Your favorite places near your home

[Mr. Guy]

Hi All,

I was wondering, what are your top 5 favorite places that you like to take guest you know in your state. The kind of atractions that when you have visitors in your home and they ask "What is there to see around here?" the first 5 things you think of. Sense we all like motocamping I'd bet we like the same kind of atractions too. So I'd like to here about what you like about your states, not just the other ones you travel to. Locals always know whats best in their area, so let's here about them.

Thanks, Guy

[Ironheadziggy76]

Just the ones close to my home are:

1. Pilot Rock, it's just a large rock formation that pilots used for navigation back in the old days before GPS. You can climb up on top and see for miles.

2. Land Between the Lakes. www.lbl.org Fun place for fishing, hunting, camping, and riding both on and off road.

3. GM's Corvette Plant. Kentucky builds America's best Hot Rod.

4. The Corvette Museum.

5. Mammoth Cave National Park.

These five are in Western KY all within 100 miles of my home.

Most of the riding in Eastern KY is very nice also. I haven't done a lot of riding there, but what I have ridden is very nice. Road RUNNER magazine did a trip report on some of these roads in their current issue.

Guy, check out that article in Road RUNNER, they take the trip on Honda Thumpers.

[braindead0]

Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park (http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/775/Default.aspx)
For those folks that like shooting or wanna a ride in a half track, good friend of mine has the place (http://www.steelrain.info)(he's got a manufacturers FFL, anything short of explosives)
For motorcycling, Holmes County is nice (Amish country).
Mike's Place (http://www.mikesplacerestaurant.com), cheap plentiful food and an X-Wing fighter mock-up out front, who could ask for more.

There are a lot of other tourist attractions out here, none of which I'd go to. The Pro Football Hall of Fame, the 'Rock and Roll' hall of fame, some classic car museum here in Canton.. I've meant to go to the AMA museum, just never got around to it.

[Mellow]

As far as motocamping goes there's really only two places in Texas I can say I like going to.

One is Big Bend National park and the other is the Texas Hill country.

Now, that's not to say there aren't a lot of great places in Texas but most of the time I plan a trip outside TX. If I were in another state, I'd probably do the same thing depending on what state.

[motomac]

For those of you who live in the San Antonio area and haven't been to the Lone Star Brewery's Buckhorn Hall of Fame, you really should give it a go. Very interesting place. In Ohio, as Braindead0 says there are a lot of neat things to see and do. If you go to Amish country, get on the triple digit roads for the best rides. And realize around every curve, there just may be an Amish buggy, exhaust from an Amish buggy (road apples) or a kid on a bicycle. The AMA museum is free to the public. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is a must if you are a Pro football fan. The Canton McKinley/Massillon High School football game fills the Hall of Fame Stadium year after year. And to our south is the Famed CR 555. Triple Nickel as some folks refer to. We ran it last year at OHSToc but it was raining and it had a lot of gravel in the turns so it was not as fun as it could be.

[Blues Traveler]

Everyone seems to know here how I feel about Agua Caliente, Im a desert kind of guy and its my favorite for a weekend get away. Death Valley is also a must see and is less than a 300 mile ride from home. During the summer just a ride up 395 through Olancha, Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, Bishop, Mammoth, and on up to Mono Lake is a GREAT! ride. Push on the rest of the way up past Mono lake to Bridgeport and you've seen some GREAT sights with many places to stop and see all with good camping just about anywhere along the way.

Plus living out here on the left coast you alway's have the coast Hwy. and the 101. Always a great ride.

Living is SoCal this is almost a trick question as you are surrounded by good rides and places to see. Pacific Ocean, desert (high & low), Colorado River, Mountains, Yosimite, Sequoia national forest, ect, ect. And all within a 300-400 mile ride.

Sorry, but its hard to come up with just 5.:D

[mongo]

1 Blue bend camp ground (Monongahela national forest)
2 New river Gorge bridge
3 Chief Logan State Park
4 Babcock State park
5 French creek game farm (route 20 little known twisties)

[braindead0]

Push on the rest of the way up past Mono lake to Bridgeport and you've seen some GREAT sights with many places to stop and see all with good camping just about anywhere along the way.Wow, I didn't think anybody even knew where Bridgeport was, let alone went there ;-). My grandparents used to own some property there just across the road from the lake (if the lake is still there). I remember 1976 they had a huge bicentennial celebration. Used to spend a lot of time out in the desert with my grandparents, Panamint Springs was fun as well as making the grocery trip from there to Trona.... weeee wooo... stinky, but ya got used to it. Last time I was through there Panamint Springs was effectively gone, the old garage / restaurant was boarded up and the CalTrans station closed....

