Oldphart Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 We're leaving Monday for a road trip following Route 66 from California to Chicago then on to Niagara Falls. I've got that part of the trip pretty well planned out. Assuming we're still able I'm thinking about the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC next and then through Nashville on our way back west. It looks like we'll go right through Pennsylvania and West Virginia to get to NC. Anyone have any recommendations on the best route avoiding major freeways or just for good motorcycle roads along the way? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasbin Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Fat Cat, Stu, Micmac all know that area well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-Chief Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 We're leaving Monday for a road trip following Route 66 from California to Chicago then on to Niagara Falls. I've got that part of the trip pretty well planned out. Assuming we're still able I'm thinking about the Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley, NC next and then through Nashville on our way back west. It looks like we'll go right through Pennsylvania and West Virginia to get to NC. Anyone have any recommendations on the best route avoiding major freeways or just for good motorcycle roads along the way? Thanks Although it is a slower ride, taking the Skyline Drive from Front Royal VA onto the Blue Ridge Parkway is a fabulous route - albeit long! You can easily stop in Maggie Valley at the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wheels Through Time Museum is a "must" if in the area. The southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway is a great area as you can ride the Tail of the Dragon or the Cherohala Skyway. Enjoy!!!! NC-Chief 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasbin Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 Fat Cat, Stu, Micmac all know that area well NC Chief too... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-Chief Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 No worries - hope you can make it back to NC/VA/WV soon. Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 I agree with NC-Chief.. except the Skyline Drive part... I'd take Rt. 11 along Skyline to Waynesboro and pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway there... it's a different view of the Shenandoah Valley.... Skyline is a very pretty ride.. if you like 35mph speed limits... you'll see every bit as good scenery once you hit the Parkway... for free... Skyline is/was 10 bucks... not a biggy but the slow part sucks... for me anyway.. Parkway is 45 with lot's of folks doing 50 - 55..... and it's a long way on the Parkway to Maggie Valley... Once you hit North Carolina you are getting into some of the finest sites you'll see along the Parkway so you could skip some of it.. maybe ride to Galax on faster roads and pick it up there.... lot's of options... enjoy.... if you decide on the parkway... give a should when you hit Waynesboro.... I live a couple hours south right down from the Peaks of Otter... about 20 minutes to get to the Peaks from my house camper.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maldev Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 Avoid Indianapolis this coming week. It's race week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dthorny Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 (edited) In Cali, go to the old town of Oatman, through the mountains to Kingman, AZ (note the Burma shave signs) all the way to Seligman. This is the longest continuous stretch of Route 66 left. Head on to the town of Williams (last section of Route 66 to close) off the 40 hwy and head East off to Flagstaff. Take the well worth it detour on 89a south through Oak Creek Canyon and Sedona and bust out the camera. Stop at LaAuberge Hotel and resort for a great bar on the patio along the riverbank as it will be pretty warm, low 100's already. Edited May 17, 2014 by dthorny 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NC-Chief Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 Dthorny - years ago my wife and I stayed at The Enchanment in Sedona (i.e., nestled in the red rock canyons). Wow - what a great place. Have you been there in awhile and is it still an incredible place? I left my golf clubs at The Boulders where my meeting was being held and have always regreted it. Nothing like AZ in the Fall! Thinking about a "get-away" trip for us later in the year. NC-Chief Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dthorny Posted May 18, 2014 Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) Huh, that's funny, not the golf clubs, but visiting Sedona. We went last month on a Jeep Tour and stopped overlooking that Enchanted Resort. Sedona is still nice excluding those roundabouts for traffic flow. We live down the road from The Boulders. That is a great place to stay and that spa is awesome. Riding 89A from Wickenburg to Skull Valley through Prescott, up and over to Jerome on through Sedona is still a great ride in AZ. Edited May 18, 2014 by dthorny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danw44vh Posted May 20, 2014 Share Posted May 20, 2014 When you're going from NC into TN, I prefer Highway 70 over interstate 40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jglace Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 If your around VA / NC next weekend the Blue Ridge Tribe is having our annual ride. We will be based out of the Big Walker Motel in Bland VA. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Some riding, some drinking and a whole lot of lies! Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micmac Posted May 26, 2014 Share Posted May 26, 2014 Yes we will right off I-77. We would love to meet you. Some of us will be there starting Thursday night. I truly believe that the Blue Ridge Mountains are one of the most beautiful spots on earth, and I have traveled the planet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenB Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Route 66 is pretty much gone - at least in the southwest. You'll end up on I-40 a lot. A friend of mine has a business renting motorcycles out in the SF bayarea; he tells me that a lot of Europeans come over renting bikes and they want to ride route 66. Whatever. Recommendations? I-40 through the Mojave will be hotter than a muther fracker. I-70 through the Rockies is a much nicer ride. But if you take the southern route along I-40... Flagstaff is nice, Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater is interesting, WInslow AZ has a statue to the guy that sang "take it easy" downtown. There's a weird car monument just west of Amarillo TX. There's some interesting road side diners and such along the way also. Other than that: try to take the US highway system rather than the interstate system whenever possible. Going that way will take longer, but it will be a nicer ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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