is a great gig isn't it? That together with RVing makes our "Golden Years" worth waiting for.
You have very good questions. I am not crazy about letting my credit card out on the Net or phone either. One thing we do is have a credit card just for our travels instead of using our debit cards. The institution also notifies us immediately on any transaction over $100. Just something to consider.
Reservations are a sticky subject. Most of the popular Snowbird destinations down South are booked up early. Two ways to overcome that is to plan your stops away from the popular destinations which is Orlando and the Coastal parts of Florida. RV Parks/campgrounds located near the center of the State are better possibilities for having short term openings. Day trips from such a home-base location would put you at either Coast fairly quickly for exploring.
Also consider a Passport America membership. We use ours at least 75% of the time in our travels and most of the member campgrounds actually do not allow reservations. Just be sure to read the fine print at any of their campgrounds for exclusions. There is a lot of talk about the PA Parks and campgrounds being unsuitable but it depends on what you are looking for. I think of our 135+ campgrounds to date we have only found a couple we would not stay at again (and only 1 that Niki puts in the "Deliverance" category!).
We normally spend 2 nights at a stop and it's a simple matter to move on if we don't like a place or add extra nights if we want to explore more of an area. The only time we make reservations on the road is when we are headed into a tourist destination area.
Hope this helps a little - it is the way that travel works the best for us. We do a lot of planning in advance to establish the "must-sees" along a new route but we also allow time for the surprises we find along the way. Locals are a great source for information they are proud and happy to share.
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Hi Gerry,
Unless you both really enjoy the cold weather we bet you are looking forward to warmer climes for the Winter?
To answer your question - we have Wintered in the same RV park for the past 5 Winters and my brother and his wife were in the same park for the 29 years previous to us.
Our park is located on the Northeast side of Tampa in the small town of Thonotosassa. There are actually 3 other RV parks in the same Town.
We love it because it is in the country yet we are 10 minutes from Busch Gardens (an Annual Pass will keep you entertained all Winter), MOSI the Museum of Science and Industry, USF the University of South Florida, as well as every type of restaurant and shopping experience you could want.
The park we stay in is only interested in long term as is 2 of the other 3 parks. It all comes down to the amenities you require. Our park, for instance, is "bare bones" and we like it that way. There is no pool, cable or WiFi but is quiet, well taken care of with each space having a concrete pad for a patio area and honest to goodness grass around us. We pay $275/month and the electric is metered. Each space has its own address and mailbox. It's what we like because we are on the go all the time. The other 3 parks have the pools and daily activities but you pay quite a bit more. It all boils down to what is right for you.
Just type "rv park, Thonotosassa, FL" in Google Search and these 5 will come up:
Southern Aire RV Park
Spanish Main Carefree RV Resort
Happy Traveler RV Park
Lazydays RV Resort
Tampa East RV Resort
Then you can find information about each of them. The first 3 are within a couple of miles from us and from each other. Happy Traveler is within walking distance of one of the area's largest flea markets if it's an interest.
You may not be able to tell but we do love it here and our Winters. The entire area is geared for Snowbirds and Seniors with so much to do and the  BOGO's and specials never stop.
Have a look at the local parks and let us know if you have any other questions and we will do our best to answer them. _______________________________________________________________________________

Wanting to go south maybe Mo, Tx need to know about parks that will accept my equipment. 1997 coachman travel trailer excellent shape pulled by 1998 Silverado diesel dulley also in excellent condition. Barn kept when not in use. A lot of places don't like older trailers and old people. Before I go on road need to know what is ahead. Please your advise would be appreciated. -Bill
 

Hello Bill,

Nice to hear from you.
We have Workamped and hosted for the past 5 years as well as RVing for quite a few thousand miles and have yet to see or hear of anyone being refused because of age of themselves or their trailers if in excellent condition.
At most a campground owner is just worried about a poorly maintained trailer breaking down in his Park or making his campground unsightly to other campers.

I am listing some sources we use for planning a trip. Once you decide when and where you are going you can choose to phone or email a campground ahead of time to see if they would object to taking your money and I will bet very few will turn you down.

RV Parky

A favorite place to begin our planning. Just pop Missouri or Texas into the look-up box and you will see what I mean.

http://www.rvparky.com/

Allstays

A great website with many filters to look up exactly the type campground you want in the State you want.
http://www.allstays.com/Campgrounds/

RV Park Reviews

See what others think about a campground you are considering.

Google Maps

Put in an address and you can get a bird's eye view of a campground and even zoom in for a look at the entrance to any campground.
https://www.google.com/maps/