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Blue Ridge Parkway Motorcycle Road Trip

Give yourself a break and go on a motorcycle road trip along the longest rural parkway in the United States, the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway runs 469 miles that connects the Great Smoky Mountains in southern North Carolina to Shenandoah National Park in northern Virginia and stretches across the southern Appalachian Mountains. That fact alone makes for a very promising scenic motorcycle road trip.

To get the most out of the beauty of Blue Ridge Parkway, you will need about four days for this motorcycle road trip.  Take the time to stop and explore nearby towns that have existed since the first settlements in America.

Starting from North Carolina, the beginning of your ride is set in a movie-like setting as the mist from the Smoky Mountains is so visible.  Head off to Boone, also known as the Firefly Capital of the World. Stop by at Boone's major attraction, the Tweetsie Railroad for a little old time fun.  Moving along to Asheville, take in some cultural and or historic attractions.   In Asheville, you will find the famous Biltmore Estate, the most technologically-advanced home during the time it was built.  If you are a fan of the Wild West, continue your motorcycle road trip with a stop at Maggie Valley.  Here you will find the Ghost Town in the Sky theme park that stages street gun fights back in the day.  Explore more attractions through your Blue Ridge Parkway ride as you head to Humpback Mountain.  Deep inside, you will find Linville Caverns.  Take the time to stop and look around the rooms in Linville Caverns and find oddities after oddities in each.

Leaving North Carolina, you get a chance to see Native American culture in such towns as Cherokee.   Approaching Virginia,  stop for a live entertainment as local actors in costumes give life to the 1800's Appalachian skills, customs and traditions performed at the Humpback Rocks.  The same kind of entertainment lies ahead at Mabry Mill as performers also demonstrate old Appalachian lifestyle.  In Mabry Mill don't miss a bite of the town's specialty, the fresh apple butter.

As dramatic as the Smoky Mountains mist has provided for the beginning of your motorcycle road trip, the roaring sound of the Crabtree Falls  is a fitting scene for the ending. Take one more stop before finally concluding your trip at the Blue Ridge Music Center and listen to some old folk songs dating back from the time of the early settlers.

A four-day excursion via Blue Ridge Parkway will make you realize that there really are so many beautiful places in the United States.  This journey encourages you to explore more of the country's four corners to see its natural beauty with a motorcycle road trip.

Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 - A Motorcycle Road Trip

Perhaps one of the reasons why people love to go on motorcycle road trips is the fresh air passing by gives you an overwhelming feeling of freedom.  Add the hum of your engine and the long, open road and you feel like you are soaring like an eagle through a vast infinite sky.

One of the places that gives motorcyclists this sense of feeling is the motorcycle road trip through the Scenic Byway 7 in Arkansas. What makes this journey even more interesting and entertaining is that Arkansas is a very diverse state. The Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 runs from the Louisiana state line near El Dorado to Diamond City near the Missouri state line.  As you ride along the Scenic Byway 7, you will not only experience Arkansas's diverse geography, but also its diversity in culture and entertainment.

Kick off your Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 road trip on your motorcycle through verdant farmlands and timberlands and through the Ouachitas where you get to enjoy having a bird's eye view of the natural beauty of the Ouachita Mountains. From the Ouachitas, head off to the Hot Springs, also known as the Spa City to motorists.  Hot Springs is considered the perfect motorcycle destination where travelers get to rest and unwind after the ride through the mountains. In Hot Springs, you will find works of artists, a wide variety of restaurants from the regular American barbecue and steak to Italian and German cuisine, a very colorful nightlife, numerous room accommodations and three lakes, including the state's largest.

Ride on your motorcycle road trip through Arkansas River Valley, which lies between the Ouachita region and the Ozark region, to the very abundant Ozark Mountains.  Take a stop at the Eureka Springs, an old-fashioned town located in the Ozarks.  It is one of the favorite stops of motorcyclists because of its friendly atmosphere. In Eureka Springs, you will find unusual shops, bars and cafes, restaurants, hotels and Bed and Breakfast's.  Eureka Springs is a great motorcycle destination as it is only miles from major metropolitan areas like Fayetteville.  If you wish to join hundreds of thousands of other motorcyclists in their annual biker rally, you might want to take your road trip some time in September as they hold their Bikes, Blues and BBQ in Fayetteville. This gathering runs for three days and benefits local charities.

People normally avoid going to big cities when going on a motorcycle road trip. The appealing attractions of Little Rock, Arkansas's capital, however, make it hard for motorcyclists to avoid or pass up. The history of Little Rock comes to life in the many museums in the city.  Aside from that, Little Rock's River Market District is bombarded with art galleries, dining options, shops, bars, live music/entertainment and, of course, hotels.