Man, this brings back memories... post pics! ;-)

[Blues Traveler]

Just how long ago was that? Last time I was through there it was still open. In fact I have a couple of friends who booked a room there last summer as a way point on there vacation towards the end of last summer. I was suppose to ride out and stay the night, but couldn't make it for some reason or another. There's even a new gas staition right next to the restaurant/store.

Here's the link: http://www.deathvalley.com/psr/

When I was there last they had a for sale sign up. Maybe someone bought it and made some improvements. I was there Easter weekend 3 years ago. Death Valley was in the middle of a 100 year bloom, the area was packed with tourist.

I really like Bridgeport. We always try to work in a stop and eat at the Hay's Street Cafe. They make an awsome breakfast. The Biscuits and gravy are the best!

Thought I had some pictures from Panamint Springs, I'll keep looking.

But here's one of us in Olancha. Were on our way to Westoc in Moscow Idaho. and when passing through Olancha this is the place to stop for breakfast. We always plan a stop to eat here.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d59/ownst1100/1year2004198.jpg

[braindead0]

Just how long ago was that? Last time I was through there it was still open. In fact I have a couple of friends who booked a room there last summer as a way point on there vacation towards the end of last summer. I was suppose to ride out and stay the night, but couldn't make it for some reason or another. There's even a new gas staition right next to the restaurant/store.

Here's the link: http://www.deathvalley.com/psr/It was a long time ago, well before there was any resort. Panamint Springs started out for the most part a Caltrans station, and a little restaurant/store down the hill serving the very few local people and the Caltrans folks that lived at the station. Last time I was through was probably in the early 90's... wasn't any resort at that time.. I guess things went downhill (I preferred the desolation myself ;-)

[crazymactech]

Harbor Springs, MI to Cross Village, MI is a scenic route. You ride through a "tunnel of trees" along the Lake Michigan shoreline with lots of curves. M-119. Best to take it on weekdays in the fall when the leave colors are changing. On fall weekends, you will be stuck behind lots of soccer moms in their SUVs and other cagers doing the route.

[crazymactech]

Oh yes, M-41 from Marquette, MI to Copper Harbor, MI. Small mountains, curves, and wilderness. On a map, it looks like a straight route from Houghton to Copper Harbor. It's not. It is a twisting turning road through the forest "tunnel of trees" with many turn offs for bikes (not many for cages). On the way back from Copper Harbor to M-41, talke US-26 south along the lake Superior shoreline. The posted speed limit is 55, but you can't really do that due to the numerous curves. 26 is a beautiful ride back to 41. Plenty of scenic turn offs on 26 to have lunch etc if you brought your own meals.

[Bipeflier]

For Missouri:

For just camping and relaxing - Pomme de Terre State Park, Hermitage.
For warm summer fun - Johnson's Shut In State Park/Taum Saulk Mountain, Lesterville.
For urban attraction - Gateway Arch park, St. Louis.
For crazy singles fun - Party Cove @ Lake of the Ozarks.
For camping and riding fun, twisties, Ozark Scenic Riverways, Eminence.

My top 5.

[voyagerrider]

Being I live in north Texas near the DFW area. I will go with the Texas Hill Country anywhere near the Twisted Sisters RR335, 336, & 337 is great riding as well as camping. A neat place to ride and camp is east Texas riding US87 all the to Galveston is great. Just north of DFW up around the Whitewright are is good riding, but I have never camped there. Out east of DFW near Possum Kingdom lake is good too.
Since we are so close to Arkansas almost anywhere in western part from Mena all the way north to Erueka Springs. You have the Pig Trail & the Magazine Mt loop. Also don't forget the Talihina Secenic Byway coming out Mena and running all the way over into OK. Camping is great in Arkansas as well.
These are just a few of my favorites.
I know thats probably more than 5, I get carried away. So many roads so little time.
Marty

[Diggers1300]

Being that I live in Texas, I'll start there...

