Tours

Destinations

The City of Plenty—Boston, MA

Any motorcyclist with even a passing interest in American history should have Boston on their list of riding destinations. The city boasts the whole package—it’s steeped in history, has plenty of options for entertainment, and is near some fantastic roads to ride. Settled in 1625 and founded in

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Costa Rica: Cruisers in Paradise

The Great Getaway is BMW Motorrad’s organized trip to locations chosen specifically for the R 18 cruiser. With tours in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Oregon, BMW is partnering with local tour companies to lead these trips. These aren’t intense ride-rinse-repeat type tours (which can be great)

Classic Roads

Wichita Mountains National Scenic Byway

The uninitiated generally perceive Oklahoma as one big flat wheat field—remember that Rodgers & Hammerstein musical that celebrated the land “where the wind comes sweepin’ down the plain?” In reality, however, the Sooner State does have several “mountainous” regions. Although the peaks are more like speed bumps compared to

Classic Roads

Ride the Highest Pass in the Eastern Alps—Stelvio Pass, Italy

The Stelvio Pass is one of the most challenging and exhilarating motorcycle roads in the world to ride. It’s absolutely worth a trip to Italy just to wrassle with this beast. At 9,045 feet, Stelvio Pass is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps and the

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The Little Alien Town—Rachel, NV

What would you expect to find in the remote desert of Nevada? Perhaps sand, stones, and shrubs—with a little green man peeking out from between them. That’s what might await you in the tiny town of Rachel, one of the country’s UFO capitals. Just for the record,

Jul/Aug '24 Premium Content

Weston, West Virginia Shamrock Tour®

Sometimes you bring the quiet with you on a trip. Sometimes, it’s already there. Sometimes it’s both. I brought a little quiet with me on this tour, that I’ll admit. But in this part of West Virginia, nestled in the hollers around Weston, there was also a

Accommodations

Review: Baywood Inn—Baywood Park, CA

Situated directly across from Morro Bay at the north end of the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in California, the Baywood Inn Bed and Breakfast is a special lodging that entices travelers to stay for a longer time. The central outdoor courtyard is adjacent to the quiet El Moro Ave, with

City Escape

City Escape: Flagstaff, Arizona

Arizona has a historical, adventurous vibe woven through its desert and mountain landscapes. Semi-abandoned towns and small but thriving urban centers offer a feeling of discovery for travelers.  Admitted into the contiguous U.S. on February 14, 1912, Arizona holds the distinction of being America’s youngest state in

Jul/Aug '24 Premium Content

​​La Gomera, Canary Islands

Just to the west of Tenerife is the small round island of La Gomera. It’s so close—just 18.5 miles away—that you can often clearly see the peak of Tenerife’s Mount Teide looming in the background. So close, yet so far. This 16-mile-wide volcanic

Classic Roads

From the Gateway to the Ozarks—Missouri SR 100

Missouri might not be on the top of your list when thinking of good places in America to ride your motorcycle, but don’t you knock the Show Me State. The place hosts many great roads—such as SR 100. For about 120 miles, SR 100 follows the curves of

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Northern California: The Coast Range

The Mapquest route from Ashland, OR, to San Francisco, CA, heads due south for 350 miles, covering the distance in a little over five hours. You could go that way. However, if you’re up for a slight detour—only an extra 600 miles and three more days—you can

Destinations

Drop Your Kickstand in Billings, MT

Montana sits atop every motorcyclist's bucket list of destinations with its vast, scenic terrain from Rocky Mountain peaks to sandstone bluffs. The picture-perfect routes winding their way through Big Sky Country are incentive enough to prioritize visiting Montana, but spending time between rides in the state’s

Destinations

Explore the Desert at Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park sits in southeastern California, roughly two and a half hours from the bustle of Los Angeles. Motorcyclists looking to escape from the metropolis to the rugged beauty of the high desert can’t do much better than point their front wheels to Joshua Tree. And there’

City Escape

City Escape: Shreveport, Louisiana

Visiting Shreveport, LA, is like stepping into a vibrant tapestry of Southern culture, hospitality, and history. As you arrive, you're greeted by the city's distinctive blend of architectural styles, from antebellum mansions to modern skyscrapers, showcasing its rich heritage.  The aroma of Cajun and Creole cuisine

Jul/Aug '24 Premium Content

The Boys of Summer, Part 2: New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois

Tom Zachary had a 19-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1918 to 1936. He played for eight different teams and, with 720 strikeouts and an earned run average (ERA) of 3.73, was considered an exceptional, well-rounded pitcher. On September 30, 1927, however, Zachary’s career

Destinations

The Living Ghost Town—Austin, NV

US 50, cutting through the desert of Nevada, is often called the loneliest road in America. The title is well-deserved, with the road stretching on for long miles with no sight of civilization. Yet, you will encounter small but welcoming hamlets along this lonesome ride. One of them is

Destinations

5 Reasons You Should Ride to Bloomington, IN

Nestled in the heart of the Hoosier State, Bloomington beckons motorcycle travelers with its enchanting blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and winding roads that promise an exhilarating ride through the heartland. This area is more than just Indiana University. Here are five great reasons why you should head out

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Riding Alaska’s Iconic Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway

The Glenn Highway in Alaska is not just a roadway—it's a lifeline connecting the bustling urban center of Anchorage to the serene wilderness of the last frontier. Stretching approximately 135 miles from Anchorage to Glennallen, this iconic highway traverses some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth,

Destinations

The City with Everything—Arlington, TX

Big cities aren’t typically motorcyclists' first choices for riding destinations. There’s an exception for everything, though, and in Texas, that’s Arlington. Sitting almost smack-dab in the middle between Fort Worth and Dallas, this city of nearly 400,000 residents forms a crucial part of the

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Touring the National Parks

I feel that national parks are in my blood. Growing up in Alberta, Canada, I was spoiled by the proximity of the Jasper and Banff National Parks. I caught my first fish in the turquoise-blue waters of a glacier-fed mountain lake. During my teen years, I summited multiple

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The Curvy Beauty of the Woods—Diamondback Loop in North Carolina

It’s not about how long it is, it’s about how good of a time you can have with it. I am, of course, talking about the Diamondback Loop in North Carolina. Just short of 17 miles, this loop through the dense woods of the Pisgah National Forest is,

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Valley of the Gods—A Good Adventure for Father and Son

“The adventure leads the ride.” —JJ Lewis It was July, 107 degrees, and not a sliver of shade in sight. My son Ben had just ripped a gash in his rear tire on the razor-like rocks so common in this part of the northeastern Arizona desert. It was a

City Escape

City Escape: Bedford, Virginia

Located at the mid-point between Roanoke and Lynchburg on US 460, the town of Bedford has a place in U.S. history that is disproportionate to its size. On June 6, 1944, 19 members of its local National Guard unit lost their lives while landing on Omaha Beach.  It

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The Battle of the Twin

I returned home from the October 2023 press launch of the BMW R 1300 GS in Málaga with mixed feelings. On one hand, I was totally enthusiastic about the bike's brilliant handling on the road. On the other, I was disappointed by the event’s too-short off-

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An Authentic Wild West Mine Town—Virginia City, NV

You’re riding through the Nevada desert under the blazing sun when suddenly you spot a sign welcoming you to Virginia. Don’t worry, you haven’t managed to magically transport yourself to the East Coast—note that word “City” on the sign. You may find yourself transported back to