Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Riding Holidays?

So, I'm thinking about living the American dream, well, for a couple of weeks at least. Cruisin down Route 66 and all that. I'm lookin for any tips or ideas on companies to use and best places to ride and see. I was primarily thinking California, cos i wanna go to San Francisco (been following the 49ers since NFL was shown in the UK). What States are best for riding? lets hear all the bias opinions!

"best for riding"

A lot of that depends on what your preferences are. I had a lot of fun riding through the desert, but I know plenty others that can't stand it. I don't feel being drawn to riding through New England but most people love it.

But that doesn't help you a whole heck of a lot. If you're going to be in CA, then the Pacific Coastal Highway (PCH) is a must.

I've always wanted to go to rural America, and meet real Americans, that probably sounds really stupid. Kinda like when you go to Spain to see the real Spain, but you end up meeting a load of brit expats!(if that make any sense).

Best thing is to stay off the Interstates. Great and easy way of getting around, but definately not what you're looking for. If you're thinking of making it down to the San Diego area, I can give you a couple of routes, but I don't know much about upper California.

You could in all seriousness, take a map of the US, close your eyes and stick a pin and and go where ever the pins lands. Where ever you go you will find beautiful places, and beautiful people.

I dont know if you have been here before or not, but if you have not, then be warned. The US is HUGE, as in HUUUUUUUGE. You could spend a week riding around Tennessee alone, and that is just one state. Theres 49 more to go.

I may be a bit bias, but Southeast Tennessee, North Georgia, North Carolina is for me as good as it gets. Mountains everywhere, very friendly and relaxed people and not to congested with traffic.

Good luck with your plans.

I'd do just what you are thinking, Stuart. Cruise Hwy 66. Start maybe in Ill/Mo. and cruise to CA. and hit as much as the old road as possible. A lot of it is in the Midwest so you can talk to those regular folk you were talking about. Make sure you let me know if you decide on that because 66 goes right through Tulsa. I could at least get you through Tulsa to OKC via Route 66, with maybe a cool one and a good meal somewhere. First I would get one of those biker tour guides, specifically for Route 66.

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I'm an Gooner aswell

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HOORAY, that makes three of us on hear now,

Up the Arsenal

If you want to visit San Francisco and then also see a lot of beautiful counrty and a lot of rural America; Start in San Francisco and head North up into Oregon and Washington.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e....070312&z=5

Soren

Make sure you dont do SF during Gay Pride, I came up from the underground in the middle of it. Got the first boat to Alcatraz.

There are a few roads here in Arkansas which would suit you to a 'T.' Highway 10 runs from Little Rock up to Ft. Smith and beyond and is mostly two lane with LOTS of other bikes on it during the weekends. It winds through hills and dales, and I love to drive or ride it early in the morning before the light fog lifts from the pastures and the horses and calves are in their morning frolics. It also intersects Highway 7, which winds through the beautiful hills of Arkansas up to Petit Jean Mountain with some very pretty views of the lower Ozarks. Petit Jean also has an antique car museum with vehicles once owned by Elvis Presley, JFK, and others.

If you take this ride, you won't regret it, and since not many folks from your way come through here, you'll here, 'Where y'all from?' more often than not.

Well, if you do come out 66, and ride through Albuquerque, then maybe Sonya and I could get u out to a local restaurant for some good ole green or red chili! An experience that you would never forget.
Mark

Just come back from the States, went from Las vagas to Utah, across the state to the Rockies, down fron Durango into New Mexico, into Arizona, loads of Route 66 and then the big hole and back to Las Vagas. Two weeks, great roads, very quiet and sweeping curves. Scenary to die for. Did all the Canyonlands, Arches, Monument Valley etc.
Are you going alone or with a group. PM me for my number and we'll have a chat if you want. If you look back a couple of weeks I posted a couple of photos of the sort of riding we were doing.
Whatever you do, you'll love it.
Cheers
Chris

You make a good point OG. Unless you have ever seen the deserts of the US (Not strawberry shortcake) and the Badlands area, you ain't seen America. Sure the cities and mountain areas are spectacular, but the good old "Wild West" has it's own place in our history as well as being just dang beautiuos beyond description. Someone living in say Ole Blighty all their life, will love the contrast between life as you know it and the other end of the spectrum.
But to each his/her own, there is a lot to see here in the states and it can take a lifetime to see almost all of it. Let's not even mention Alaska.......

I'd recommend going down US 191 through Moab Utah. Absolutely gorgeous plus right next to Arches NP and close to Bryce Canyon NP, Natural Bridges NP. The ride out there from San Francisco would be really nice too. You'd take I80 east through Lake Tahoe then Reno Nevada then Salt Lake City Utah. Go south on I15 from Salt Lake until you get to Provo then go east on US6 until you get to I70. Go east for about 15 miles then turn south on US191. That will take you to Moab. When you leave Moab you can backtrack to I70 and go west until you run into I15 and turn south. This will take you to Las Vegas and onto Barstow in the Mojave Desert near Death Valley where you can either continue onto Los Angeles or turn north towards Bakersfield US58. If you continue on to LA you can catch the Pacific Coast Hwy US1 which will take you back to San Francisco and is the most scenic highway on the west coast. Just a suggestion from one who has traveled these routes lots of times.

Moab Canyon

San Francisco Bay Area is GREAT for riding. South of SF proper is Santa Cruz mountains. Skyline Blvd rides the ridge of the mountains heading south from the city. Down above San Jose toward Santa Cruz there is Hwy 9 and Hwy 236, which are beautiful winding roads through towering redwoods. BE CAREFUL though, as nearby it is highly populated area and cars from the city can roar through. Best times are weekdays while everyone is working and traffic is lower. Hwy 1 could be your route South from SF, then at Santa Cruz, take Hwy 9 up into the mountains and head back North on Skyline/Hwy 35. Plenty of small side roads

For more laid back, head North of San Francisco into Marin County or into Napa County and the wine country. Start toward Pt Reyes on ocean, head inland and/or North. Some roads were used in the Tour of California bike race which are nice cruising roads.

There are other hill roads to south and east, but fewer trees, drier and hotter. I like the greener, cooler Santa Cruz mountains or Marin County.

Keep going North up Hwy101 or Hwy 1 (Pacific Coast Hwy) further into more remote redwood forests, including national forests, mountains, rivers... Mt. Shasta area, Lassen Volcano Park, etc... really interesting areas. Klamath River valley, etc...

The whole USA has great areas, you could tour for 10 years and never see it all. But Calif alone can keep you busy for months alone.

That pic of Moab Canyon looks stunning. I sold the idea to the other half last nite, wasnt difficult! we're gonna try and rope in a couple of friends to come aswell.

Probably come for a week, starting in LA and finishing in SF, so its just a case of were i go inbetween there.

So much to see, sooooo little time.

Thanks guys.

A week aint going to be long enough bro, you will have to talk her into two

Thats easier said than done!

Well if you can camp out or get enough people from BA.com to put you up for a night, you can probably plan a route across the entire United States and have all the locals show you the best places to ride. After seeing some of those great pics of the west, I am ready to go on a road trip myself and I've already seen a lot of the western US. Moab Canyon is now on my short list of destinations.