 TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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I'm planning a trip to the US in 2013 with my wife after I am made redundant.
Just wondering from a BA.Com fellow motorcyclist's point of view, what the top 10 must sees would be according to you?
We have no fixed agenda as of yet so let it rip. Any links would be most appreciated.
btw, I have never been to the US before.
John Quinnell
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Loquacious
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Depends what you're into. I've been a few times and love it. If you're over that side of the States, Las Vegas is crazy. Worth experiencing just to see how loopy it all is. Grand Canyon is another obvious if you're out west. While you're in Arizona, if you see one, grab a double-double with everything (means salad!) from an In-n-Out  Again, in AZ, Sedona is beautiful. To be honest, there is too much to see and do so your asking for a top 10 depends really on where you plan on being based. No doubt someone will tell you I'm wrong 
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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If you're on a bike...
The Columbia Gorge and Hell's Canyon
The Grand Canyon
California Highway 1
Mt. Rushmore
Route 66
Pikes Peak
The Florida Keys
Right off hand, I cant think of anything else.
If you're not on a bike...
San Diego
Disneyland
USS Arizona Memorial
Washington DC
The Alamo
Anchorage Alaska
The U.S is huge. Soo much to see and do. What kind of things do you and the Mrs like? What kind of weather suits you the most?
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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"You can't believe everything you read on the internet" : William Shakespeare
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Niagara Falls (although the best view is from Canada)
Grand Canyon
Yosemite
Florida Everglades
New York City
Great Lakes
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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I've always thought Zion NP was the most beautiful place in the world. Bryce Canyon is amazing, too. If you're gonna see the Grand Canyon, and it is a must, just do 'the loop' and see Zion, Bryce and a bunch of other cool stuff. It's all right there together. Las Vegas can be your base camp.
Another place that is packed with spectacular is the area around Moab, UT. You have Arches NP, Canyonlands NP (which I think is right up there with the Grand Canyon), and the San Juan Mts just to the south. You can hike in desert heat in the morning and need a jacket in the mountains in the afternoon. The ride front Taos, NM, to Moab will absolutely take your breathe away and there isn't much traffic, either.
Of course, Yellowstone and the Tetons can't be missed. Take the Beartooth Highway if it's open. The Chief Joseph Highway is also fantastic and opens a little sooner.
Last edited by Smokey3214; 07/02/2012 9:15 AM.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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A personal opinion, and others will certainly disagree, if you've seen one major metropolis you've seen them all. The skylines will be a little bit different, as will the accents, but if you really want a feel for the US skip the major cities.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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The Badlands in South Dakota (also see Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse)
Grand Canyon
California Hwy 1 (with stops at the John Muir Redwood Forest and Sequoia National Park)
New York
San Francisco
Gateway Arch here in St. Louis (we also have the largest free zoo in the country)
Washington D.C. (the Smithsonian will require at least a week to see everything)
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Yeah, I think even I would make an exception to my 'city rule' for San Francisco.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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That's what I tell everybody.
Nothing to see here. Keep moving.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Whatever you do, don't go down to the Smoky Mountains or anywhere in TN, NC, VA, WV or KY.
There is nothing to see and absolutely no good riding. Stay away. STAY AWAY.
 
Aw, bless your heart. I won't tell either. 
2004 Triumph Speedmaster (J Lo) 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner (Adele)
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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If you have the chance to explore the Redwoods north of San Francisco, get off the highway around Garberville and ride through the lightly traveled Avenue of the Giants. It just doesn't get any better.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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mount rushmore
yellowstone
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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#1 has to be Yellowstone park. To me the Grand Canyon was just a big hole in the ground and Rushmore was underwhelming to me too. Lots of cool stuff around Niagra Falls to see.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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On a bike: anywhere in the Colorado Rockies, Pacific Coast Highway San Francisco down to at least Big Sur.
'06 TBA - Black, AI and Snorkel removed, K&N Drop In, Gutted Stock Pipes, 145/42, 2 turns out.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Depends on the time of year too. (For examples) Yellowstone would suck in the Winter, and Death Valley in the Summer is rather horrid too.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Avenue of the Giants and the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Ring of Fire mountains, Ranier, St. Helens, Mt. Hood.