1. Anywhere in the Hill Country (riding and camping)
2. Big Bend (riding and camping)
3. Lake O' The Pines. There is an overlook right off the dam on the east side of the lake that is simply magnificent when the sun sets on the lake. (riding and scenic)
4. Caddo Lake. The only NATURAL lake in the entire state of Texas. Yes all the rest in the big state of Texas are man-made. (scenic)

5. Arkansas. Too numerous places to name in a top five list so I'll just list it all as one. Closer to me than Big Bend or the Hill Country. :D (riding, camping, fishing, scenic)

[motomac]

Here in NE Ohio, I have many neat things to see within 150 miles. The Football Hall of Fame and the McKinley Memorial in my backyard here in Canton, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and the AMA Museum in Pickerington to name just a few. And to the south of me is the Triple Nickel SR 555.

[Diggers1300]

I almost forgot!!!! (It is the off-season)

Texas Stadium and the Dallas Cowboys!

First 2008 NFL Season prediction that I've seen...http://drufantasyfootball.com/2008-nfl-predictions/

[DAD]

Blue Ridge Parkway
Richard Russell Scenic Hi Way
Route 28 from Franklin, NC to Highland NC (lots of waterfalls)
Helen, Ga. (German Village)
Hi Way 180 from Hi Way 17 to 60 (Suches, Ga.)
Hi Way 129 from Cleveland, Ga. to Blairsville, Ga.
Hi Way 60 North from Suches, Ga.
And oh yes, theres the Dragon, if you must, very touriste though!!
Plus ton's of others!!

[wwells]

1. Grand Ole Opry
2. Jack Daniel's Distillery
3. Cade's Cove, Great Smoky Mointains Nat'l Park
4. Cherohala Skyway
5. Pall Mall, Home of Alvin York

[Flashdog]

Whidbey Island, Washington. Take the ferry out of Mulkateo (15 minutes) over and take all of the side roads as you work north to Coupeville. Stop at Toby's for some Penn Cove mussels and a microbrew rootbeer. Continue north until you run out of island and go across Deception Pass bridge.Stop and take a look around. Turn around and take some more of the good roads back down to the ferry.

[anrfknm]

Blues Traveler already mentioned hwy395 up through Bridgeport, one of the prettiest rides around. Panamint valley just west of death valley is I nice ride as are any of the passes over the sierras. Like Blues Traveler said, California is a treasure trove of beautiful rides.

[bigTom]

From here you have to go 100 miles to the first curve. But just about any direction gets pretty good pretty fast after you have passed the first 100. So:

1: 89 and 89A from Congress to Cottonwood. Prescott and Jerome are both wonderful places.
2: Julian via several routes. There is some serious great riding in the high SoCal.
3: Highway 94 in extreme SoCal. I love the restaurant at Barett Junction, the ride is great.
4: Highway 60 AZ. The Salt River Canyon and more. If the Grand Canyon weren't so close, this would be a national treasure, let alone a great ride.
5: Pine, Strawberry, Rimrock, Payson AZ. Highway 260, I'll be there tomorrow for lunch.

More than a 1 day ride is the Grand Canyon, Southern Utah, and Eastern AZ, including the best MC road on the planet, 191 (the old 666).

[SDD74]

I live north of DFW in Telephone. I think we have some of the worst county roads in Texas, but some of the best for the DS guys. You can pick Just about any gravel road and have a blast. I havnt had my street bike long so I havnt had much time to get out and ride the paved roads. Just down the road from me is the Caddo National Grasslands and a couple of lakes to camp at. Lake Crocket is my Favorite of the 2. Ther is only primitive camping there and the nearest gas is about 20 miles away. I saw someone mention Witewright Tx a minute ago. If you take fm898 that goes thru town it will put you out in Bonham. I take this one often on my way home from work. It is nice and twisted from witewright to hiway 56. pretty much every thing else I have done has been out of state.

[topgear]

-Banff National Park
-Jasper National Park
-Calgary to Longview, Longview to Kananaskis, Kananaskis to Calgary
-Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park
-Waterton Lakes National Park and the Crowsnest Pass

[Trailace]

-Banff National Park
-Jasper National Park


Hey topgear welcome to the site. You live near 2 of my favorite places to go. Lucky!

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome to the site topgear!

