Duluth winters, where do you go if anywhere? (Mankato, Virginia: house, buy)

[joe_obody999]

I left Duluth a few years ago because of the winters, after 30 years of enduring them. I plan to return to MN, likely Duluth again, after trying out Mankato MN, Portland OR, Geneva IL, NC, even went up to scout out Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, Asheville NC, Wilmington NC, Southport NC, and now am in suburban monopoly board sprawl hell in Raleigh NC suburb (Apex NC). Duluth has it all going for it, except for the nasty long winters. So I am curious how other Duluthians deal with it, what do you do, where do you go if anywhere, do any of you snowbird and if so where? My plan is get back to Duluth, get a house again, then figure out if and where to snowbird, or if to just airbnb vacations a time or two during winters (long vacations, as in month long airbnb for the monthly discounts).

[shanmichelle09]

I don’t personally do this, but my parents go to a community in mcAllen, Texas. Gated community, heated pools, hot tub, pickle ball, bingo nights and other themed nights.

Mexico is just a short 35 min drive. South Padre is about and hour 15.

It’s a cute area, we enjoy going to visit.

[cornsnicker3]

Originally Posted by joe_obody999

I left Duluth a few years ago because of the winters, after 30 years of enduring them. I plan to return to MN, likely Duluth again, after trying out Mankato MN, Portland OR, Geneva IL, NC, even went up to scout out Williamsburg VA, Virginia Beach VA, Asheville NC, Wilmington NC, Southport NC, and now am in suburban monopoly board sprawl hell in Raleigh NC suburb (Apex NC). Duluth has it all going for it, except for the nasty long winters. So I am curious how other Duluthians deal with it, what do you do, where do you go if anywhere, do any of you snowbird and if so where? My plan is get back to Duluth, get a house again, then figure out if and where to snowbird, or if to just airbnb vacations a time or two during winters (long vacations, as in month long airbnb for the monthly discounts).

I go on snow hikes, take the kid ice skating, walk along Lake Superior to see the glacial formations. This winter, I am going to try cross country skiing.

I don't go anywhere because I enjoy wintertime. I have a wood burning fireplace and gas heat to stay warm during the worst days, but really like to live wintertime. I literally moved here from coastal California because I enjoy cold and snowy winters. I don't consider sunny and 75 to be ideal weather.

I think most native Duluthian (i.e. born in Duluth and not necessarily there by choice) grit their teeth and tolerate the winter or go somewhere else. For those of us here by choice, we thrive.

Please do not move here if you consider wintertime to be a bad thing. You will just be miserable.

[CCbaxter]

This is just a personal opinion, but I found that a week away to anywhere warm breaks up the winter and makes it pretty tolerable. I used to love the change of seasons and then up to Christmas. For me the most brutal months were Jan and Feb so toward the end of Jan or the beginning of Feb so we would pick that time to go. Then you had just a few weeks to endure but there were warm days mixed in so it didn't seem as hard to take, then....spring!

[stonevalley]

Originally Posted by cornsnicker3

I go on snow hikes, take the kid ice skating, walk along Lake Superior to see the glacial formations. This winter, I am going to try cross country skiing.

I don't go anywhere because I enjoy wintertime. I have a wood burning fireplace and gas heat to stay warm during the worst days, but really like to live wintertime. I literally moved here from coastal California because I enjoy cold and snowy winters. I don't consider sunny and 75 to be ideal weather.

I think most native Duluthian (i.e. born in Duluth and not necessarily there by choice) grit their teeth and tolerate the winter or go somewhere else. For those of us here by choice, we thrive.

Please do not move here if you consider wintertime to be a bad thing. You will just be miserable.

I agree about not moving back if you don't like the nasty winters we get, you will be miserable, many months of having snow on the ground alters the human brain in bad ways, almost everyone I know is on antidepressants.

[joe_obody999]

Originally Posted by stonevalley

I agree about not moving back if you don't like the nasty winters we get, you will be miserable, many months of having snow on the ground alters the human brain in bad ways, almost everyone I know is on antidepressants.

lol.
Well i have tried Oregon, Illinois, and am in North Carolina now... 4 years of gypsy life so far having sold my Duluth house to escape winters... and what I have learned is sometimes there is no place like home-- the place where friends, family, and social networks are. The best house in a place without one's friends and social networks can be miserable even without snow. So we decided to come back to Duluth, might not be until next June, get a house again, and learn to do things in winter and also take a couple of winter vacations each winter to break up the brutal cold that I know all too well.

[joe_obody999]

Originally Posted by CCbaxter

This is just a personal opinion, but I found that a week away to anywhere warm breaks up the winter and makes it pretty tolerable. I used to love the change of seasons and then up to Christmas. For me the most brutal months were Jan and Feb so toward the end of Jan or the beginning of Feb so we would pick that time to go. Then you had just a few weeks to endure but there were warm days mixed in so it didn't seem as hard to take, then....spring!

EXACTLY! In my 25 years in Duluth I think I took a winter vacation once or twice, and that was just STUPID not to have done it regularly! Now I have the means ($) to do one or perhaps two vacations somewhere warm each winter so I need to DO that! Like you said, up to Jan 1 is doable because of holidays in Nov, Dec, xmas spirit and all that. It is Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr that are brutal and drag on. Two vacations to experience warmth during those 4 months would make a world of a difference!

[joe_obody999]

Originally Posted by cornsnicker3

.... I have a wood burning fireplace ....

Yes, that is going to be a must for me. When I build or buy a house in Duluth I am going to have a wood burning fireplace/stove in the corner of the living room!

[lucyjohn987]

Ok I hope you will enjoy alot

[cornsnicker3]

Originally Posted by joe_obody999

Yes, that is going to be a must for me. When I build or buy a house in Duluth I am going to have a wood burning fireplace/stove in the corner of the living room!

Fortunately, most homes are old enough to maintain wood-burning fireplaces or stoves.