As your Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 motorcycle road trip winds down, head off to Mountain View, a place considered the ultimate motorcycle destination in Arkansas. Within Mountain View you will find world-known trout fishing venues, picnic sites, campgrounds and scenic roads with the most beautiful areas in the state that seem to be endless. The music entertainment in the courthouse square where locals and visitors are invited to jam with the performers will definitely make you feel welcomed. In the courthouse square, you will find shops with unique handcrafted items ideal for souvenirs. The Ozark Folk Center and State Park is also located in Mountain View, where performers depict the lifestyle and music of the Ozarks.

Arkansas's natural beauty, geographical and cultural diversity and eclectic destinations are the reasons why the state is gaining popularity among motorcycling enthusiasts. The smooth strip of asphalt spread through Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 makes it even more inviting to experience. Without a doubt, this Arkansas journey is one of the best motorcycle road trip any biker would ask for.

Arizona Motorcycle Road Trip on Route 66

It is very apparent why people who love motorcycle road trips get their kicks on Route 66.  Fondly called the Mother Road by motorists, the twists and turns, graphic views and historically rich surrounding towns of the legendary Route 66 make the journey through it worth riding for all road trip enthusiasts.

You can plan your motorcycle road trip along Route 66 in segments, or if you have the time ride the whole thing.  Take Arizona, for example for a partial trip. Arizona is one of the states that benefited from the restoration as part of the National Scenic Byway program, along with Illinois and New Mexico. The ride through Arizona via Route 66 gives you a ride to remember. What more can you ask for? The view is just so picturesque - wide open range, multiple colored mountains and clear blue Arizona sky.  Being on a motorcycle on the open road completes the perfect portrait with the perfect backdrop.

Let your Route 66 motorcycle road trip start in Oatman, Arizona.  Oatman is a rustic town with buildings still in their original structures and residents come in the form of friendly people and burrows. Take the time to stop and look around or feed the burrows with feeds from the town's stores.  Continue to Kingman to get on with your adventure.  Spice up your road trip through a stretch of not-so-frightening ghost towns - Hackberry, Valentine, Peach Springs, Seligman and Ashfork.  Get an early 1900's atmosphere in these towns where ruins of roadhouses, cafes, gas stations and school houses are seen in the streets. In the streets of Hackberry, in particular, Model T Ford's still run down. The Diamond Creek and Colorado River are just within driving range from Peach Springs, and it is indeed very tempting to stop on those two places through the Hualapai Indian Reservation. However, authorities no longer allow motorcycles to go on that route for the road is too rough for the bikes.

Carrying on, your motorcycle road trip leads you to Seligman.  Stop by at Seligman's famous Sno-Cap Drive-In for their tasty burger, a cup of coffee or an ice cream.  In Seligman, shops with Route 66 souvenirs scatter all over the place. If you are looking for mugs, photos, fridge magnets and other Route 66 memorabilia, Seligman is the place where you should get them!

Make Williams your last stop on this motorcycle road trip.  Sit back, relax and enjoy a street gunfight show where locals perform and reenact the gun fights during the time of the Wild West, with horse-drawn carriages all around to complete the setting of the performance. You might be able to hear cheers and laughters of little local children from a nearby carnival. Wrap up your Route 66 journey with a meal at Rod's Steakhouse, where the food, ambiance and service are just super! The old west cattleman's setting of the family-friendly Rod's Steakhouse makes it so ambient to take the time and reflect on the sceneries you have seen as well as the people you have met along the way. From where you are, you might even chance upon the steam train loaded with tired, but extremely satisfied tourists coming back from the Grand Canyon.

The ride  in Arizona through Route 66 is an experience to remember. Though, after this, you probably would want to expand your stretch it much further.  Take it one step at a time. That way, you get to have the luxury of spending enough time in one particular destination. After all, it is the places you see and the things you experience that make you want to plan your next motorcycle road trip.

Coronado Trail Motorcycle Road Trip

One of the best motorcycle road trip experiences you can ever have is riding through the Coronado Scenic Trail in Arizona.  While your eyes see all the enchanting landscapes along the way, let your mind wander (not too far) back in time when the Spanish conquerors and businessmen roamed around the state.  The time of the Conquistadors mounted on their horses is gone. Now, it is your turn to find yourself on the same road mounted on a horsepower-generated mode of transportation.

Kick of your journey at the town of Springerville.   What makes Springerville a good starting point is the Casa Malpais where you can visit the Casa Malpais Indian Ruins and the Casa Malpais Archaeological Park. The park allows visitors to join the area's recreational activities.  Take a break from your motorcycle road trip and take a close look at the preserved Mongolian culture area.

