It didn’t matter the job, everyone wanted to escape to warmer weather once the holidays were over and the new year celebrations had died down. We found a few places you can visit while you enjoy your own winter getaway.
Taliesin West: Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed Taliesen West, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, to serve as his winter home as well as a school of architecture. Wright began to travel to Taliesin in the mid-1930s as a getaway from the cold Wisconsin weather where his permanent residence, also named Taliesin, was located just outside Spring Green. True to his ideas, Wright designed Taliesin West keeping a connection to the Sonoran desert landscape where the home and studio were built. Both guided and self-guided tours of Taliesin West are available and for details, visit franklloydwright.org. In addition to the tours, Taliesin West hosts several events each month including Sunsets and Sips Happy Hour and family movie nights.
Plan to stay at Mesa Spirit RV Resort, Viewpoint RV and Golf Resort, or Monte Vista RV Resort while exploring Taliesin West.
Thomas Edison/Henry Ford: There’s nothing better than a getaway with good friends and apparently that’s what Thomas Edison and Henry Ford thought, as well. The winter estates of these two gentlemen friends are adjacent to each other in Fort Myers, Florida. A visit to The Edison and Ford Winter Estates (edisonfordwinterestates.org) allows visitors a glimpse of how these two pioneers lived come winter. Edison’s home, Seminole Lodge, and Ford’s home, The Mangoes, can be toured along with the grounds of each estate and Edison’s Botanic Research Laboratory. There is also a 15,000-square foot museum with artifacts and exhibits.
Book your stay at Fort Myers Beach RV Resort, Harbor Lakes RV Resort, or Pioneer Village RV Resort.
Harry Truman: The Little White House in Key West was where the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, spent time during the winter months of his presidency. Originally constructed as Naval housing in the 1890s, Truman, as well as five other presidents (Taft, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton) chose to relax here during their presidential tenure. Visitors today can enjoy the White Glove Tour of the museum where guides provide a behind-the-scenes tour of the home that includes Truman’s original custom-built bar. Visit trumanlittlewhitehouse.org for more details.
Check out Sunshine Key RV Resort while exploring The Little White House.
John F. Kennedy. Richard Nixon, Donald Trump: While you can’t actually tour the sprawling house in Palm Beach, Florida, that was dubbed the Winter White House during the Kennedy presidency (it was sold by the Kennedy family in 1995 and remains a private residence) you can take a presidential tour around Palm Beach and see the area where several presidents spent time during the colder winter months. Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago is here and Richard Nixon also spent time in the winter in Palm Beach. Both the Kennedy winter compound and a house frequented by Richard Nixon are located on North Ocean Boulevard – at 1095 and 1055, respectively. Mar-a-Lago’s gates can be seen while driving down South Ocean Boulevard. Don’t miss the mural of Kennedy on Narcissus Drive across from the Camelot Lounge.
Read More:
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- Spend February focusing on presidential history, and learn about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington while RVing.
- Winter temperatures call for warm dutch oven soups on repeat!
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.