RV Lifestyle Story and photos by Rex Vogel Planning Your North-South Snowbird Route Snowbirds escape winter at home by migrating southward each year. Selecting a balmy snowbird roost is when all the fun begins. Choice is in rich supply. Many snowbirds are north-south creatures, meaning those from Western Canada tend to settle in Arizona, Nevada and California; those from Manitoba and Ontario ock to Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana; and those from Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes head for Florida. Are you planning on heading directly south from your home location? Or will you cut across the country in a diagonal direction, exploring a whole new longitude? Choice of route is also subject to your own inclinations. Do you want to sightsee along the way, or – as might be the case in mid-winter – do you prefer to go hell-bent-for-leather to the Sunbelt? A successful – and stress-free – trip requires a little homework before you leave. Regardless of your journey, factor in the drive times and travel expenses. While you’re at it, be sure to account for the changing weather conditions which you’ll encounter on your travels. If you haven’t given yourself enough time to avoid the rst winter storm, plan accordingly. Allow yourself su cient time for cold-weather driving and bring ample warm-weather clothes to get you through the journey. Since the interstate highways in America are generally well-maintained and have priority for snow clearing and sanding, they’re a good bet for safe winter travel. With many interstate highways, the price you pay for fast speed convenience is a lack of variation in the scenery along the route. North-south interstates are di erent, partly because they are north-south routes and therefore pass through varying climatic conditions and elevation changes. Interstates 95 and 75 are the two preferred north-south travel routes from the northeast to Florida because they are direct and provide a wide range of service facilities. “Along Interstate-95” and “Along Interstate-75” are two popular spiral-bound mile-by-mile guidebooks with practical information about these two major north-south routes. I-95 is the longest north-south interstate in the U.S., travelling through 15 states. It is the main highway on the East Coast of the U.S., paralleling the Atlantic Ocean fromMaine to Florida and serving some of the best-known cities in the country, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Miami. ON OR NEAR I-95 ◆ Boston Freedom Trail ◆ Ocean Drive, Newport, Rhode Island ◆ Waterboro, South Carolina 24 | www.snowbirds.org
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