Southern Holiday

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Hi all.
O.K. Here's the story. We've just bought a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland (Hemi YAY!) This is a pretty special purchase for us and we got to thinking about driving somewhere warm this winter. We live in Albrrrrrr!ta Canada. We don't really know the southern states at all. I wanted to go to Moab until I saw they have snow as well! Is New Mexico nice in the winter? Just wondering how far south one needs to go?
I guess I should mention we will be towing the 2008 Red SM5 Spyder with us!!:yes:
We would really like to spend about 3 weeks on the road so any suggestions from our American friends would be much appreciated. ie; points of interest good ryding etc.I always wanted to see the desert when it's not ungodly hot but I also like the Idea of spydering around Kentucky or Virginia. As you can see I really am not sure at this point but by damn we are leaving after Christmas!
P&V

 

[Barbary]

Hi all.
O.K. Here's the story. We've just bought a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland (Hemi YAY!) This is a pretty special purchase for us and we got to thinking about driving somewhere warm this winter. We live in Albrrrrrr!ta Canada. We don't really know the southern states at all. I wanted to go to Moab until I saw they have snow as well! Is New Mexico nice in the winter? Just wondering how far south one needs to go?
I guess I should mention we will be towing the 2008 Red SM5 Spyder with us!!:yes:
We would really like to spend about 3 weeks on the road so any suggestions from our American friends would be much appreciated. ie; points of interest good ryding etc.I always wanted to see the desert when it's not ungodly hot but I also like the Idea of spydering around Kentucky or Virginia. As you can see I really am not sure at this point but by damn we are leaving after Christmas!
P&V

you can never go wrong with a visit to Florida...

 

[ISCI Billy]

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama are very nice any time of year!
www.gulfshores.com

 

[SpyderAnn01]

We spent a lot of time in Lake Havasu City, AZ last winter. It stays quit mild there all winter and there were lots of people there from Beautiful Alberta Canada.

Have a great winter.

 

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Thanks for the input!
Sadly Florida may be a bit far east for us. I was thinking more south west states. I've been through Florida and we want to go back for sure!
Gulf shores and Alabama...sounds nice. When you say Gulf shores does that mean Texas as well? I've heard the Galveston area is nice.
Lake Havasu....I'd imagine then that Arizona and Nevada stay quite mild through the winter?
My apologies for my lack of geographical knowledge while sitting here, but your ideas are valuable and make me run to the atlas when I log off!
Warmest regards,
P&V
P.S. It was -40 with the wind chill last week....I gotta get these old bones outta here!!:shocked:

 

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Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama are very nice any time of year!
www.gulfshores.com

Good lord! I just checked the link! Looks stunning!
Very lush and inviting!
Thanks for the tip!
P&V

 

[bruiser]

Virginia and Kentucky are very nice, but may be cold this time of the year. I'm in eastern North Carolina, temps forecast for the next two weeks, daytime temps 40-45F. Nightime, upper 20's to mid 30's. New Mexico is beautiful, I lived in southwest NM for six years. We did get snow in the mountains, not much in the desert. Northern NM, near Sante Fe, gets cold and snow, but is very beautiful. Gulf Shores, Biloxie, Pensacola Fl, all very nice areas. My 1/2 crown worth.

 

[Dudley]

Yuma, Arizona has a MAJOR influx of people from the Northern lands in the winter time. The climate is just as near perfect as it gets...dry, cool, clear. You would probably stay in short sleeves all "winter". And a great place to ride the Spyder.

 

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Thanks for the reply.
This is pretty much what we were leaning towards.
So I'm guessing Arizona and New Mexico have similar winter weather?
This trip is shaping up! Ski in the morning and ryde in the afternoon!hyea:
Thanks,
P&V

 

[bruiser]

Yes they do. You can even ryde the :spyder:up to the ski runs, just don't look down on some of those roads :yikes: They keep the roads clear, gotta keep the money flowing. hyea:

 

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Alberta is on the eastern slopes of the Rockies.
As a helicopter pilot I have a healthy respect for the "Rocks"!
P&V

 

[Lifeisadaydream]

Any where along I-10 will have mild temps most of the winter. There is also some great ridding in these areas. If you do get a blast of winter, its not likely to last more than 48hrs. Check my post on this thread http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24275
for some other idea's. In the Southwest its all about the elevation. 1500-3500ft mild days cool nights, 3500-5500ft chilly days cold nights and over 5500ft snow and ice become an issue.

 

[Lifeisadaydream]

If skiing and ridding are on the agenda, Albuquerque may be ideal. You have http://www.sandiapeak.com/ in town and your close to http://www.skisantafe.com/ and http://www.skiapache.com/ and http://www.skitaos.org/ but we are hurting for moisture so far this season. When I was living there, it was slopes in the am and a 1pm tee time. Perfect day.

 

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Thanks for the links!
I think this is shaping up nicely thanks to you folks!
My only problem now is that I'm using an open trailer and have to get out of Canada through Montana to warmer climes. Also We don't have the jeep yet but I'm sure the good folks at the Jefferson plant in Detroit are on it!
Thanks again,
P&V
P.S. Maybe I could ask Scotty to pop in at the plant and "expedite" things.