[swandog]

-Banff National Park
-Jasper National Park
-Calgary to Longview, Longview to Kananaskis, Kananaskis to Calgary
-Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park
-Waterton Lakes National Park and the Crowsnest Pass

on the road from banff to jasper , just before the hill to the columbia ice fields . there is a corner that feels as if your in a lean for a whole minite . if in longview make sure to get some famous longview jerky or a cool one at the twin citys hotel

[Motocentaur]

Well, I now live in an Eastern, snack-size state. I can literally take a morning ride that goes through at least four states and still be back home for a late lunch, so I'm expanding my area beyond CT borders a bit but staying within a 3 or 4 hour drive of home:

Scenic riding/camping areas include:

Arcadia Management Area, RI
Tunxis SF, CT
Litchfield hills, CT
Quabbin Resevoir area, MA
Berkshire hills, MA

Attractions include:

Mystic Seaport and Aquarium, CT
Boston and NYC (if you are into the big city thing - bleh!)
Yankee Air Museum, MA
Cabella's in East Hartford, CT (it's like a redneck amusement park if you've never been to one).

[Rich Johnston]

Favorite place near the house? Easy! If you're visiting from a ways off, or you've never been up that way, we're heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway. 2 and 1/2 hours from the house. I love North Carolina!

[HOGCDR]

From Missoula, MT your close to allot of great short road trips 1-3 days.
Hwy 93-43-278-41-287 to Yellowstone NP
Hwy 93 north to Glacier NP
Hwy 12 into Idaho along the Lochsa River-Clearwater Corridor
Hwy 93 south to Salmon, Idaho and down to the Sawtooth National Recreation Area
Hwy 200 along the Clark Fork River to Sandpoint, Idaho
Hwy 200 to 83 to Flathead Lake
Interstate 90 west to Lookput Pass
Interstate 90 east to Drummond, Hwy 1 loop to Georgetown Lake to I-90

[Jetfixer]

These are my 5 favorite weekend motocamping getaways within 4 hours riding time.

Hords Creek Lake, Coleman
Lake Whitney
Llano, Inks Lake
Possum Kingdom Lake
Leakey, Garner SP

[Timmer]

In Washington State, here are my top 5 motocamping spots (in my preferred order):

1. South Beach just south of Kalaloch, WA on the Pacific Ocean
2. Anywhere in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest south of Randle and east of Mt. St. Helens.
3. Brown's Lake north of Spokane, WA (fly fishing only
4. Sullivan Lake near Metaline Falls, WA
5. Mossyrock Campground on Riffe Lake east of Mossyrock, WA

I've got many others if there's interest.

[deadhawg]

From here, Bakersfield CA, it's about 3 hours on HWY 58 to the coast. San Simeon State Park is a great place unpack the bikes, set up camp, then ride the PCH. (Pacific Coast Highway) Great summer ride when it's 100 degrees in Bakersfield, it will usually be 65-70 on the coast.

Or, south about 40 miles on the slab to Frazier Park, then west on Lockwood Valley road to rt. 33 to Ventura.

Going west up the Kern river canyon hwy 178, then north through Kernville, following the great divide hwy(county road 107) to Springville. Going this way, we start out at about 400' elevation and climb to a little over 7,000'. Another great ride in the summer when it's 100 degrees in Bakersfield up to the cool pines.

For a little longer ride, it's about 4 hours north to Kings Canyon/Sequia Nat. Park, 5 hours to Yosemite.

[kdf9511]

I haven't expolred the wonders of Oklahoma yet but I will share my top five from Mo since I grew up there and have done a lot of Moto traveling and camping there.

For Missouri:

For just camping and relaxing - Pomme de Terre State Park, Hermitage.
For warm summer fun - Johnson's Shut In State Park/Taum Saulk Mountain, Lesterville.
For urban attraction - Gateway Arch park, St. Louis.
For crazy singles fun - Party Cove @ Lake of the Ozarks.
For camping and riding fun, twisties, Ozark Scenic Riverways, Eminence.

My top 5.

Those are all good ones but I would go with....

1. US79 aka The Great River Road along the Mississippi
2. Table Rock Lake Ants Creek used to be my favorite place there but I haven't been in years.
3. Herman, Especally fun during october fest. Camp out in the city park and walk to Stone Hill Winery and some of the other ones.
4. Mark Twain Lake Lots of good little places to camp off the grid there thanks to the Corps Of Engineers.
5. Hannibal. Got to love the Mark Twain stuff.

