Here’s what you should know about Snowbird Season

Here’s what you should know about Snowbird Season

It’s that time of the year again when snowbirds flock to The United States for a warm winter getaway from the harsh weather up North. Thousands of Canadians find it impossible to cope up with the colder weather up there and leave their country drifting towards a warmer climate. As the biting cold starts to set in Canada, Majority of the Canadian Snowbirds flock to the US.

They pack their bags, buy their tickets or get their RV prepared and run away from the chills and thrills of freezing Canadian winters. Even though it has been seen in recent years that the snowbirds arriving have started getting younger with people in their 40s and 50s also coming in but still the main population consists of the retirees, the older adults

The winter gets difficult for everyone and especially for older people and therefore they get the need to flee from it. Today, in this blog post we would know some of the important information about these “Snowbirds” and their favourite destination in the United States.

First things first, what are snowbirds?

It may be confusing to some who have no idea about snowbirds, but unlike the name, Snow Birds are actually People like you and me and not really birds. It is used as a metaphor for a group of travellers (usually retirees) who travel seasonally to areas with warmer climate during the harsh winter season. However, occasionally the word “snowbird” can be taken as offence too.

Winter Visitors” is a better and politically correct term of these visitors. “Snowbird” sometimes gives a negative notion and can be associated with clogged freeways and restaurants and slow drivers.

Where is the best place to be a snowbird?

People or retirees, who move to warmer places to escape the harsh winter the climate in their home area, look for affordable & comfortable vacation rentals in the warm spots of Sun Belt. There are a number of places all over these states in the United States which are suitable for the snow birders to make it their temporary home and save themselves from the rigid colder climate.

Florida

New York, Michigan, Ohio, St. Petersburg, Big Pine Key, Cocoa Beach, Treasure Island, The Villages, HOLLYWOOD. Florida as a whole is well-known for being a popular winter place for snowbirds. The season begins in October and lasts through April, making it the ideal place for sun, sand, and a variety of outdoor activities. Water enthusiasts will find many activities to keep them busy during the winter months, including sailing, boating, and fishing. There are other various activities to keep oneself engaged like art classes, taking pottery classes, viewing exhibits, or watching performances by the Panama City Symphony.

Georgia

Tybee Island, Savannah, Kingsland, Jekyll Island, Brunswick

Texas

Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi

California

Edenton is a beautiful place with the best location for snowbirds. It’s been said that it is “the pretty tiny town in the South,” and it’s a terrific spot to gain knowledge about history while living close to the water. There is so much history attached to the city that the history geeks will love to visit North Carolina.

Another excellent snowbird destination is the West Coast. Temecula, which is found southeast of Los Angeles, flaunts bright days with temperatures that seldom fall under 66 degrees. Aside from the Temecula Valley wineries, there are hot air balloon tours and even numerous famous golf courses.

Nevada

Las Vegas, Laughlin, Mesquite, Boulder City.

New Mexico

Caballo, Tucumcari, Alamogordo, Las Cruces.

Arizona

According to surveys, Maximum numbers of snowbirds are expected to land to the Sunshine state every year. Florida State claims to have more than 810,000 “snowbirds” each year hence being the King of the Canadian Snowbird destination in the entire United States. The renowned beaches, lots of sunshine and warm climate of the state unsurprisingly attract the tourists most. Snowbirds find endless options for outdoor activities, water sports, fine dining and shopping here. New York is the favourite among these snowbirds to have a great time in the warmth, Michigan closing second and Ohio coming third in the favourite list of the snowbirds.

What state has the most snowbirds?

According to surveys, Maximum numbers of snowbirds are expected to land to the Sunshine state every year. Florida State claims to have more than 810,000 “snowbirds” each year hence being the King of the Canadian Snowbird destination in the entire United States. The renowned beaches, lots of sunshine and warm climate of the state unsurprisingly attract the tourists most. Snowbirds find endless options for outdoor activities, water sports, fine dining and shopping here. New York is the favourite among these snowbirds to have a great time in the warmth, Michigan closing second and Ohio coming third in the favourite list of the snowbirds.

Where do snowbirds go in Arizona?

The southern part of state Arizona especially has the maximum number of destinations for these travellers. The apt low humidity, mild temperatures and stunning views make it the perfect location for snowbirds to jump right in. Some of the places in Arizona State for snowbirds are:

Yuma, Arizona

Yuma is one of the top spots for snowbirds looking to escape the chills of winter. The city is situated on the border of California & Mexico and has been named as the sunniest place on earth. If this makes you think that is Yuma the hottest city in the US? Then No, it’s not the hottest but definitely the sunniest & among the hotter & prettier ones. Yuma is also the warmest place in Arizona during the winter season. Another question to come into the mind of people before coming to Yuma is whether Yuma AZ is a safe place to live for snowbirds?

The answer to this is a big Yes. A large number of people come to visit Yuma and make it their temporary homes during needed times. The population of this city almost doubles during snowbird season as they come flocking here to enjoy Sunshine. During your stay here, snowbirds Yuma enjoy the golf courses or casinos nearby or just a relaxing sleep in the sun.

Flagstaff, Arizona

Hidden in the shadow of the great Grand Canyon, this town is an amazing place to stay being away from the winter. It also has one of the most loved National Parks in the country and a great number of options for camping for Snowbirds.

Quartzsite, Arizona

This the place is a definitive snowbird destination. This sleepy desert gets transfigured into a hustling bustling city with travellers from all of the country. Tourists can enjoy the flea markets and show that happen all across the season in the city.

