A Review of Sky Valley RV Resort in California

Throughout our 42 years of marriage, my husband and I have always desired space. We usually had an acre of property with half an acre of pasture hosting two cows to harvest our own meat. When the kids moved out of the house and only the two of us sat at the dinner table, there was little need for a whole beef in the freezer. So, we moved to a half acre plot.

As we both anticipated retirement in our future, we had a one-level house built on a small, low maintenance lot. And now we have been retired one year, we travel frequently and seldom visit our home. In fact, when my daughter was recently asked by a friend where we live, jokingly, she responded, “I don’t really know.”

In a recent article, Personal Inventories Guide Retirement Decisions, I shared our strategy of developing a personal inventory. Now we are applying our list of consideration to our experiences.

After spending 10-days in Sky Valley Resort, a community of older adults, mostly retired, we understood the attraction. When we drove away from the large community of small lots and tiny houses, we knew we would return. And during the last two years, we have spent several months on the property.

My husband, a man who proclaims a need for space, found himself relaxed and quickly acclimating to the area we call a golf cart community. I’ve discovered different personalities embrace this lifestyle at various levels, but did not meet anyone who declared it disagreeable. We met Christians, veterans, animal lovers, world travelers, beer drinkers, card players, retired, young-at-heart and a few children sprinkled in the mix.

My brother and his wife have purchased a residence and expect to spend winters in their new home away from home. An abundance of the dwellings house permanent residents, and some spaces are occupied by overnight or weekend visitors.

Sky Valley (as many similar resorts) offers immensely satisfying opportunities. As we drove away, I knew we would return and expect we will measure our stops in comparison to this resort and the amenities it offered.

Natural hot springs

The regenerative properties of the hot tubs and pools provided refreshment and relaxation. A plus for us was the separation of the family area from the adults only space. Having grandchildren, I desire an area to play with the kids but also find there are times when a quieter environment meets my needs. The saunas, showers and changing rooms adjacent to each of the two club houses hosting multiple pools added to our pleasure. Don’t settle for a resort without this amenity.

Dog friendly

The resort owners and residents welcomed pets as evidenced by the water bowls and randomly placed containers of treats. The expectation required dogs to be on a leash, but this created a safe, comfortable experience for all. Each day, we walked the numerous paths without fear of being chased by unruly, threatening animals. Two well-groomed dog parks, separate accommodations for large and small dogs, provided areas for our Yorkie to folic off leash.

Landscaping

Each resident demonstrated pride in their spaces and personalized their area with attractive décor and personalized touches. The common areas sported man-made ponds that attracted multiple varieties of feathered friends; I especially enjoyed watching the ducks, and swans. Because of the dry climate, grassy areas were limited but small parks were available.

The perks of living here would be limited yard work, no lawn mowing, fresh fruit to pick each morning, and shady porches for relaxation while drinking sweet tea.

Golf

Multiple golf courses around the area for different abilities welcomed the public. Some retirees may not find this important, but it is our activity of choice that keeps us active. Prices varied but by accessing Groupon we found affordable courses — enough that we must return to explore what they have to offer. Not only did we enjoy the terrain of the courses, but the landscape and animals were exciting to observe bunnies, squirrels, pink flamingos, ducks, and roadrunners.

Amenities

Anyone who is investigating a resort to begin a new lifestyle after retiring or any snowbirds seeking refuge from the winter should consider the Palm Springs area, but I’ve heard Arizona is also great and will continue our explorations until we are ready to land.

This resort advertised amenities for other interests that with our limited time we never accessed. There was something for everyone. When (and if) we do purchase a home in a resort these are all things to consider.

• Fitness center
• Pickleball courts and scheduled tournaments
• Cardio rooms
• Tennis courts
• Horseshoes and Bocce
• Game room
• Library
• Laundry facilities
• Restaurant
• Social Culture

We found the culture inviting. The social calendar provided diverse choices. Each morning there were stretching classes and throughout the day aerobics, then evening bingo, movies, game nights, concerts and dinner gatherings welcomed young and old. Sky Valley has an active Christian community with church services on Sunday and many events to commune while simultaneously, offering respect to different perspectives. We felt welcomed and were greeted with open arms.

Excursions

During our stay we explored several of the small communities in the area. We attended an art fair, open-air craft festival, farmer’s market, the Fan Palm Oasis, and Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival. Within a short distance exists shopping, casinos, museums, entertainment of all forms to please the soul.

Experimenting with Retirement

Currently, my husband and I are relatively new to retirement. We are exploring, weighing options and accessing opportunities. However, life in a golf cart community has a lot to offer.

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Hope to see you along the side of the road or talk to at RVing in Retirement.