Snow Birding in Arizona

BruceSnyder · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 07:10 PM

The wife and I will be retiring in 8 months. Where's the best locations in Arizona for Snow Birds? Lived most of our career lives in Tacoma WA.

Bruce

Mark Brye · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 07:17 PM

My parents live in Bonney Lake in the summer and snow bird down to Casa Grande AZ. I think the place is called Palm Creek. It's a 55 and over place on a golf green. It's a very active place with lots to do. It is a big RV resort with Nice park models. That is where I will head when I hit retirement. Most of my parents friends have moved there for the winter also.

LMH · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 07:30 PM

Do you have a particular area you've got in mind to come to? Are you looking for cool or hot? We have them both.
Larry

BruceSnyder · #4 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMH

Do you have a particular area you've got in mind to come to? Are you looking for cool or hot? We have them both.
Larry

Don't know much about Arizona. Not too hot. Maybe in the 70 degree range. The winter/early spring in the Tacoma WA area rains a lot from November to April. Oh, and of course a good area to drive the cobra.

DWRAT · #5 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 08:20 PM

I have a place in Salome AZ.
Lots of snow birds there from your area.
Most are retired RV'ers and spend about 4 months a year there.

twobjshelbys · #6 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 08:20 PM

Phoenix area (you choose what part of the valley) and Tucson will get you to the 80th percentile. Less developed and dense areas like casa grade and the other areas between the two will get you closer to major services like hospitals. If that isn't a concern then look at bisbee

LMH · #7 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 08:23 PM

We have our monsoon season in July and into August. Humidity goes up. Desert areas are going to be 100+ in the summers but much nicer in the winters. We have lots of winter snowbirds from everywhere cold come here. Personally, I think 70 is cold and I like it when it's hot. Women wear less! Phoenix area tends to be a little hotter than Tucson in the summer. If you're into golf, there's a lot to choose from. In the summer, a lot of us go to Pinetop to get out of the heat.
The Phoenix Cobra guys are a great group and do quite a lot together. The Tucson group is smaller and a little more lax but we do get together for a number of drives/get togethers.
If you're looking for a newer area to retire, I would suggest Dove Mountain in Marana. It's a beautiful area, out of Tucson traffic but close enough to drive as needed.
Larry

twobjshelbys · #8 (**permalink**) 03-30-2016, 08:30 PM

By the way if you are motor homing or want gaming think about bullhead city area.

FYI nevada has a lot of snow birds too. It's not all casinos. Vegas south is same kind of mild weather

Oh yuma too. Cheap.

But the phoenix cobra guys are probably the best and most active unorganized cobra organization. If you want any kind of weekly or so impromptu thing they are it

Tommy · #9 (**permalink**) 03-31-2016, 04:01 AM

It's been 25 years since I lived in the Phoenix area. There used to be a huge cruise-in almost every Saturday night at a large shopping area in Scottsdale, I believe. It was a fun event because you would see a very wide variety of new, old, restored, hotrodded, and other cars. Do they still have that event somewhere around Phoenix?

I was in my 40s then and my family was stationed at Williams AFB. We arrived late one day after a long drive from Texas. Tired and hungry, we asked someone at the base where to find the nearest McDonalds. He pointed us to Mesa. When we walked in to McDonalds it was like stepping into an episode of the Twilight Zone. There was a small crowd in the dining area and every single person including every worker behind the counter looked to be more than 70 years old. It was if every teenager who normally works and eats at McD's had been aged 60 years in an instant. It was a profoundly surreal experience. ... Of course we soon got used to being the yougest people in every restaurant we visited. .... Yes, there were plenty of retired people in the Phoenix area and the winters were wonderful.

Bernica · #10 (**permalink**) 03-31-2016, 12:57 PM

My Dad used to snow-bird in Surprize, AZ (just NW of Phoenix). He started years ago taking his RV there and setting it up for a few months at one of the golf resorts there. Then he eventually bought a small house in same area in one of the Del Web communities. Yup, lots of older folks around there and lots of Walgreens and medical facilities. They drive their street legal golf carts everywhere! My Dad used to stay from around Thanksgiving until around April 1st so he could get home to do taxes. The place seems to start clearing out by mid-April.