Ride to Eagar, the Gateway to Arizona's White Mountains.  No matter what season you plan to take your motorcycle road trip, you are sure to find something you want to see or do - warm spring weather with blossoming flowers, sunny summer with its cool nights, and the brown and orange colors of fall.  Take the U.S. Highway 180 to get to your next stop:  Alpine.  This commercial town is home to settlers and ranchers.  Relax those riding muscles  and enjoy yourself on the vast mountain meadow watching bald eagles, osprey, geese and wild swans.

Continue forward and visit the Hannagan Meadow where the name Coronado Trail was first coined in 1926.  Check in the very hospitable Hannagan Meadow Lodge for the night and enjoy its rustic atmosphere.  Both the cabins and the lodge's restaurant, the Hannagan Meadow Dining Room, offer scenic views of the vast forest.  They are also adjacent a large meadow where elk and deer herds can be seen grazing. From time to time, you might even see some bears, bobcats and wolves.  If you wish to do some extreme sports while you are at the Hannagan Meadow Lodge, activities such as hiking, mountain biking and cross country skiing are available, with equipment available for rent.

The last stop of your Coronado Trail motorcycle road trip should be at the Morenci Open Pit Mine.  It is currently visited by people from all over the United States because of its great reputation: copper, silver, turquoise and, of course, gold.  The Morenci Open Pit Mine is currently the largest mine and copper producer in North America.  People visiting the place go to the Morenci Mine Overlook to see breathtaking views of the mountains that are constantly being mined to provide copper to the country's vehicles, houses and other industries.

The fascinating sights and the stories of nomadic life they represent make the Coronado Trail trip a most memorable one, and perfect for a motorcycle. The open roads and ability to discover more of the country's history and culture make this trail perfect for a motorcycle road trip.

Montana Family Adventure Vacation

If you think glamour and camping cannot be used in one sentence, think again.  Put the two words together - glamping - and you've got the The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana , a great place to have a family adventure vacation.

The Resort at Paws Up, or Paws Up Resort, is fairly new, but it has already been awarded the Andrew Harper Grand Award this year for its luxurious amenities.  Whether you stay in their first-class lodging homes (such as the Big Timber Homes, Meadow Homes, Blackfoot River Lodge, Morris Farmhouse and The Bunkhouse) or their luxurious tents called the Tent City, this vast Montana property assures you that wherever you are, you're sure to get a view.

Wander about this 37,000-acre playground with your children and you'll start to feel like a child yourself again.  Maximize your vacation by joining the adventurous activities Paws Up lines up for you.  They have different activities for the summer (equestrian excursions, fly-fishing, ATV tours, mountain biking, golf, other lake activities and more) and for the winter; snowmobiling, dog sledding, winter ATV, sleigh rides, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.  So going on a family trip to Paws Up is always in season!

Nature hiking along the trail, bird watching and horseback riding lessons add to the already mentioned amazing activities. Your children will surely want to join the Paws Up Kids Corps of Discovery where 5-12 year-old kids enjoy daily excursions with different themes each day of the week. The daily programs also include activities and crafts appropriate to your children's ages. The Kid's Corral is another attraction for your kids at the resort that has a playground, arcade and other games.  Babysitting services are also offered to younger kids.

The list of activities continues! They have cooking classes and photography lessons.   People who are checked in are also welcomed to sign up for the conferences and public talks Paws Up hold for people of various expertise, Montana wildlife experts and local authors.

When you are in the mood for a little relaxation mixed perfectly with outdoor family adventure vacation, set your GPS navigation for Montana, and fun is dead ahead.

California Family Road Trip

California is a fantastic destination for a road trip.  Get the adrenaline rush pumping in your veins and get ready to see and do. There are so many options for a California family road trip, so take your time and plan your trip well.

Start off your trip expedition in San Jose, the third largest city in California and the tenth largest in the entire United States.   Whatever your preference of entertainment or attraction, you're sure to find one that will thrill your family.  The Japanese Friendship Garden located in Kelley Park in central San Jose is so serene - ideal for laid-back families.  This garden is somewhat a replica of Korakuen Park in Okayama, Japan, incidentally a sister-city of San Jose.  All throughout the garden, you'll see pathways, bridges, ponds and other relaxing settings that showcase the exquisite fine art of classic Japanese landscape design. If  you like spooky adventures, then the Winchester Mystery House is the place for you.  The mansion took 38 years non-stop to be constructed and has oddities scattered all over the house.  Also worth mentioning and stopping for is the Children's Discovery Museum in Downtown San Jose.

