The Demographic Shift
In the early days of the snowbirding phenomenon, it was mainly the retirees that regularly were flying south for the winter. Travel agents and real estate brokers loved them because their clients were keen to find second homes and stay longer at a particular destination. Many people stayed at one place for months and used the place to explore nearby areas.
While retirees and mature travelers still constitute the majority of snowbirds, millennials are quickly catching on. Families and people as young as 35 are finding it irresistible to join their older counterparts. It seems that everyone wants to live an active outdoorsy lifestyle and become a snowbird.
What Are Snowbird Flights?
Snowbird flights are regular scheduled flights or charter flights to sunny destinations often during the winter months.
Where Is the Sun Belt?
Sunbelt destinations in the South are known to provide year-round activities to tourists. These include Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and California. The southern parts of Nevada, North Carolina, and Mississippi also fall in the Sun Belt.
Vibrant southern cities such as Tampa, Miami, Orlando, St Petersburg, San Diego, Miami, Phoenix, and New Orleans attract snowbirds throughout the year. A lot of snowbirds fly to these places for the winter months. However, not every snowbird destination attracts tourists as some are known for their laid-back lifestyle.
In recent years, Sun Belt cities are places that have also started attracting families, retirees, and younger individuals who want to buy a second home or settle permanently often for the winter. Many snowbirds travel south so they can get a better idea of the local real estate and lifestyle.
Overall, the trend of moving from North to South is not limited to leisure activities only. As snowbirds find it easier to move long distances and work remotely, they are likely to contemplate staying in places longer.