Destinations

A collection of 111 posts

Destinations

The Small Town That’s Got It All—Maggie Valley, NC

Scenic rides, beautiful nature, nearby entertainment and restaurants, fascinating history… Maggie Valley, NC, really does have it all. This small town is situated amidst the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, roughly 35 miles from Asheville, with easy access along US 19. Don’t let its size and relatively remoteness fool you—

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It’s Okay to Ride to Okay, OK

Okay, let's go. But where? How about Okay, OK?  Okay! Why is this place called Okay, OK, though? And what is there? Is it okay for motorcyclists to visit? Well, Okay wasn’t always Okay. The first European settler, French trader Joseph Bogy, arrived in this part of

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Tucumcari Tonite! New Mexico’s Gateway to the West

There used to be a certain way to tell you’re approaching the New Mexico-Texas border on Route 66. As you rode on, every few minutes you would pass a sign reading: “Tucumcari Tonite!” Hundreds of these signs, each promising “2,000 motel rooms,” once enticed travelers on the Mother

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Adrian, TX—The Midway Point of Route 66

Reaching the halfway point of any ride is an event in itself—there will be more miles behind you than there are ahead. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the ride, I suppose. On Route 66, though, you’ll reach that midway milestone in Adrian, TX.

Destinations

Arcosanti—Arizona’s Unique Arcology Experiment

Nothing caps a motorcycle ride quite like a unique destination at the end of the road. And when it comes to those, you can’t get much more unique than Arcosanti, AZ. Or does the world’s first town built according to the principles of arcology sound like something you’

Destinations

Haas Moto Museum—Collecting Stories

As motorcyclists, we tend to get wrapped up in numbers. How much horsepower? How much torque? What's the top speed?  Although these certainly are important metrics, I bought my first bike because of how it made me feel. It made me feel alive. It was dangerous and cool.

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Shamrock, TX—The Small Irish Pit Stop on Route 66

The Texas section of Route 66 isn’t particularly long, stretching only around 180 miles across the Panhandle. Along this near-straight alignment, the largest (and only major) city you’ll pass is Amarillo. The second-largest city is Shamrock. And it’s a strangely Irish place. Despite its rank as the

Destinations

A Motorcyclists Guide to Fontana Dam, NC

Fontana Dam, NC, is a hidden gem for motorcyclists exploring the scenic byways of the Appalachian Mountains. Nestled along the border of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this small but historically significant town is not just a gateway to nature.  It’s also a prime spot for two-wheeled adventurers

Destinations

Where Honest Abe and Route 66 Meet—Lincoln, IL

Illinois is today widely known as the Land of Lincoln in recognition of the former president’s contributions both to the state and the country. However, one place in Illinois —along Route 66 — has carried the name of Lincoln well before his presidency. During his break from national politics, Lincoln

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The ‘Most Recognizable’ City in the US—Zanesville, OH

What’s the most recognizable city in all of the U.S.? If you were to ask Amelia Earhart, that would be Zanesville, OH. Her opinion was due to the city’s unique bridge spanning the Muskingum River. But before we get to that, let’s take a brief look

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Cuba, MO—Missouri’s Official Mural City

Many towns and cities along Route 66 boast some types of murals. But only one of them is officially dubbed the Mural City. That would be Cuba, MO. This small city of a bit over 3,000 residents sits in Crawford County, some 85 miles southwest from St. Louis. Since

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Visit the Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac, IL

Hearing the words “Pontiac” and “Route 66” might bring to your mind images of cruising down the road in a luxurious American-made automobile. Pontiac, IL, might have nothing to do with the car marque, but the city is intricately linked to Route 66—for motorcyclists and car drivers alike. Well,

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Boring, OR—The Most Exciting Place to Visit

Booooooooooring! So you might think, but Boring, OR, is anything but boring. In fact, according to the town’s slogan, it’s the “the most exciting place to live.”  Alright, maybe that’s a bit of marketing hyperbole, but the sentiment stands. There’s plenty of fun stuff to see

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Great Smoky Mountains National Park—A Green Paradise

If you haven’t ridden in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park yet, what are you waiting for? Set time for a trip and get in the saddle, because you’re missing out. Covering 522,000 acres on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National

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Head Out on a Capital Ride in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., is a city everyone everywhere knows. If nothing else, they’re aware it’s the capital of the United States and home to both the White House and the Congress. But Washington, D.C., is so much more than just the political heart of America. The city

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Follow Bonnie and Clyde’s Trail in Joplin, MO

On the surface, Joplin, MO, looks like any other Midwest city along the old Route 66. A closer look, however, reveals a vibrant town with plenty to do and a fascinating history including a tale of two cities and plenty of lead—in the form of both ore and bullets.

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The Birthplace of Route 66—Springfield, MO

Most riders would say Route 66 begins in Chicago (or Los Angeles, depending on your perspective). But although the Windy City is the road’s starting point, that’s not where it begins. To find the birthplace of Route 66, you’ll have to point your front wheel to Springfield,

Destinations

Visit Dyersville’s Field of Dreams

“People will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it,” said Terence Mann. People know why they’re coming to Dyersville, IA, though. They’re

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10 of RoadRUNNER’s Favorite International Motorcycling Destinations

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Discover the Proud Route 66 History of Galena, KS

Back in its glory days, many small towns across America thrived on the steady flow of motorists on Route 66. Although the Mother Road is long gone, many of these places still hold on firmly to its legacy. One such place is Galena, KS. This small city of roughly 2,

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The Best Beach You Didn’t Know About—Galveston, TX

So, you want to hop in the saddle and ride out for a chill beach vacation? There are a lot of great beaches in America you could ride to, from southern California to Florida or North Carolina’s Outer Banks. But might I suggest pointing your front wheel toward Texas

Destinations

Discover the Arts and Sky Islands of Patagonia, AZ

Riding your motorcycle all the way to Patagonia at the tip of South America is an enormous undertaking that most riders can’t do. Fortunately, there’s a much easier place to get to where you can have a great time and still say you went to Patagonia. Just ride

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Visit the House of Santa Claus—North Pole, AK

Riding a motorcycle to the North Pole is impossible, considering it’s in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by hundreds of miles of sea ice. There’s one place you can ride to, though, and still say you took a motorcycle to North Pole. Just go visit North

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See Maine’s Beautiful (but Santa-less) Coast in Christmas Cove

If you’re looking to ride your motorcycle somewhere with bunches of mistletoe, caroling, and hot chocolate… Well, you’ll have to look elsewhere. Despite its name, Christmas Cove, ME, has nothing to do with the holiday season. It’s named so simply because English explorer John Smith first happened

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From Hardware to Music—Bluegrass at Bellamy

Bluegrass music is all about celebrating the history and folk traditions of the Appalachian region where it was born (in addition to the nice tunes, that is). While the music sounds good over the stereo, the experience gets a whole lot better if you go catch a concert at a