[kitesurfer]

a canoe trip up the Silver river into silver springs. crystal clear water, lots of springs, usually monkeys left over from the Tarzan movies, ooccasional ggator... they also get some beach time. wife will take them to disney but i refuse that place.

[lytle1gw]

Garden of Gods state park - scenery
Giant City state park -scenery
Bay City road where us marshalls was filmed- good scenery
Cave in Rock state park- scenery
Millstone Knob -scenery and history of woodland indians
and very hard to find - War Bluff - ancient indian settlement on upthrust

[kayakinbiker]

Point Pelee National Park, River Road from Windsor to Mitchell's Bay, cty road 50 wine route along Lake Erie, ride to Hell, Michigan and Bruin Lake c/g, Pinery Provincial Park

[Ripshod]

My part of the world has some pretty famous attractions where everyone always wants to go. Once they've seen Deals Gap for the spectacle and gotten their dragon sticker and after they've ridden the Cherohala Skyway and the North Carolina loop of Sylva, Franklin, Murphy and Bryson City, and all the great roads in that vicinity, there are at least a couple more places I like to take visitors if there's any time left.

Hwy 116 from Lake City to Petros - 32 miles of twisty road with no LEO presence to speak of and not a single stretch of 200 straight and flat yards of pavement. Conveniently located just a couple of miles off I-75 at exit 128. Do it both ways, and do it soon. It's already garnered a catchy nickname. They combined 116 with the more sedate Hwys 62 and 303 on the south and dubbed it The Devil's Triangle. Someone has even opened a motorcycle campground up there, but it doesn't look like much from the road. Deals Gap isn't nearly as fun to ride since they started calling it the Tail of the Dragon. Hopefully the same fate is not in store for 116.

Anywhere north of Knoxville - If you look at a terrain map of Knoxville, you'll notice that the city sits near the convergence of the Holston and French Lick rivers where they form the Tennessee River. That's the beginning of the Tennessee Valley. Along each side of the valley is a series of sharp, steep ridges which parallel the river. To the south, they guard the entrance to the Smoky Mountains with squids, tourists and slow RVs everywhere. In the north it's nearly deserted. The roads through, around and over those ridges are a twisty maze of roller-coaster goodness. It's a pleasure to get lost up there.

Hwy 11 from Pineville, KY to Natural Bridge Kentucky State Park - Just north of Cumberland Gap National Park off Hwy 25E at the convergence of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia (See Three States!) is the nice little town of Pineville. If you get on State Hwy 11 there and head north, you'll find a hundred miles of wonderfully curvy and picturesque eastern Kentucky. Highly recommended for anyone coming in from the north for the Cherohala Chill-Out.

Well that's three. If I weren't so long-winded I would have time to go on but it's warmer out and I promised my daughter we'd get her out on her new Christmas bicycle today. Later.

[RCLafnjack]

let see near me??? That would have to be SR-2 Angeles Crest Highway.
Something for every rider including CHP...:)

[Hoot]

That's one great thing about Bakersfield it is surrounded by really nice riding areas.

[kjelders]

There are lots of great places in Washington. The trick is finding days that the sun will shine. We have the 5 days of summer....not necessarily consective days! :D

1. Hwy 20 from Rockport to Winthrop over Washington Pass
2. Mt Rainier Loop
3. Deception Pass Bridge/Widbey Island
4. Yakima Canyon Road
5. Mt Saint Helens

[Timmer]

There are lots of great places in Washington. The trick is finding days that the sun will shine. We have the 5 days of summer....not necessarily consective days! :D

1. Hwy 20 from Rockport to Winthrop over Washington Pass
2. Mt Rainier Loop
3. Deception Pass Bridge/Widbey Island
4. Yakima Canyon Road
5. Mt Saint Helens

I would add the following:

6. Olympic peninsula loop including Hurricane Ridge and 112 to Neah Bay

7. WA 20 east of Winthrop to Idaho

8. WA 129 south from Clarkston (the Rattlesnake)

9. WA 14 east from Vancouver

10. The collection of backroads surrounding Glenwood, Trout Lake, and Goldendale.


Tim in Burien, WA

[RCLafnjack]