Mesa, Arizona

Mesa is more on the hip side of the destinations. It’s the cultural hotspot in the east of Phoenix. The city is renowned for Art with numerous galleries all over & great fine dining restaurants.

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson is the second biggest city of the Arizona state and is surrounded by magnificent landscapes with Saguaro National Park towering high being home to the saguaro cacti. Travellers can explore the mountains or visit the Casinos in the town. Also named as the “City of Gastronomy” by UNESCO, Snowbirds can explore the world Famous South-western and Mexican cuisine in the city and satisfy their hunger pangs & enhance their taste buds.

How long do snowbirds stay in Arizona?

Stay for snowbirds in Arizona or any other part of the country range from 3 to 6 months. There are short term visitors as well as long term residents arriving who spend their time accordingly. The snowbirds stay as much as possible until the freezing up their native warms up a bit. Most of them start arriving in October and stay till the middle of April with only a few extending till May.

How do snowbirds winterize their home before moving away?

As the winter onsets, the snowbirds get ready to leave their home and move away till it feels like summer again. But what happens to their home all this time they are away. If these homes are left as it is for months and not winterized and taken care of properly, they can be seriously damaged causing a big repair bill after a return. Here are some of the steps to winterize the vacant home before waving it bye:

1) Turning of & unplugging of all Heating Systems and Electricals

2) Antifreeze for Unfrozen Toilets

3) Draining All Supply Lines

4) Shutting off Water Heater & all other Water supply

5) Keeping a Warm Home with a low furnace setting

6) Disposing of Uneaten Food which cannot be taken away on the trip 7) Gutter cleaning

How much money do snowbirds spend in Arizona?

Canadians flock to Arizona to escape the frigid winters in their own country and enjoy the magnificent warm weather in the Valley of the Sun. Every year, over a million Canadians, visit Arizona, spending over a billion dollars. Snowbirds from Canada own or rent over 100,000 residences in Arizona, spending an additional $1.4 billion over the course of a four-month visit, bringing total Canadian tourism to $2.4 billion.

Which city in Arizona has the best year-round weather?

Arizona is the best state for snowbirds as it has the best weather throughout the year. Over there the city of Yuma is the best city as it has a subtle climate throughout the year. Yuma has the nicest weather because the Colorado River brings in colder air on a regular basis.

The rainfall total is low, resulting in a drier, less humid climate to live in. Yuma is known as the “sunniest city on the planet,” with an average of 4,055 of 4,456 hours of sunshine each year. Humidity, normal rainfall, and ground saturation are all factors that contribute to Yuma’s pleasant weather, making it so welcoming.

Yuma’s air quality is also a major role in the climate’s environmental variables. With such low wind speeds, averaging approximately 8 mph, the possibility of sand flying around and pollutants in the air travelling vast distances is limited to none. This results in a more pleasant atmosphere than other comparable, desert-like settings.

Why do snowbirds go to Arizona?

Snowbirds prefer a subtle climate and in Arizona they get that preferred climate. Arizona being a desert area has a warm, dry climate in the winter. Also, the best thing that the state provides is that they don’t have a humid weather condition. So, by that many snowbirds come to Arizona. Many of the snowbirds own a home or some live in their RV’s.

There are parks where people come in their RV’s and stay over there the whole winter. Earlier people from western Canada used to snowbird in Arizona but now-a-days people from Eastern Canada have also started coming to Arizona. They are finding it a convenient option. They prefer this place as it provides a mild climate and a cheaper option to the pockets.

There are many activities that can entertain the snowbirds in Arizona. But the one which tops the list is “Golf”. There are more then 300 golf courses in Arizona. They also have activities related to art and culture, tennis, hiking, gambling etc.

Is being a Snowbird expensive?

We can say that being a snowbird is not that cheap. High-income group of people are likely to become snowbirds. As they can afford the expenses of moving to another place. Some people have two homes. They find having two homes a cheaper option that changing homes. People with work from home option find it convenient to have two homes. And they easily move to places as per their convenience.

Do snowbirds live longer?

Some people think snowbirds don’t live longer while some think the opposite. But as per our research, we think that the snowbirds do live longer. Snowbirds have a very pleasant climate to stay. They have much time to work on their health. With exercising in the outdoors and in a way going out can help their physical and mental health to improve.

The sun gives them vitamins and warmer climates enhance cardiovascular health. As people in the colder areas can be more exposed to health-related conditions. Mainly seniors are at more risk. Warm weather, according to people with arthritis, improves mobility while decreasing everyday discomfort. The opposite was true in cold areas.

If you have a medical issue including nerve torment, including trigeminal neuralgia or temporomandibular joint problem which are perilous, you will understand that the chilly temperature grievously affects the indications you have. This has a ton to do with your sensory system just as how it responds to different temperature changes. In the event that the temperature is hot, the torment might die down.

How does COVID-19 impact the Snowbirds this season?

With everything said the Global pandemic has impacted everyone including the snowbirds. Due to the Corona Virus, it is likely that the count of this winter visitors reduces majorly this season. With international borders being closed for sometimes, the coronavirus threat has compelled everyone to stay indoors and avoid going out as much as possible.

The people who will still travel should be very careful of their surrounding. A COVID 19 test before the journey and take proper precautions through it and after reaching would certainly help! It;s always better to safer than sorry. Stay Safe everyone and Happy Holidays!