Snowbirds-The Top Ten Reasons Eufaula Alabama may be the right Winter Desination for you.

Having lived in areas of the country where temperatures below zero can last a month or more and 32 degrees feels warm, I can certainly relate to the desire to head south for the winter. Here in Alabama we put up with the dog days of summer knowing that we do not have to face snow shoveling, snow blowing or snowy roads. As much as I miss the morning after a fresh snowfall or building an occasional snow man, the trade off really seems worth it. That's not to say winters down south do not a have a few cold, unpleasant or stormy days. It's saying that compared to winter at its worse, a low of 36 is not all that bad.

Telling people up north that they can come stay here in Eufaula this winter has not been an easy task. As I search the web I find very few websites or articles that seem to be of any real help. Not everyone has a $250,000 RV pulling a Range Rover planning  to spend the winter months at an RV resort. If that is your situation there are plenty of sites to help you find your perfect location. You would think that with more than 1,000,000 people traveling south there should be a few more resources for average folks of average income who would like to come south. Maybe I am just not using the right key words - all the buzz when doing an internet search. Snowbird is descriptive but not all that flattering. Winter destinations gets me to ski resorts and somewhere in the Bahamas. Come to Eufaula might have folks headed to Oklahoma. Perhaps I should just start by telling folks why Eufaula, Alabama is a great destination for your winter stay.

Remember when you started to look at colleges or figure out where to look for your first real job? Some people are obviously drawn to the big name school or the big city while others like the idea of more personalized attention. Eufaula is that kind of place. It's a charming and friendly small southern town.  The articles  I read online said that July is probably a bit late in finding your ideal winter location. Not here - there are currently plenty of good options depending on your needs.   It's also true people go to the same location year after year and that is why some places, even in Eufaula, are booked way ahead of time. People come to the same place because they like the people at the location. It's also possible that finding another location means dealing with lots of unknowns. It's just too stressful to change. Cost is a real consideration for many people in retirement. Eufaula is a good option if you are on a limited budget.  

No town or location is going to meet everyone's needs. One thing we have learned from owning a campground is that  many people are wanting or expecting certain locations to have everything on their wish list at an affordable price.  This makes it harder for the people looking for what you have to offer to find you and the people not looking for you to realize this quickly and move on to another search. If you are looking for these 10 things when considering a winter location, perhaps Eufaula is  the right place for you.

1.  It's close but not too close to the beach. If you are tired of looking at beach property where only the ocean and the price tags are large, Eufaula is likely a good location to consider. 2.5 hours from the beach, you can take a trip south and leave the sand, the traffic and the higher prices for those staying full time.
2. You enjoy the outdoors- The majority of our  accommodations have a nice outdoor view and  easy access to local outdoor activities. Fishing, golfing and photography are great options when spending time in Eufaula.
3. You enjoy casual entertainment. This is not to say there is not a reason to put on your Sunday best when in Eufaula, it is more to say that everything is not such a big production. If you don't find exploring the local library interesting or would not enjoy a quite walk on the hiking trail this  may not be the best location for your winter stay. Small towns have regional resources. Like the beach, Atlanta is an easy day trip.
4. You want places to meet new people- Eufaula has so many options - whether you are exercising at the recreation center, going on a day trip for seniors or volunteering at a community event - there are many great places to explore and meet new people . The local newcomers club has annual dues of 10 dollars a year. Monthly you visit an interesting location around town.
5. You are looking for a stress free winter stay- It's quiet and peaceful  here but I know if I need services I can readily find them close by. Healthcare is good and well connected to bigger centers. We shopped car repair at larger city location only to find a better and more convenient deal locally. Traffic is not a hassle and you have enough but not too many options for getting needs met. 
6. You enjoy good food- I love eating out in Eufaula. Prices are affordable and there are lots of interesting options to choose from.  My favorites are Mexican, Chinese, southern home cooking  and barbeque. The only real chains serve fast food.
 7. Faith is important to you  - Eufaula has many historic local churches serving our community, active in world mission and open to winter residents.
8. You have limited time to spend south  - Eufaula offers a flexible alternative to places that need booked months in advance with significant consequences to early departure. Whether you stay one month or five there are places here to meet your needs.
9. You are creative- Too often a destination is all about the money you spend once you get there. In Eufaula you can write, read, paint or do woodworking. The local "Eufaula Arts Scene" will help you connect with other creative people in the area. 
10. You are on the way to someplace else. Consider spending two days in Eufaula on your trip south or north. Tour historic homes, drive through the wildlife refuge, eat a great meal in town . Come back and see us and bring your friends. Eufaula is happy that you came by.

Lake Eufaula Campground has 30 amp and 50 amp winter ( larger than average ) RV sites as well as winter cabin rental. If our accommodations do not meet you needs we can provide you with contact information for other lodging options in the area. The campground is the closest lodging location to both golf courses, the community recreation center, the senior center, local restaurants and shopping.  Email us to request your free Winter Residents Guide.  Eufaula welcomes approximately 200 winter guests to our community each year. For more information on winter stays in Eufaula contact us at 334-687-4425.

How Fun is Miniature Golf?

It has been quite a job to go from an area buried in pine straw, to uncovering all 18 holes, to trying our hand at laying carpet to actually opening the course. We kept buying drill bits, glue and more carpet.  How fun is miniature golf anyway?
It tuns out, it is really pretty fun. Three of us tried the holes out this Saturday morning using our new plastic head putters and brightly colored balls. We still had a bit of work to do on the course but playing seemed a better option.  We did everything I remember from those days of my youth playing Putt Putt. Putt Putt courses were not fancy like the ones you see at the beach but they did require some skill. I even remember there being tournaments that were shown on TV. One of my shots went over the barrier, a second went right over the hole and lipped out. My competitive nature kicked in and I started thinking about my score. My math brain wondered about the best angle to hit each shot. When I sank a long putt all the near misses were forgotten. But most fun of all - watching everyone else play.

Our 18 month old grandson figured out the point was to put the ball in the hole. When the putter did not cooperate he used his hand.  Three boys were next to try their luck- it seemed fast was sometimes better than accurate. One family had a number of different skill levels and did great with everyone taking turns. Another group was all about the score, coming into  the office to add up each stroke. Some folks played wet from the pool. Several played barefoot. Some came back and played multiple times.

I told a friend that  we were close to opening the course and he shared a great golf story. It seems he and buddy were just picking up the game and were paired with another twosome at the golf course. They took a lot of strokes to get on the green but then both sunk long putts. Their new buddies said- I bet you play a lot of Putt Putt.

The group at Chamber of Commerce was told the name of the course was Gator Golf  and that we were so close to completion that yesterday we released the gators. Noticing the look of alarm on several faces I quickly reassured them that the "gators" were all made of cement. I guess the news of  the 900 lb gator from the recent hunt had everyone thinking twice about the gators we see from a distance at the wildlife refuge.

In any case our course is something new for the community. It's a game that can be played by young and old. It's something kids can do outside with a group of kids. It's math in action  and it takes practice to get better. The course is fun to decorate and we can perhaps add some additional features as time goes by. I have heard it said by more than one camper- we have been camping a lot but this is one campground that really has something to do for the kids. The kids or those of us that are kids at heart.  When you are in the area come by and play a round of mini golf. Who knows- next time we might have a space to build a fort.