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Old 04-30-2020, 08:57 AM   #29
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Originally Posted by aa9zz View Post
You guys are giving me great information. Thanks for your help. I didn't remember the Red Tide. While we don't swim we do like to wade and walk along the beach daily.

Our summer trips are usually to the closest beach to Indiana, Gulf Shores, and we stay within walking distance of the beach, so that is important to use.

My wife and I talked and our list of reason, in order:

1. Warm weather, no freeze.
2. Near a beach (half hour drive at maximum)
3. Seafood
4. Away from family for at least a few weeks

Of course cost of the facility is important as I am now on a limited fixed retirement income.

We don't need a community, but then we have never been to a resort or area community so we don't know if that is a true statement. Maybe I should try one to see.

I really do appreciate the help from the community here so maybe we would like to live in one.

Again thanks for our help.
You may want to expand your "1/2 hour" limit just a tad. Realize that with all the snowbird traffic from Dec to March, you can gobble up a half hour in a few miles. (It's definitely not the Midwest, which you and I were used to.)

The main thing is, you need to do it right away. Find places that you think have the amenities that you desire (pool, hot tub, activities, etc.) and call them. If there are no openings, ask to be put on the waiting list. Then, don't be scared to call back occasionally, to let them know you really want to be there.
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Old 04-30-2020, 11:51 AM   #30
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4. Away from family for at least a few weeks
If only thinking about a few weeks why don't you pick out some state or county parks in different areas so that you can explore the areas and choose the best for you the next time? The state parks and county parks are gorgeous and are scattered all over Florida. You can visit some RV parks to see what you can find for the next time.

Seafood was on your list.... you won't have any problem finding it wherever you go!!

We loved Gulf Shores over Florida. We stated at the state park where you can stay all winter.
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Old 04-30-2020, 12:34 PM   #31
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If only thinking about a few weeks why don't you pick out some state or county parks in different areas so that you can explore the areas and choose the best for you the next time? The state parks and county parks are gorgeous and are scattered all over Florida. You can visit some RV parks to see what you can find for the next time.

Seafood was on your list.... you won't have any problem finding it wherever you go!!

We loved Gulf Shores over Florida. We stated at the state park where you can stay all winter.
Yeah, not sure about that last statement he made because in his original post, he stated at least two, maybe three months. He also doesn't want to be above I-4 because of potential for cold. After the winter of 2017-18 that we spent in Jacksonville, I completely understand that!
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Old 04-30-2020, 12:50 PM   #32
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BTW do not expect sunny skies all winter, I'd estimate more than half the days are cloudy[/QUOTE]


I live in Naples and I would say it has been 98% clear sky's since the 1st of January. It has finally clouded up and gave us much needed rain today.
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Old 04-30-2020, 12:54 PM   #33
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BTW do not expect sunny skies all winter, I'd estimate more than half the days are cloudy

I live in Naples and I would say it has been 98% clear sky's since the 1st of January. It has finally clouded up and gave us much needed rain today.[/QUOTE]

Same in Sarasota. A cloudy couple of days will stand out like a sore thumb. Coming from West Michigan (one of the cloudiest places in the US, including Portland and Seattle!), having that sunshine wake you up nearly every day was the best!
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Old 05-01-2020, 09:02 AM   #34
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The prettiest beaches on the west coast are Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Ft. Walton Beach, Destin, Sandestin. Right next door to the west, Alabama's Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. BE PREPARED TO RESERVE UP TO A YEAR IN ADVANCE.


The farther south you go the more expensive will be the campsites.
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Old 05-01-2020, 08:13 PM   #35
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Can anyone suggest a relatively descent campground? Not too expensive as this is our first our first winter out.
A resource you may want to try: https://www.campgroundreviews.com/
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Old 05-04-2020, 04:03 AM   #36
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We didn’t experience red tide in Naples last December. But, wow, my wife got bit to heck by NoSeeUms, which we had never heard of. It’s some kind very tiny coastal gnat or bug that is light enough to be blown away by a light breeze. Apparently they come out in the early evening.

