Winter Comes: Mid-Atlantic and into the South & Southeast

As winter nears, most RVers start looking for warmer destinations. RVers begin leaving their summer and fall destinations of the northern central states and New England. They begin heading for the south and hence many of them have been lovingly referred to as snowbirds. There are many destinations for these snowbirds but most of them head for the southern states including Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Along the way they may stop for detours in the Mid-Atlantic States including Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The South is a great place to spend the colder months of fall and winter. There are numerous attractions, state and national parks for camping in all of these states.

As the snowbirds travel the south, they will stop in various states including Delaware. Delaware holds several festivals that RVers may be interested in while they trek to the South. In October you will find the Delaware Sangerbund. This Oktoberfest last for 3 days. This festival is extremely popular and attracts visitors from all over the Northeast. Delaware's Bethany Beach holds a traditional jazz funeral every fall on the city's boardwalk. Rehobath Beach holds a famous Sea Witch Halloween and Fiddler's Festival at the end of October. Sussex County is popular for their Punkin Chunkin where pumpkins are shot by hydraulic and air-powered canons. This is a contest to see who can chunk their pumpkin the farthest.

Maryland offers a variety of RV sites. One famous site is the Cacotin Mountain Park. This park consists of several campsites including the President's campsite Camp David. The park offers camping, picnicking, fishing, hiking and fishing. The Potomac Trail is 704 miles and connects various trails and historic sites through Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Maryland also has a large amount of forest and is known for their abundant plant life in the state and a variety of different trees. Trees that are popular in the Maryland area include the Wye Oak, Maples, Pines, Crepe Myrtle, Italian Cypress and Live Oak.

Virginia is famous for many great campsites and parks for RVers. One particularly famous site is the Shenandoah National Park. This park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River. The park is famous for its Skyline Drive. The drive is 105 miles and runs along the entire length of the park along the top of the mountains. There is also the 101-mile Appalachian Trail. There are various activities in the park including horseback riding, camping, bicycling and waterfalls. Shenandoah National Park also includes Rapedan Camp, which was a famous presidential fishing retreat. Shenandoah is also known for being an extremely dog-friendly park. Dogs are allowed on all trails and the Appalachian Trail as long as they are on a 6-foot or shorter leash. Your dogs will love not having to stay in the RV.

North Carolina is famous for being the historic site of the first air flight at Kitty Hawk. North Carolina also features beautiful coastline with the coastal "Outer Banks" being famous for the Bodie Island Lighthouse. RVers who are lighthouse lovers will love this lighthouse. North Carolina also has the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. The ranger stations in the park offer educational exhibitions on the local wildlife, geology and history of the park. The park offers camping, biking, hiking, backpacking, sightseeing, fishing, horseback riding and water tubing. What more do you need?

South Carolina is famous for Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter is that famous location of the American Revolution Battle of Fort Sumter. The fort is a thirty-minute boat ride from Charleston. South Carolina also has the Congaree National Park. This park features the longest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Congaree is also the smallest national park in the country. Congaree offers primitive camping, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and bird watching. RVers will love boondocking in these primitive forests. RVers should always check to see if they are allowed in primitive campgrounds. These parks often have other camping areas available for RVers. Not all parks allow RVs in primitive areas.

Georgia is famous for the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. The park consists of the Chattahoochee River and Lake Sidney Lanier. The historic ruins of the Marietta Paper Mill is located here along Sope Creek as well. Sope Creek is popular for whitewater rafting. Brookwood RV Parks in Georgia are located both in the Atlanta and Savannah areas. These RV parks offer many amenities to campers and RVers. They have full length pull thru sites for Class A RVs, free wireless Internet hotspot, free firewood and fire rings, free fishing with no license required and shuttles into town. They also provide network broadcast television and hook-ups with electric, water and sewage.