Bryce Canyon
Zion National Park
The Golden Gate Bridge at sunset
Glacier National Park and Going to the Sun highway
Yellowstone
The Great Smokey Mountains
The Badlands
The Grand Canyon/Monument Valley
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
Avenue of the Giants and the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Ring of Fire mountains, Ranier, St. Helens, Mt. Hood.
Bryce Canyon
Zion National Park
The Golden Gate Bridge at sunset
Glacier National Park
Yellowstone
The Great Smokey Mountains
The Badlands
The Grand Canyon/Monument Valley
Now that's pretty good. Of course, anyone can add to it but I'd have to go along with your list.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Quote:
Depends on the time of year too. (For examples) Yellowstone would suck in the Winter, and Death Valley in the Summer is rather horrid too.
It's a matter of opinion. Yellowstone in the winter is pretty spectacular if you are prepared for it.
Not much of a motorcycle trip, though.
Last edited by Smokey3214; 07/02/2012 11:15 PM.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Quote:
The Ring of Fire mountains, Ranier, St. Helens, Mt. Hood.
I should have thought of that.Right in my back yard too.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Cheers guys. You've given me some great locations to do a bit of research on before our trip. Nuthin like a bit of local knowledge. 
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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John, if you and the Mrs do decide to make Sedona Arizona one of your stops, be sure to look us up. 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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Quote:
Quote:
Avenue of the Giants and the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Ring of Fire mountains, Ranier, St. Helens, Mt. Hood.
Bryce Canyon
Zion National Park
The Golden Gate Bridge at sunset
Glacier National Park
Yellowstone
The Great Smokey Mountains
The Badlands
The Grand Canyon/Monument Valley
Now that's pretty good. Of course, anyone can add to it but I'd have to go along with your list.
It's the advantage of 40 years of being a touring roadie. I have traveled our great nation relentlessly while working and my off days have, at times, been spectacular. I stopped at 10 because that was the request. I know more...there's something great In everyone's back yard....I also forgot to specify Going to the Sun highway which is the 50 miles at Glacier Natl Park I meant to promote.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
The ride front Taos, NM, to Moab will absolutely take your breathe away and there isn't much traffic, either.
yep. it can be 80°F when you start out and 34°F, 30mph winds and snowing when you hit 10,000' and back to 80°F when you hit Moab. beautiful ride though.
•Maine coast - Acadia national Park
•NY state - Adirondaks and The Finger Lakes
•The Great Lakes
•pizza - new haven ct
allhailthefrenchpress
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Don't come here. Nothing in OK but parts of Route 66.  But if you want to go a little east there is Arkansas. Hot Springs is an interesting town. Here's my top ten. Northern Ca. Great Sand dunes national park, OR Yellowstone, Wyoming NW Arkansas Smokey Mtns. NC NW PA. Upstate , NY Northern Maine East cost of Florida Florida Keys. I forgot, I will have to add an 11th. Colorado away from the Tourist areas, although it's a little charred there right now. 
"Catching a yellow jacket in your shirt at seventy miles per hour can double your vocabulary" Author unknown
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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We're not charred here in Montrose (yet), and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison N. P. is one of the best kept secrets in the U.S. The ride (or drive) down the East Portal road is spectacular (6 miles, 16% grade, I do it once a week in the summer  ). The Million Dollar highway is pretty neat too. Dinner's on me if you come through here. Mike
Morituri Nolumus Mori
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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It's alive! IT'S AH-LIIIIIIVE!!! Howdy Mike!
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Second Wind
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Second Wind
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I heard there is a very good BBQ place worth visiting. Snow's BBQ, 516 Main Street Lexington, TX 78947 http://www.snowsbbq.com/
Last edited by locopony; 07/03/2012 3:31 PM.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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How about 10 different members of this site chosen at random. Just show up at the front door and I'm sure you'd have a great time and see some really cool stuff. ( as a back up you may want to have another plan too)
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Second Wind
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Second Wind
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I have always been dissapointed by the typical tourist traps. The only reason I want to go to the grand canyon is to kick some dirt off into it. I would also like to pee into niagra falls too, but so not the point. I would rather see people and the places they live and work, how they live their lives.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Quote:
Avenue of the Giants and the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Ring of Fire mountains, Ranier, St. Helens, Mt. Hood.
Bryce Canyon
Zion National Park
The Golden Gate Bridge at sunset
Glacier National Park
Yellowstone
The Great Smokey Mountains
The Badlands
The Grand Canyon/Monument Valley
Now that's pretty good. Of course, anyone can add to it but I'd have to go along with your list.
