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Asnowbird is a person who migrates from the colder northern parts ofNorth America to warmer southern locales, typically during thewinter. The southern locales include theSun Belt andHawaii in theUnited States, as well asMexico and theCaribbean. Snowbirds used to primarily be retired or older, but are increasingly of all ages.
Conversely, asunbird is one who leaves warmer locales in the summer, migrating to cooler locales such as higher elevations or more northerly regions.
Snowbirds are typicallyretirees who wish to avoid the snow and cold temperatures of northern winter, but maintain ties with family and friends by staying there the rest of the year. In recent years, younger people with jobs tied to seasonal tourists often migrate southward, following the tourist season, to southern resorts. Some are also business owners who have a second home in a warmer location or whose business can be easily moved from place to place. Many families in theUnited States often spend theirChristmas holiday time (up to 2 weeks) at beach resorts inFlorida,California, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.[1] Some are people who suffer fromseasonal affective disorder who wish to enjoy the longer daylight hours in the southern latitudes in winter. Some snowbirds bring their homes with them, ascampers (mounted on bus or truck frames) or as boats following theEast CoastIntracoastal Waterway southward.
A significant portion of the snowbird community is made up ofrecreational vehicle users (RVers). Many own amotorhome for the sole purpose of traveling south in the winter. Often they go to the same location every year and consider the other RVers that do the same a "second family". Many RV parks label themselves "snowbird friendly" and get the majority of their income from the influx of RVing snowbirds.[2] Several areas inFlorida andArizona have large RV communities that appear and disappear seasonally.Quartzsite, Arizona, has been labeled "white city", because from a bird's-eye view all the motorhomes cover the landscape in white and then in the summer are gone. While historically Florida and Arizona have been the top RV snowbird locations, other southern U.S. states are experiencing a boom from snowbirds enjoyingdesert andtropical climates.
Many American snowbirds also use their vacation time to declare permanent residency in low- or no-taxincome tax states and claim lower non-resident income taxes in their home states. By contrast, Canadian snowbirds usually retain residency in Canada in order to retainhealth benefits.[3] Due to the implementation of thePatient Protection and Affordable Care Act there are nowadditional implications for Canadian snowbirds in theUnited States.[4]
Seven tips [regarding health insurance] for travellers heading south in winter.