Florida is most snowbirds final destination. The weather is beautiful in December and January. From DisneyWorld to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida there is so much to do. Other famous spots include Kissimmee and St. Cloud for winter RV parking. Other beautiful cities include Miami, Miami Beach, Hallendale, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Tampa Bay on the other side of the peninsula. Not only do the RVers winter in Florida, but you will also see beautiful yachts that have sailed down from the New England states of Maryland Connecticut. Florida is also known for their various wildlife including the bottlenose dolphin, Pilot whale, Northern Right Whale, and Manatee. Other wildlife includes alligator, crocodile, panthers, whitetail deer, Key deer and bobcats. There are also beautiful biking trails and beaches. The Everglades are also a must see while you are wintering in Florida.

The Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico are among Alabama's top sites. Buck's Pocket State Park is located near Grove Oak, Alabama and Guntersville Lake. These areas are the lowest points of the Mississippi River. The park is a 2,000-acre park that is a natural pocket of the Appalachian Mountain Park. The park features campgrounds, hiking and rock climbing. Lake Guntersville also features an improved campground, tables, grills, shelters, laundry, comfort station, playground and hiking trails. There are also boat and fishing areas on the lake. Alabama also features a natural wonder called the Land Bridge. The bridge is the longest natural bridge east of the Mississippi River. There are also several other parks including the Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, Little River Canyon National Reserve, Russell Cave National Monument, Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site and the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. Famous trails include the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and the Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail.

Mississippi is known for its warm and long summers and its extremely mild winters. Mississippi is also known for its several national parks and battlefield sites. RVers will love these parks and historical sites in Tupelo and Vicksburg. The Tupelo National Battlefield marks the location of the Battle of Tupelo where Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest attempted to cut off the Union Army's railroad supply. Vicksburg is famous for the American Civil War Battle of Vicksburg. The park includes over 1,325 historic monuments and markers. They have reconstructed over 20 miles of trenches and earthworks as well as a 16-mile tour road, 2 homes, 144 cannons, the USS Cairo and the Grant's Canal Site. Within the park is the Vicksburg National Cemetery. There are 18,244 interments with 12,954 of the being unidentified.

Louisiana features several national parks and one national forest. There are also several state parks and recreation areas throughout the state. The New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park celebrates New Orleans most famous music form-jazz. RV jazz lovers will enjoy the park as it is just northwest of the French Quarter and is located within the Louis Armstrong Park. Perseverance Hall is a famous building in the park and is also the oldest Masonic lodge in Louisiana. Various New Orleans groups hold dances, concerts, banquets, etc. in the park. The Cane River Creole National Historical Park is located in Natchitoches Parish. The park protects 67 historic structures including the Magnolia and Oakland Plantation. Both plantations lie on the Cane River. Tours are available for both plantations. The Kisatchie national Forest is located in the piney hills and hardwood bottoms. The forest is the only national forest in Louisiana. There are several bayous, bald cypress groves, old growth pines and wildlife throughout the forest. The park features camping, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, picnicking, off-highway vehicle use, mountain biking, and nature study. There are over 100 miles of trails and 40 developed campsites. Much of New Orleans is still under construction and redevelopment after Hurricane Katrina and RVers should check with campsites to see if they are open and available for use.

These beautiful states offer so much history and wilderness for RVers. RVers of all ages will find these areas both educational and awe inspiring. RVers are able to take advantage of all of these recreational areas and parks as they make their journey south for the winter. Florida is among the most popular destinations for snowbirds and you may need to check campgrounds and make reservations. Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama all sustained damage during Hurricane Katrina and RVers should call campgrounds to see if they are operating. Remember that the months of October, November and December are a part of the hurricane season for these summer states and they may also go up the east coast as well. Always check the weather before camping out in these areas. Remember that your RV is not the safest place to be during this type of weather. Proper planning and reservations will insure that your stay in these Southern states is fun, relaxing and warm.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------If you are a business owner get listed at Best Travel Site, part of Localwin Network.