Yep, you really can't go wrong with that list. Z and I rode through the Avenue of the Giants last year, well all up 101 and I was amazed. I would add the Olympic National Forest too. It's pretty darned spectacular. I also will pay for dinner if you come out this way.
~Brent
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"Nothing you can be is more terrible than what I am." ~ 2007 Black Speedmaster!!
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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Niagara Falls is pretty cool, I mean, it's a big-assed waterfall. What's not to like? The Grand Canyon is visceral. It goes beyond describing.
I used to live in the west but I've spent the last 30 or so years near the Smokies. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else but there is a draw about the west for me. Things are so different and massive in scale. Did I mention different?
I seldom go more than a couple years without traveling somewhere west of Dorothy and Toto's farm. Just when I thought I was out they just keep pulling me back in.
I embrace it so much I'm as likely as not to end up in some small town ER after trying to absorb just a little too much 'scenery'.
East of the Mississippi when they close an Interstate in the winter they mean 'it could be very dangerous to go beyond this sign'.
Out west, when they close an Interstate in the winter they mean 'you will die if you go beyond this sign'.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
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Quote:
Quote:
Depends on the time of year too. (For examples) Yellowstone would suck in the Winter, and Death Valley in the Summer is rather horrid too.
It's a matter of opinion. Yellowstone in the winter is pretty spectacular if you are prepared for it.
Not much of a motorcycle trip, though.
Well, sure. My memory of Yellowstone in the winter is a road through twenty foot walls of snow  That was the quickest route at the time (early '60s) when my grandma took ill.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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Quote:
How about 10 different members of this site chosen at random. Just show up at the front door and I'm sure you'd have a great time and see some really cool stuff. ( as a back up you may want to have another plan too)
I think the request was greatest sights not freak shows. 
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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If you hit Texas, 1) Big Bend 2) Enchanted Rock 3) The Alamo 4) Johnson Space Center 5) The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Estes Park, Colorado Yellowstone National Park Disney (either one) New York City It's going to depend on timing, how much time you have to spend, and where you think your wanting to go FIRST. 
Keith
Houston
Ridin'Texas
'04 Speedmaster
AI removed, Pingle, UNI Filter, 1 shim, straight-through slash-cut TORs, Stage 1 DynaJet, 140 mains, 3 turns, 16/42 final drive, 115K
2020 T120 Black
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
... To me the Grand Canyon was just a big hole in the ground and Rushmore was underwhelming to me too. Lots of cool stuff around Niagra Falls to see.
Many years ago we were in Las Vegas and wanted to see the Grand Canyon. We were told you should see it at sunrise or sunset. So we piled into the car and arrived just moments before sunrise. It was spectacular at that time of day as we watched the big hole in the ground change color until full daylight.
Niagara is also truly spectacular but unfortunately the town is VERY touristy. I felt like we were walking around Times Square in NYC.
Have a great trip.
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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My biased picks are Hwy 1 from San Francisco thru Big Sur, Lake Tahoe heading south down the gold trail on Hwy 49, Yosemite Park (I have been there 50 times and still awe struck)., Bland road from there through the desert to Vegas as a home base to Hoover Dam & the Grand Canyon. I am near Yosemite if you need a couch to crash on.
Ride like you mean it.
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Four Corners?   imho anywhere your two wheels takes you. Heck I came across the birthplace of Glenn Miller last week,  as well as car henge.  Not on my must see list, but hey, why not? They were simple left turns anyways. Saw Chimney Rock outside Scottsbluff NE too.  Just happened upon it is all. Windmill blade factory? lol  The essence of motorcycling in an Andrew Wyeth kind of way. 
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: TOP 10 Must see's in the US of A
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Oil Expert
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Some favorite roads...Highway 12 through Idaho including Lolo Pass on the Montana/Idaho border, Chief Joseph/Beartooth Highway in Wyoming/Montana, Trail Ridge Road in Colorado, Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina/Virginia (the Virginia section isn't quite as spectacular), Highway 93 (Lost Trail in Montana/Idaho, Hwy 3 in Oregon to and through Hell's Canyon Sebic Byway, whatever the route was I took from Taos, NM, to Moab, UT (OMG).
It's not the destination, it's the journey.
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