She got a few dozen bites on her lower legs from just one nighttime walk. They itch like heck, swell up, and bleed for about a week. It took months for the marks to mostly disappear.

I got just one on my neck and used a styptic pencil on it. You get it in drug stores and it’s kind of a chalky substance that apparently causes blood vessels to constrict. It worked great at stopping the ongoing bleeding. Hers bled like the bug had injected an anti-clotting agent into the bite. Made a mess of the bed sheets, but only on her side.

We never experienced them in the Bradenton area.

Ray
We've wintered in Naples for three years. Last year the noseeums really got me until I learned to use bug repellants on skin and clothes every day, stay inside at dawn and dusk and wear long pants and shirts with some repellant on them. I do a lot of biking and walking. Bugs don't bite my DW.

This winter I got one or two bites.
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Old 05-04-2020, 11:57 PM   #37
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Bugs don't bite my DW.
We did the 23 & Me thing. One of the results was that I should be less prone to mosquito bites and I am. My DW’s result was the opposite; that she is more prone and she is. She’ll say she’s getting bitten up on the deck and I don’t have one.

Ray
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Old 05-05-2020, 08:18 AM   #38
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Are you sure it wasn't redbugs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombiculidae
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Old 05-07-2020, 03:49 PM   #39
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Clearwater area

There are tons of great places in this area. 15 min to the beach. they do fill up 12 months early!!! lots to do, warm.
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Old 05-07-2020, 04:12 PM   #40
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Check out Nature Coast Landings RV Resort just north of Crystal River. More reasonable rates and a nice park. NCLRV.COM. Rentals fill up fast so head the warnings from previous posts and book now.
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Old 05-07-2020, 05:00 PM   #41
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Are you a member of the Elks, Moose, Eagles, or Masons? Or retired military? There are several campgrounds all around Florida for members.
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Old 05-07-2020, 05:13 PM   #42
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[QUOTE=aa9zz;5244741]You guys are giving me great information. Thanks for your help. I didn't remember the Red Tide. While we don't swim we do like to wade and walk along the beach daily.

Our summer trips are usually to the closest beach to Indiana, Gulf Shores, and we stay within walking distance of the beach, so that is important to use.

My wife and I talked and our list of reason, in order:

1. Warm weather, no freeze.
2. Near a beach (half hour drive at maximum)
3. Seafood
4. Away from family for at least a few weeks


We have been staying in LaBelle FL for the past 3 years. It is a nice small city on Rt80 along the south side of the Caloosahatchee River, we have never had temps below freezing on the south side of the river, though they do get some frost on the north side especially in the Orchards. The river is part of the intercostal waterway that runs from Ft. Meyers to the south west shore of Lake Okeechobee. LaBelle is 30 miles east of Ft Meyers and a total of about 45 miles from the Ft Meyers Beach, East coast Beaches are about 80 miles east. Very little traffic in LaBelle even in January - April.
Traffic is a major consideration any ware near the coasts, a trip to get groceries is an event.

Older Parks
LaBelle Woods RV resort 2020
620 South Main Street
LaBelle FL
863-675-3641 or 8630673-2992 Steve and Bruni Harrington, Owners Book
now with a deposit if you want a site.
$715 per month for 3 month stay, Electric is running us about $70/month
$625 per month for 4 months, we are currently holding in place waiting to head north when things open up.

Travel to the beach in January and February is INCREDABLE, parking is iffy, traffic yikes, we don't go. We do the beaches was we drift our way down from New England in the fall and again when we drift back north in the spring.


Other campgrounds in Labelle
Grandmas Grove
2250 SR 80 W
La Belle, FL 33935
(863) 675-2567
Location: 26.73664, -81.47404

Wisper Creek
(863) 400-1695
Address
1887 N. State RD 29 SW
Labelle, FL 33935

New Park NO SHADE
Oak Grove
500 South Main Street
LaBelle, Florida 33935
(863) 674-0755

There are other parks in the area, a good website for all across the country is the FREE part of ALL STAYS.
https://www.allstays.com/
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