What is a road trip to California if you don't stop and have a taste of its wine?  Napa Valley is located in Napa County and is widely known for its wine production.  Taking its cue from the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, Napa Valley hosts wine tasting for millions of people every year.  Because of this, Napa Valley is now second to Disneyland when it comes to attracting visitors in California.  Let your kids explore the vineyard while you and your spouse relax with a glass (or two) of Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon.  Continue the next day to a destination located in the Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties:  Yosemite National Park.  The park is known all over the world for its waterfalls, streams, granite cliffs, biological diversity, and the Giant Sequoias (which means big trees -- and boy, they are big!).  The Yosemite National Park offers many types of accommodations, so if you plan to see all 761,266 acres of Yosemite (or at least a quarter of it), you might want to check in one of the many cabins, hotels and vacation homes in the area.

Conclude your California family road trip with a drive to Lake Tahoe, where California and Nevada meet.  Whether you're in the North or South Lake Tahoe, you're sure to find activities for you and your kids to do, as well as events to keep the family entertained.  Winter, spring, summer or fall, there are different itineraries to choose from.

The numerous remarkable sights and destinations California offers, makes this driving experience worth taking.  California is indeed one of the best places in the world to bond with your whole family with a great road trip!

Colorado Road Trip - Mesa Verde National Park

The best way to start your family Colorado road trip planning is to learn about the attractions you want to visit.  In Colorado,  for instance, there are so many things to see and things to do. Take the time to ask your kids what they find most interesting and be sure that at least one of each kid's point of interest is included in your itinerary.

Start off your Colorado road trip through the US route 50 and you find yourself in a city called Montrose.  One of the best things about family road trips is that you're sure to find something educational for your kids to do.  Montrose is home to a number of museums for you and your children to explore - the Historical Society Museum, the Ute Indian Museum and The Climbing Tree Children's Museum.  Probing these museums would take the whole day so consider spending the night in Montrose.  There are a lot of available accommodations in this city like the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, Hampton Inn, Elk Mountain Resort and more.

Head off to Mancos next for another day of activities.  Be sure to have breakfast before you leave, though, because Mancos is a 3-hour drive from Montrose.  Have your cameras ready to capture your children's laughter while they're mounted on horses for an afternoon of horseback riding. There are also stagecoach rides available for younger kids.  Move along to Cortez and absorb the beauty of the ancient Puebloan culture manifested in its surroundings. Take the time to visit the Cortez Cultural Center in Downtown Cortez to learn about the history and culture of the Four Corners.  Along with the Holiday Inn Express, there are also other suites and inns in Cortez for you to spend the night.

Just 9 miles east of Cortez is the Mesa Verde National Park.  The park is also accessible from Mancos through the US Highway 60.  Take this opportunity for a good hike with the kids along the park's hiking trails and enjoy a good view of the Mesa Verde ruins, which are said to be the most well-preserved ruins in the United States.  Guided and self-guided tours are available.  Sites that require ticket purchases are the Cliff Palace, Balcony House and Long House.  If you travel during the months of March until November, your kids will get to enjoy a visit to the Spruce Tree House.

The attractions in these Colorado cities will surely give your kids a great family road trip experience. You're definitely going to want to do this driving expedition more often.

California Central Coast Family Road Trip

Now is a great time to plan a getaway with your family to the golden state of California! There are so many things to see, it will probably take you weeks to visit them all.  To make your family trip planning easier, here are some suggested destinations and attractions you might want to consider for your Californian family road trip.

Begin your California adventure at Big Sur.  This is a region in the central California coast where the mountains of Santa Lucia stand from the Pacific Ocean. Big Sur is where you'll find the Cone Peak, the highest coastal mountain in the lower states.  It stands a little over 5,000 feet above sea level. You will also find one of the world's highest single-span concrete arch bridges, the Bixby Bridge which runs 13 miles.

Moving along to the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County, you'll find a small town blessed with rich history in arts, Carmel-by-the-Sea or simply Carmel.  The town is the hometown of a lot of artists, poets, writers and actors.  Early city offices were even dominated by these artists. Actors such as Herbert Heron and Clint Eastwood also served in this city. There are a lot of art galleries (African Odyssey, Center for Photographic Art), historic sites (First Murphy House), orchestras (Monterey Symphony), theaters/auditoriums (Golden Bough Theater, Carl Cherry Center for Arts), and more that await the culture enthusiasts.

