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RV Parking in a Golf Cart Community

Retirees, snowbirds or family vacations

By Brenda MahlerPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
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Photo take by author, Brenda Mahler

Throughout our 38 years of marriage, my husband and I have always desired space. As we both anticipated retirement in our future, we had a one-level house built on a small, low maintenance lot. And now that we have been retired one year, we travel frequently and seldom visit our mailing address. In fact, when my daughter was recently asked by a friend where we live, she jokingly responded, “I don’t really know.”

After our stay at Sky Valley Resort, I understand the attraction. Our first visit lasted a week, the second two weeks, and now we are parked for a month of relaxation.

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 short-term, overnight or weekends, while many visitors remain for extended stays.

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 disagreeable. We met, veterans, animal lovers, world travelers, beer drinkers, card players, retired, young-at-heart and a few children sprinkled in the mix.

Sky Valley, as many similar resorts, offers immensely satisfying opportunities. I know 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 is appreciated. The saunas, showers and changing rooms adjacent to each of the two club houses host multiple pools.

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. Each day, we walked the numerous paths without fear of being chased by unruly, threatening animals. Two well-groomed dog parks with separate accommodations for large and small dogs.

Landscaping

Each resident demonstrates pride in their space and personalizes their area with attractive décor and personalized touches. Read Golf Cart Communities are Perfect for Directionally Challenged People for a fun illustration of this fact. The common areas sport man-made ponds that attract numerous varieties of feathered friends; I especially enjoyed watching the ducks, two black swans.

The perks of parking here are numerous: no yardwork, no lawn mowing, fresh fruit to pick each morning, and shady spots for relaxation while drinking sweet tea - or beer.

Golf

Multiple golf courses for different abilities are available in the area. Prices vary but by accessing Groupon or Golf Now we found affordable courses. 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. I suggest comparing your interest with what the resort offers to find the best fit for your family.

Below are the amenities available at Sky Valley for no additional cost. This list might help assess the next place you are considering.

  • Fitness center
  • Pickleball courts and scheduled tournaments
  • Cardio room
  • Walking paths
  • Water aerobics each morning
  • Tennis courts
  • Horseshoes, bocce, shuffleboard
  • Game room
  • Library

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 stays, 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 new to retirement. We are exploring, weighing options and accessing opportunities. However, life in a golf cart community has a lot to offer with an appeal that will pull us back for further investigation.

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About the Creator

Brenda Mahler

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