why Yuma?

We’ve had several people ask us this question. Here’s why we decided to winter in Yuma, Arizona, after we retired.

It’s easy to get to from Colorado in the winter. You can get there crossing over just one pass in Utah, and it’s been warm enough to de-winterize the motorhome when we stop for the night.

It’s warm and sunny. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, it’s the sunniest city in the world averaging 4,000 hours of sunshine a year. Colorado is very sunny, but it doesn’t routinely hit 80° in January.

La Bodega in Yuma — Bacon-wrapped shrimp taco at Bodega 23

The restaurants! Our kids gave us gift certificates for several local eateries. We’ve tried a couple, Bodega 23 and The Broken Yolk, and still have some to go.

There’s a lot to do, and not just at our 55+ RV resort. My Yuma bucket list is long. Even though we’ve checked off several activities and destinations, I won’t run out of ideas this winter. On the top of my bucket list are the Yuma Territorial Prison and High Tanks Brewing, a family brewery in the middle of a date palm farm. Glad we still have lots of time to keep exploring.

It’s affordable compared to so many other snowbird destinations, which means we can stay longer and play more.

We took a day trip to Los Algodones, Mexico, this week. It’s just a 20-minute drive to the parking lot in Winterhaven, California. Then you walk across the border. They didn’t check my passport on the way in, but they did when we returned to the U.S. The markets are so fun, and we had a nice lunch before heading back. Just so you know, you can each bring one liter of alcohol back, duty free, every 30 days. It’s not super cheap, but cheaper than at home.

There is so much desert to explore. We’ve gone Jeeping with new friends several times. Some highlights include Picacho and American Girl mines, Valley of Names, Mittry Lake Wildlife Area, a couple of wild burros and watching an Osprey practice taking off and landing in the desert. So cool! We are near the Marine Air Station, so we see all kinds of aircraft going over.

The history of Valley of the Names, located in Winterhaven, California, is really interesting. According to Atlas Obscura, “During World War II, soldiers training in the desert north of Yuma, Arizona, began decorating a site they called “Graffiti Mesa,” using rocks to write out their names in the clay. The tradition continued on after the war, and the graffitied area grew and grew. Today over 1,200 acres of land are decorated with signatures, messages, dates, initials, and designs.”

One of my must-do experience is going to The Lemon Grove, a family-operated farm, orchard and market. It’s just a few minutes from our resort, so we go once a week or so. You can get a bag of fresh lemons, oranges or grapefruit for $5! You can also buy fresh produce and eggs, choose from a great sandwich selection and…holy moly, Dole Whips. My new favorite treat. There’s a second location now, Grove 95, which is, not surprisingly, on highway 95.

The beautiful grounds at The Lemon Grove.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more Tales From the Empty Nest.

Jan 17

let the games begin!

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The retirement games, that is. I officially retired at the end of 2025. I’d like to say that it took me a while to get used to it, but that would be a lie. Although we sold our retail business in 2024, I was still doing some public relations work for a few hours a week. That dwindled down as the year went on since I was down to just one client.

Read “Mostly Retired Mandy“

Here’s how it’s going.

Day 1: We left our home in Colorado at 7:25 a.m. It was 20°, so our motorhome Vanessa had no running water or plumbing because it was too cold. Mile 1, the stereo/navigation display stopped working. No music. No water. No toilet. Things are looking grim. I feel like a settler heading west in a covered wagon. Where’s my bonnet?

Day 2: We made it to Mesquite, Nevada, for the night and were able to dewinterize Vanessa. Still no music or nav but it’s warming up, and we have indoor plumbing. I might just survive the journey. Still looking for my bonnet.

Day 3: Woke up happily unemployed in Yuma, Arizona, our home for the next couple of months. We are staying in a 55+ RV resort that I’ve dubbed a land cruise because there’s so much to do and so many amenities. Pools, hot tubs, a grill, pickle ball, bocce ball, putt-putt golf. Rooms for exercise equipment, cards, crafts and billiards. An AMF-certified four-lane bowling alley! So many things to do throughout the day as well. We started looking at the model homes the first week, but that’s a few years off.

The people here are so welcoming. It’s a happy place, and we’ve already made some friends. Our next-door neighbors have introduced us to some of their friends and let us know some things about the area. They also gave us some freshly baked bread!

