Tours

Mar/Apr '21 Premium Content

British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alberta

Oh look, thar she blows! Out in the distance a whale blew, and a column of water fountained up. My eyes widened at the humpback’s gentle beauty. Calmly voyaging for two days from Juneau on the panhandle to Prince Rupert—our port gateway to a week of Canadian wilderness—

Mar/Apr '21

Zanesville, Ohio Shamrock Tour®

Ohio is where I met my bride, Sarah. If Steve had not subscribed to RoadRUNNER, I probably wouldn’t have met her. I love coming here and riding the thrillingly curvy roads of southeastern Ohio. As part of our “at home” series, you can trust that these four loops are

Mar/Apr '21

City Escape: Chandler, Arizona

Massive stands of saguaro cacti and panoramic vistas highlight this southern Arizona escape from the bustle of the ever-growing Chandler-Mesa metro area. The ride includes a stopover in a remote desert town that is undergoing a creative rejuvenation and a ride through a magnificent national monument. Because of the extreme

Mar/Apr '21

City Escape: Richmond, Virginia

Journey back in history along some of Virginia’s most enchanting byways, where American history is combined with lost-in-time backroads through a hilly agricultural landscape, mountaintop vistas, a classy lunch stop, and a slice of the Blue Ridge Pkwy as a delicious dessert. Traffic on the backroads is usually moderate,

Jan/Feb '21

City Escapes: San Bernardino, California

Jan/Feb '21

City Escapes: Maryville, Tennessee

This trip is for those who like long riding days. Start early to complete the entire loop before dark and ride during summer to get the most sunlight. This is a three-season route, as higher elevations tend to get snowed up in the winter. The mountains are stunning in this

Jan/Feb '21 Premium Content

Western Pennsylvania & New York Part 1

Science tells us that around 55% to 60% of the human body is composed of water. In that vein, marine biologist Wallace J. Nicholas has noted that: “We are beginning to learn that our brains are hardwired to react positively to water and that being near it can calm and

Jan/Feb '21 Premium Content

Austria: The Art of Indulgence

My friend Michael comes from Vienna. The Viennese are sometimes ill-reputed in the rest of Austria. The residents of the capital city are supposedly snotty and a bit too self-aggrandizing.  Michael, however, embodies another undisputed quality of the Viennese—they know how to indulge in the good things. During our

Jan/Feb '21

Classic Roads: Down from the North US 1 in Florida Part 1

> The US 1 stretches across 545 miles throughout the entire length of Florida along its eastern shore, from the northern border with Georgia to the southernmost tip of the continental U.S. in Key West. It was designated the first U.S. highway when the Numbered Highways System was

Jan/Feb '21

Phoenix, Arizona Shamrock Tour®

Touring the Valley of the Sun It’s been six years since Kris and I decided to relocate from Michigan to Arizona. The impromptu move was brought about by a job opportunity for Kris and my “restless leg syndrome” (meaning my inability to stay in one place for too long)

Nov/Dec '20

City Escape: Albuquerque, New Mexico

This day ride stretches out through ancient ruins and historic mining communities in Albuquerque. With little traffic, it all but guarantees solitary motorcycling bliss. The tail end of the route includes a ride up and down Sandia Crest to take in some astounding views before returning to the city limits.

Nov/Dec '20

City Escape: Jacksonville, Florida

While Florida roads are mostly straight, a ride around the St. Johns River offers a curvier experience. After starting south on San Jose Blvd, making a detour out to Mandarin Rd helps with traffic. The last 60 miles to Palatka go along a winding, scenic river road. The way back

Nov/Dec '20 Premium Content

Texas Hill Country: A Land of Simple Majesty

I moved to North Texas from the Midwest more than two years ago. Not having explored the state much, tales of the roads around Texas Hill Country, west of Austin, had long intrigued me. Not being a fan of solo overnight expeditions, I received the perfect opportunity to explore that

Nov/Dec '20 Premium Content

California Sierra: The Glorious Roads of the Golden State

As is usually the case with larger motorcycle groups, we were a motley crew that had come together in unlikely ways. Chris and Steve were decades-old friends and had ridden and skied together everywhere. Mike was a sports photographer they knew from Park City. Rod also had a house in

Nov/Dec '20 Premium Content

Sardinia: Italy or Not Italy?

