US Touring Destinations

[bush]

Thought it might be useful to have a list of "must see" destinations throughout the US to help with trip planning. I'll update this as I find them, and I hope others will do the same.

I'll get this started with the most obvious:

Skyline Drive/Shenandoah National Park
Runs for 105 miles from Front Royal, VA to to start of the Blue Ridge Parkway at Rockfish Gap. Lots and lots of scenic views and wildlife. Entry points at the following locations:

Front Royal, Virginia (U.S. Highway 340), the northern terminus
Thornton Gap (U.S. Highway 211)
Swift Run Gap (U.S. Highway 33)
Rockfish Gap (Interstate 64, U.S. Highway 250), the southern terminus.

There is an entry fee of $10 for motorcycles. There are no gas stations on this road, so you will have to exit at one of the entry/exit points and find a gas station. Save your receipt when you enter, because if you exit and come back, you will have to convince park rangers at the toll booths that you only exited for a gas stop. There are campsites available, but find a spot early because they will fill up before dusk.

There is a visitor center just up the road from the US340 entrance with comfort facilities. The road is considered "very treacherous", wildlife is everywhere, and the speed limit of 35MPH is strictly enforced. Plan for a long, relaxing ride with plenty of traffic.

Map: http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisi...whole_park.pdf

Blue Ridge Parkway
469 miles of scenic byway running from Rockfish Gap, VA to Oconaluftee, NC, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The speed limit here is 45MPH. There are no direct intersections with interstates, and few (if any) stop signs. Campsites are present every 20-40 miles and don't seem to be as crowded as those along Skyline Drive. Traffic is also not as congested.

There are many attractions (see wikipedia page), but the best IMO is Mt. Mitchell at milepost 355.4, the highest point in eastern North America (6,684 feet).

Due to mountain weather conditions, road closures are unpredictable. The NPS lists construction closures on the BRP website: Blue Ridge Parkway - Road Closures (U.S. National Park Service)

A must-ride road if you're in the area. Map: http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisi.../blrimap-2.pdf

Deal's Gap
Mecca for motorcyclists. On the TN/NC border on US129. 318 turns in 11 miles. Website: dealsgap.com, Deal's Gap, North Carolina information guide, The Dragon, US Hwy 129, Great Smoky Mountains

Dangerous road. If the curves don't get you, the other bikers will. Accidents are a regular occurrence. Watch for police on the TN side. DO NOT overestimate your abilities on this road. Borders Great Smoky Mountain National Forest.

[bush]

Jekyll Island, GA
One of the Golden Isles of Georgia. Seven miles long by 1.5 miles wide. Lots of biking and hiking trails. Long, empty, sandy white beaches.

There are several hotels on the ocean-facing side of the island. For those who prefer more primitive living, there is an 18-acre campsite area on the north end of the island with comfort facilities. The island is also home to a golf course. Also home to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Alligators can be found in the South Dunes Picnic Area. There is also a small historic district on the western side of the island. The Federal Reserve System is said to have been planned by the world's most wealthy people at the Jekyll Island Club. The smug does show a bit, and I felt a bit out of place eating at a seafood restaurant near the hotels.

But the good news is that due to legislation, 65% of the island must remain untouched by development.

Website: http://jekyllisland.com/index.asp

[tiretread]

Don't have a ton of info but one must drive spot is Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Big sky and beautiful roads (on and off-road), and some of the best Tex-Mex food in the world along with the quirky restaurants that serve it.

[bush]

Centralia, PA
Not the most exciting destination, but interesting nonetheless. A ghost town about a mile north of Ashland along PA route 61. Centralia used to be a town with about 1,000 residents, but a coal mine fire cleared the town, which is now the least populous municipality in Pennsylvania. Part of PA61 is closed to vehicle traffic, but is accessible by foot. Steam vents and buckled roadway show evidence of fire in the shafts below.

Centralia was the inspiration for the town in the 2006 movie Silent Hill. The first time I drove through the town, I didn't realize I was in the town - most homes have been demolished. Paved roads and sidewalks run through the open field that used to be the town. Smoke can be seen rising from cracks in roads and around the cemetary. Beware of open shafts and subsidence. The fire is expected to burn for another 250 years or more.

No hotels, no restaurants, no other attractions. Just a sobering stop along a route through the PA coal region.

[bush]

Cherohala Skyway, TN/NC
A short ride from Deal's gap, this 36 mile scenic highway runs from Robbinsville, North Carolina to Tellico Plains, Tennessee. The skyway goes up to 5390 feet in elevation, so weather can change without warning.

There are no gas stations along the entire 36 mile route. The scenic views often show less signs of civilization than those from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The skyway is close enough to Deal's Gap that both can be ridden (and often are) as one large 100+ mile loop from Deal's Gap to Madisonville and Tellico Plains.

Website: Cherohala Skyway Robbinsville NC - Tellico Plains TN

[bush]

Little Pine State Park, PA
Hidden away in Lycoming County in north-central PA, this 2,158 acre park is a good place to stop and take a few days on any trip. Boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, shooting range, and close access to some of the best roads in the state. Only 32 miles from Williamsport.

The park is accessible from PA44 on the west, or PA287 on the east. Turn onto SR4001 and continue into the park.

PA44 is in close proximity and is a great ride to the NY border. PA287, PA414, and PA973 are also close by and offer some scenic views and tours of small towns in the area. Get fuel when you can get it, because gas stations are few and far between once you get out into the wilderness.

Website: Pennsylvania State Parks - Little Pine - PA DCNR

[bumblebee]

I used to have a cabin near Tellico Plains at Coker Creek...it is a beautiful area