They invited us to play water volleyball this week. Let me tell you, it is hard core. Just like dodge ball. Except we use beach balls. And there’s no limit to the number of people on each team or how many times it takes to get the ball over the net. The same player can hit it as many times in a row as needed. And the ball is only out-of-bounds if it bounces more than once. This is my kind of sport.

Another couple has taken us out Jeeping in the desert. They’ve come here for several years and know a lot of trails, which is very lucky for us. We have plans to go again next week.

We’ve played bingo, been to a car show, tried a pizza place my father-in-law recommended—Da Boyz—that we love, taken Walden to Yuma’s Bark Park and on lots of walks to the dog park here in the resort, ridden our e-bikes. I’ve gone to water aerobics and have been swimming laps on my own. And we read by the pool every day. It’s pretty good gig.

The most exciting news, though, is that we are going to become grandparents! Our daughter and son-in-law are expecting a baby boy in late April. My chosen grandmother name is Mae Mae, but who knows what the little sweetie will end up calling me. I’ll answer to whatever he chooses, but there will be some coaching from me.

It’s 80° and sunny here today. I’ve stopped looking for my bonnet.

Stay tuned for more Tales From the Emply Nest!

Apr 26

travel tuesday: lobster on my mind

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Lobster Roll at Thurston's Lobster Pound

I brought home a great New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc last night, Lobster Reef, and have been craving lobster ever since. Or should I say “lobstah”? That brought to mind the best lobster roll I’ve ever had. We were spending a week at Bar Harbor in October 2014 during our big RV road trip, and a friend recommended Thurston’s Lobster Pound. Even though I ate lobster every day that week, this is the one I still dream about.

Apr 12

travel tuesday: yes, I ate haggis.

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The phrase “when in Rome” applies to many situations. When in Scotland, I discovered that after white wine, red wine and Scotch, I’ll eat just about anything. Including haggis.

We were staying at Hotel Newton in Nairn, Charlie Chaplin’s old stomping grounds, which is truly spectacular and now a part of the MGM family. It’s near Inverness, which my fellow Outlander fans will appreciate. There’s even a Je Suis Prest crest on the building. It was a short drive to the Culloden Battlefield the next morning.

Sep 27

Do’s and Don’ts when visiting Anna Maria Island

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We are so fortunate to have spent a week on the beach in Florida before COVID-19 really set in. I’ve been dreaming about going back ever since. Here are a few things we learned about Anna Maria Island so that you can start planning your trip right now.

Shrimp tacos at the Gulf Drive Café & the Kokonut Hut

Mar 24

a day in Sonoma, California

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Of our four days in Sonoma County, one was spent in and around Sonoma, a historic city in northern California at the heart of the renowned Sonoma Valley wine-making region. Its history is fascinating.

According to VisitCalifornia.com, “In the mid-1800s, the town now known as Sonoma was just a collection of ranchos, governed by Mexico. Even though the U.S. government and the State of California took over the territory not too long after that, you can still sense its heritage. The centerpiece of town, Sonoma Plaza, is still anchored by the northernmost Franciscan mission in California—and it’s even the birthplace of the California State Bear Flag, created by Americans rebelling against Mexican rule. Today, however, Sonoma Plaza is lined with charming shops, tasting rooms and popular restaurants.”

Oct 22

ruffing it with fido: how to take your dog camping

a tribute to outlander

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I’d love the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon if it was pure fiction. Her storytelling takes hold of me and won’t let go until I’ve finished each book, which I’ve now done a few times. The fact that the series is based on real events and many real characters, and the lengths to which she has gone to make it as historically accurate as possible—except perhaps for the whole time travel thing—makes me love it even more. This really hit home when we visited Scotland in 2013. Continue reading

Jun 06

travel tuesday: wheeler, oregon

a summertime visit to leadville and twin lakes

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Our campsite at the Whitestar Campground in Twin Lakes, Colorado.

Off-roading on Mt. Elbert, above Twin Lakes, Colorado

Healy House Gardens with Dexter Cabin in Leadville

The gardens at the Healy House Museum and Dexter Cabin in Leadville, Colorado.

Lunch at the Twin Lakes Inn.

Baby Doe's Cabin at the Matchless Mine in Leadville

Here are a few photos from our stay in Leadville and Twin Lakes in July. Such a beautiful place to spend a week. Read my campground review for more details. Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more Tales From the Empty Nest. Continue reading