The island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean is a motorcyclist’s dream. Officially, it is a territory of Italy. But, as we shall find out, it is different in many ways. “SARDEGNA NO E ITALIA!” is written in fat red letters on a concrete wall at the port of Olbia,

Nov/Dec '20 Premium Content

Chattanooga, Tennessee Shamrock Tour®

Luke was stripping down to his underwear in the middle of a park somewhere outside of Cleveland, TN, not too far from our hometown of Chattanooga. Just behind him flowed the Hiwassee River, over which stretches a bridge from where he claimed he’s seen people jump. It was 50

Sep/Oct '20 Premium Content

Thailand: Road of 2,000 Turns

After 36 trips across the Atlantic for rides in Europe and Africa, it was time for something different. Having never been across the Pacific, I settled on Thailand for a new adventure. I would be taking part in Edelweiss Bike Tours’ “Thailand Extreme” tour, an eight-day trip covering 1,465

Sep/Oct '20 Premium Content

Alabama: Rockets and Music and Bikes, Oh My!

Up until last year, I had never explored Alabama, despite the fact that my home in Chattanooga, TN, is almost a stone’s throw away from the state line—so close that on any given Saturday you can hear University of Alabama football fans yelling “Roll Tide” at the TVs

Sep/Oct '20 Premium Content

Utah: Mission: Possible

It may come as a surprise to learn that in at least one Utah county it apparently is illegal to hire trombone players to play on the street to advertise an auction, or that Jell-O is the official state snack. Did you know that Utah often ranks as the second

Sep/Oct '20 Premium Content

Seven Springs, Pennsylvania Shamrock Tour®

The old and weathered Allegheny Mountains run through north-central Pennsylvania and portions of neighboring Maryland and West Virginia. The range was once the furthest reaches of a young nation, and within the mountains' wrinkles lie stories and tales that, like tree rings, reveal the past. History It's

Sep/Oct '20

City Escape: Bakersfield, California

This varied loop ride east of Bakersfield features a visually striking state park and a massive desert lake. It also boasts a series of great roads lined by an intriguing mix of desert plants, evergreens, and whimsical Joshua trees. Itís an escape suitable for most any time of year except

Sep/Oct '20

City Escape: Tahlequah, Oklahoma

The rugged landscape in northeastern Oklahoma offers tree-canopied lanes of twisty asphalt alongside clear mountain streams—perfect for flowing rides sprinkled with diverse restaurants and historical sites dating to the days of Indian Territory. Moderate temperatures and bright foliage make fall the best time to ride this loop, but the

Jul/Aug '20

City Escape: Bay City, Michigan

This route’s northern section—from Port Austin to Bay Port—offers a twisting road (Hwy 25) along the Lake Huron shore. The eastern stretch of 25 from Forestville to Grindstone City pulls back from the Lake Huron beaches in some sections of the route, but the area offers interesting

Jul/Aug '20

City Escape: Hartford, Connecticut

This daytrip is generally a laid-back ramble through the Connecticut countryside. Riders don’t have to travel far from urban Hartford to experience classic New England scenery and historic locations, some of which date from America’s Industrial Revolution. Take your time and enjoy the scenery and points of interest

Jul/Aug '20 Premium Content

Afghanistan: The Other Side

“Afghanistan’s dangerous. Don’t go. What are you thinking?” they said. As we approached the border and saw the heavily armed guards, we wondered if they were right. I can’t look away from the staring soldier, clutching his AK-47, behind the fence. He tilts his head in confusion,