Whether you love them, don’t care for them or are one, snowbirds are a constant in Florida this time of year. But even these seasonal residents need ideas for affordable places to relax.
Vacation rental website HomeToGo crunched home price data and determined the most budget-friendly destinations in the U.S., with the top spot located in Florida.
“Dreaming of tropical temperatures and Caribbean climates? The coldest season has arrived in much of North America, and snowbirds across the U.S. are swapping snow shovels for sunnier shores — but where can they find warm weather without burning through their wallets?” HomeToGo writes.
What is the most affordable town for snowbirds to hunker down in?
The top spot goes to Englewood, a census-designated community along the Gulf of America, the renamed Gulf of Mexico, in Charlotte and Sarasota counties. Its average high temperature in the winter is a cool 75 degrees.
“When winter bites, Englewood offers a sun-soaked escape with temperatures that can reach the low 70s. The Gulf Coast’s calm, clear waters and soft beaches make it a perfect retreat from the cold.”
Its median nightly vacation-home price is $64 per person, allowing snowbirds to enjoy Florida’s weather and culture without breaking the bank.
As for activities, the travel magazine Travel + Leisure notes that Englewood is home to Cedar Point Environmental Park along Lemon Bay, where pine flatwoods cover most of the park, and to Oyster Creek Regional Park, where a boardwalk snakes through tidal mangroves, allowing visitors to enjoy bird-watching.
See where Florida’s Englewood is on the map
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Another Florida town grabbed the second-place spot — Wauchula, in Hardee County. Just a short drive from Tampa and Sarasota, the Central Florida town has an average winter high of 77 degrees and a median nightly vacation-home price of $76.
“Wander landscapes characterized by oak trees and orange groves, or hunt for fossils along the Peace River. With vast blue skies, tranquil waters teeming with wildlife, and winter average highs in the 70s, Wauchula is a sunlit haven where the beauty of Florida’s heartland takes center stage.”
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida beach town named as the ‘most affordable’ for snowbirds
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
