Quote:
Originally Posted by AirKar
What a whirlwind week it has been. By Monday my husband and I will be the proud new owners of an AS (2011 27FB Int'l. Serenity) - name yet to be determined. Our goal is to full-time...at least for one year (is that considered fulltiming? at least for that duration?). We have a list started of things we need to get done (even somewhere in the Forum's) - not least of which is to decide "where to first"! We're in Sarasota, Florida and all Ron said was that he was planning on getting to I-75 and "making a left". I know we'd both like to go up the Northern Coast, but not contend with any snow driving if avoidable. Any "must see/must do" spots? Suggestions for Campgrounds? It may still be a couple of months before we hit the road - but trying to make some preliminary plans now. Looking forward to hearing some ideas!
Karis, new AS mom
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It's full-timing if your RV is your home. If you still have a house elsewhere, then it's just a long, long trip. My opinion, not anything official. Functionally there's not much difference, except whether you still have bills to pay back home.
I'm not a full-timer, and won't become a full-timer even after I retire, so my advice may be worth less than the usual 2¢. But here 'tis, anyway.
If you're going to be a whole year, I'd suggest that you go north and inland (maybe even all the way to the West Coast) until late-September so that you're not camping in hurricane-prone areas during hurricane season. Beginning in late-October, start working your way south, to stay ahead of early freezes.
I stayed at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Arkansas last Thanksgiving; the campground closes after the last weekend of November, but before they close, they put on a great all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet at the lodge that's well worth the price of admission.
By the time December hits, you'll want to be in the south, anywhere from California to Florida. That's where you'll find most of the campgrounds that are open all year. Since snowbirds tend to flock together in Florida and the Southwest, finding places to stay that aren't fully booked may be easier along the Gulf Coast states. Be in the New Orleans area for Mardi Gras, of course, with reservations made early.
After Mardi Gras, campgrounds farther north begin opening up again, so you can again gradually work your way north. The Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri River basins tend to see flooding most often in spring, so as you go north, that's a good time to hit your East Coast destinations until hurricane season.
When hurricane season comes again will be time to head inland once more, maybe around the Great Lakes and upper Great Plains. Or across into Canada, until the onset of cold drives you south again.
Another posible idea is to plan your trip around events, rather than places. For example, if you like Jazz, there are a number of Jazz music festivals in various cities at different times of the year, and you can plan to be in those cities for those festivals, and play it by ear (pun intended
) in between.
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