While you're in Monterey County, take the time to visit the city of Monterey.  Known for the rich history of their resident artists, they are also known for their much famed fishery and, of course, their cheese: Monterey Jack! You'll also find quite a number of undergraduate and graduate schools in Monterey - Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Defense Language Institute and the California State University Monterey Bay. There are also attractions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey American Viticultural Area, Fisherman's Wharf, and Marine Mammal Center in the area.

Wrap up your California road trip as you move forward to Santa Cruz.  The town is best known for its Coastal Redwoods and beaches.  Remember to bring bathing suits on this trip as the idyllic beaches of Santa Cruz will surely tempt you to dive in!  It is also proud to have prestigious colleges and universities such as the University of California Santa Cruz and the Cabrillo College.

All throughout this trip, there are a significant number of hotels, cabins and inns to take care of your accommodation needs. From the humble Big Sur Campgrounds and Cabins to the elegant Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa overlooking the Monterey Bay to the very cozy Hinds Victorian Guest House in Santa Cruz, you're sure to find something comfortable for your family and your budget. This California road trip is a must-do!

The Appalachian Trail Road Trip

When people think of the Appalachian trail, hiking is immediately the  next thought. What people fail to see is that the roads running parallel to the walking trails, which are just as scenic as walking along it.  This road trip is ideal for couples who used to enjoy hiking the trail, but now need to walk a little less.

The Appalachian trail is the longest trail in the United States.  It runs 2,100 miles through 14 states from Maine to Georgia.  The trail is the favorite and best-known trail among hikers for many reasons.  The best sites you'll see along the way are the lovely little towns and the historical landmarks that pan out from New England, and all the way south.  What is also nice about this Appalachian Trail road trip is that you don't have to wait for the warm months when hiking is ideal.  This road trip can be done all year round.

Driving through the Appalachian trail will make you realize how much of a paradox stretch it is.  One minute you're marveling at the elegance and wealth of the towns with their luxury hotels and communities, the next minute, you'll find your heart breaking, feeling sorry for the less fortunate and economically depressed towns.  From the northern part of Maine, the driving tour moves toward Mt. Washington, right in the middle of the Presidential Range in New Hampshire.  These mountains stretches almost the entire county of Coos.  Going forward the Appalachian trail driving expedition, you wind up in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where you'll find the cozy and inviting summer homes, and the reputed colleges campuses.  Then there's the Berkshires, where you get to view the prim-and-proper towns and you realize that New York is just around the corner.  Continuing southbound from the outskirts of New York, you pass through the Delaware Water Gap and the now economically-struggling Lehigh Valley.  Then onto the simple and humble lifestyle of the well-known Pennsylvania Dutch.

From the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, you get to enjoy nature all the way with very minimal city encounters.  After which, I recommend that you brace yourself for the very American scenery you'll see from the highway that kicks off from the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and across the mountains of North Carolina. On the highway, signs going to fantastic and remarkable historical sites and landmarks such as the Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home), Asheville's Biltmore (the very famous luxuriant mansion in America) or the very tempting whiteriver Chattooga River.

Whatever season you plan to take this road trip with your family, the Appalachian trail's enchanting picturesque design would surely be one family trip you will all remember for a long, long time.

Road Trip From Canada to Mexico

The most convenient route from North Dakota to Matamoros, Mexico is U.S. Highway 83.   Being 1,885 miles long,  US-83 is one of the longest highways from north to south in the United States.

The drive along this road trip does not feature any major tourist attractions, nor is it one of the more interesting routes in the country. However, perhaps this is the charm about this drive in being understated and leaving time to stop along the road at simple local shops and small businesses.  You will find the most boring landscapes in existence: the ecological community of grasses in the northern Great Plains, the very vast lands of western Nebraska and Kansas, and the scorching heat of Texas and the extreme western region of Oklahoma, before reaching the lower Rio Grande (south of the Gulf of Mexico). Then you will see those wide farmlands with very small towns, yet another grassland that seem not to end, and the roadways by the Missouri River.

Arriving at the Texas-Oklahoma Panhandle marks the 100th meridian of the US-83, which divides the refined and cultivated eastern United States and the rough and dry western deserts.  The central landscape of the US-83 route are the small farms and cattle communities that provide everything they need.  As you drive mile after mile in any direction, the only hint of civilization you will see are the emergency telephone booths and the electric poles on the roads.  Watch your speed though, as you have to drop your 75 mph-run to nothing faster then 25 mph as enforced by radar.  These radar-enforced areas are strategically spaced out for the occasional gas stations and/or diners you'll see along the way.

No doubt, the good thing about the US-83 is the absence of the typical tourist attraction. With that, driving the country from north to south via this route is a road trip experience to remember.