Looking for Ideas/Info to Winter Some Months in Florida

[CamperSue]

I live in a TT in Texas and am looking for a financially acceptable means of spending a few months this winter in Central Florida ( not gonna take my TT), either buy a very small, well-used motorhome to use for wintering, or find an inexpensive apartment for the duration.

I've found very few inexpensive apartments so far, so I'm gonna start looking for a motorhome and the lesser expensive campgrounds in the Central Florida areas: Dunedin/Largo/Clearwater, around Johns Pass, or the other coastal area, St. Cloud, etc.

All ideas/info/web addresses on anything mentioned here would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[sundevil6]

Sue, if you found an inexpensive apartment in central Florida, you might want to check the neighbourhood. You might not want to live there. I live in east central Florida and nothing is cheap around here. Of course I don't know what your idea of cheap is. May be different from mine. Think safety while down here, especially if you're in a big city.

[Bo Walker]

I don't know what you are looking for in a campground or park but I believe the panhandle or Big Bend area might be less expensive. There are some pretty reasonable state parks too.
_________________
Bo & Jan RVing for fun

[sundevil6]

In Florida, you can only stay in a state park or COE for two weeks at a time. And they run about $20.00 +- a day.

[CamperSue]

Well, I have my heart set on some of this winter in central Florida. I don't want to be close to city traffic nor in the panhandle. But I do know of a couple of small RV parks near Apalachicola. I like that area; don't know if it's actually part of the panhandle.
I've cast my net out and found several apartments in my price range, but they probably aren't in safe and wholesome areas.

What is the Big Bend area?

Thanks for the info on the parks. Does that mean a person could stay two weeks in this one and move on down the road to stay two weeks in that one?

Last time I was in Florida I heard that a hotel corporation had bought the paper mill area of St Joe/Mexico City and was going to build high rises. Does anyone know if they've been built?

I'm researchng RV parks near small towns like Mt Dora (hoping the ones I remember as small towns are still small). That's the problem of not having been back to Florida (and many other small towns in America): they keep on growing.

[CamperSue]

My problem is that my emotional self keeps expecting to Florida to magically revert back to what it was in the 50s, a virtual island paradise.

[daydreamer36535]

We used to go to Florida from Gulf Shores, Alabama each Xmas time.
At that time of year, you need to go near the Tampa area to get 6-8 degrees warmer, which is just right for us. Panhandle is too cool for us in Dec/Jan.
Joe
_________________
Joe
30' 1974 airstream ambassador
1993 ford 3/4 ton 7.3L diesel
fulltiming in 2007

[sundevil6]

Apalachicola is in the Big Bend area. That's where Florida starts to take a western swing to form the panhandle. Yeah, things are somewhat cheaper in parts of the Big Bend and panhandle areas (it's still not quite as developed as other parts of the state). The further south you go, the more you pay. I was born and raised in Florida and it's nothing like you might remember from the 50s. Now we actually have to lock our doors. Seriously, Florida is about like any other commercialized state. The more tourists areas and poverty areas we have, the more crime we get. I'm not trying to scare you off, but if you're looking for Shangri-La, this is not the place to look. Our major tourist attraction is our weather. Then the Mouse House. Come on down and spend a winter with us. You'll find something you like, just be careful, as you would anywhere you go.

[ethiermr]

Sue - Last February (06), we stayed at Craig's RV Park in Arcadia, which is between Punta Gordo and Sarasota - east inland. You may want to check out their website at craigsrv.com. Price is $375 + elec per month decreasing with every extra month. Nice clean park, friendly people, great weather and felt completely safe in the area. There are many RV parks in and around Arcadia, a Super Wal-Mart, tons of antique stores and good, reasonably-priced restaurants. Hope you find what you want.

Marcel in Canada.
_________________
Marcel & Jenne
Ontario, Canada

Our second home
2005 Intruder 377W
2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid

[sumaps2]

My wife and I have been full-timers for 3 years now and last winter we worked with Habitat for Humanity. There are many opportunities throughout Florida. They need more than people who can use a hammer. We helped get a warehouse organized, got their books organized and brought up to date, and ran crews of college students on spring break.

Suggestions - We look for builds that offer FREE sites and that they will also allow you to stay longer. We stayed at our build for over 3 months.

It is one of those volunteer opportunities that give more than you do. For more info go to: http://www.habitat.org/rv/newsletter.aspx

GOOD LUCK

[PhatLiz]

I am a Florida resident. Have been for almost 20 years. Finding a park in the central part of the state may be an adventure. So many people want to winter here that reservations are usually required.
Don't know what you would consider reasonable for a rental. There are effenciencies for under $600/month in the Titusville (near Kennedy Space Center) area. Things are a lot more expensive the closer you get to the Mouse House.
I lived in Kissimmee for a time. St. Cloud is next door. They have both become major tourist areas. Hotels and cheap restaurants everywhere. Traffic has become pretty awful.
You might want to look north of St. Pete on the west coast or well south of Orlando. There are a couple of parks between Cocoa and Titusville on the east coast that are on the river and are combination of RV and trailer spaces. There is also a newer park at Mims which is just north of Titusville. You also might look at Palatka, Deltona or Okeechobee. A little driving to see the major tourist sites but the savings in rent would offset the cost of gas. Good luck. Let us know what you choose.
_________________
Liz, husband and a 40ft Horizon
Living the dream

[PhatLiz]

Thanks, sumaps2, for the link to Habitat for Humanity. DH and I are looking into volunteering this year. I will have to contact Care-a-vanners directly to see what we can do. DH has physical limitations but was an electrical engineer. I am untrained but willing. I figure that, if my 80-year-old mother can do it, so can we.
_________________
Liz, husband and a 40ft Horizon
Living the dream