Ok... In California....Hmmmmmm

#1.SR-49 or the fortyniner highway. (this includes the "Little Dragon"
http://www.youtube.com/user/Timmy7221?feature=mhee#p/u/0/aCM97wk4Zhs

#2 Tioga Pass SR-120 (Yosemite)

#3 SR-1 Cambria to Monterey (Hearst Castle)

#4 SR-1 Bodega Bay to Ft Bragg.. (THE BIRDS)

#5 Any High Sierra Pass 108 (Sonora) 4 (Ebbetts) 88 (Kit Carson) 89 (Mt Lassen/Shasta)

[oldmanriver1951]

Virginia is hard to limit to just five, but for my moto-money,
1. The Blue Ridge Parkwayhttp://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3074&thumb=1 ('http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3074')
2.Morrisette Vinyards and Winery near Meadows of Danhttp://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3078&thumb=1 ('http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3078')
3. Mabry Mill on the Parkwayhttp://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3077&thumb=1 ('http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3077')
4. Floyd Country Store in Floyd VA.http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3076&thumb=1 ('http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3076')
5.Crabtree Falls near Charlottesvillehttp://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3075&thumb=1 ('http://www.motocampers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=225&pictureid=3075')

[RCLafnjack]

I've been on all these FINE ROADS..

From here you have to go 100 miles to the first curve. But just about any direction gets pretty good pretty fast after you have passed the first 100. So:

1: 89 and 89A from Congress to Cottonwood. Prescott and Jerome are both wonderful places.
2: Julian via several routes. There is some serious great riding in the high SoCal.
3: Highway 94 in extreme SoCal. I love the restaurant at Barett Junction, the ride is great.
4: Highway 60 AZ. The Salt River Canyon and more. If the Grand Canyon weren't so close, this would be a national treasure, let alone a great ride.
5: Pine, Strawberry, Rimrock, Payson AZ. Highway 260, I'll be there tomorrow for lunch.

More than a 1 day ride is the Grand Canyon, Southern Utah, and Eastern AZ, including the best MC road on the planet, 191 (the old 666).

[RCLafnjack]

If it was closer I'd have to add the Escalante Highway 12 between Torrey Ut and Bryce Canyon NP

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l121/bambis_darkside/AZ_UT_trip/100_2346.jpg

[Jeff in Ferndale WA]

I would add the following:

6. Olympic peninsula loop including Hurricane Ridge and 112 to Neah Bay

7. WA 20 east of Winthrop to Idaho

8. WA 129 south from Clarkston (the Rattlesnake)

9. WA 14 east from Vancouver

10. The collection of backroads surrounding Glenwood, Trout Lake, and Goldendale.


Tim in Burien, WA

You guys pretty well summed up my favorite places,but both neglected to mention Chuckanut Drive,WA-11 south of Bellingham

[LarryinSeattle]

No matter what side of the country I am on, I want to ride to the other side.

The North Cascades Pass... Highway 20 to Winthrop.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/NCascadesPass.jpg

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/DiabloLake.jpg

Rattlesnake Pass. From Clarkston / Lewiston to Enterprise, Oregon. It is on the top 10 list of the AMA.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/RattlesnakePass2.jpg

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/RattlesnakePass.jpg

Palouse Falls.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/IMG_2091.jpg

[LarryinSeattle]

The coolies in Central Washington.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/coolies.jpg

In the wind!!

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc447/larryinseattle/Goldwing/larryonawing.jpg

[dhoenisch]

Well, being from Chicagoland and HATING the city, everywhere I go is a bit of a drive, for the most part. I mean, if someone likes the city, I would just put them on a train and tell then "see ya later." But, if they want some fun AND have me tag along (not that I'm very much fun), here's my list.

1. Starved Rock State Park (2-3 hour drive depending on how you get there)
2. Mississippi Palisades Park (3-5 hours, depending on how you get there)
3. Volo Auto Museum (slightly over an hour drive)
4. Arcola during their outdoor Bluegrass festival (2 to 4 hour drive, depending on how you get there)
5. Maple lake, my favorite fishing hole, about four miles from me.

I take local highways, so my drives/rides are always longer, but getting there is about as much fun, if not more fun, than actually being there.

[Crashed airplane turned monument to farmers near Starved Rock on local highway]
http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o92/dhoenisch/DSCN1761.jpg

Dan