Tours

Jul/Aug '13 Premium Content

Las Vegas, NV, to Sturgis, SD: Off the Cloud in the Wild West

Modern life is grand—always on the go, always connected to the “Cloud,” always tweeting, pinning, liking, sharing, and then recharging so that we can do it all again. It is, admittedly, overwhelming sometimes—even for The Digital Rider. In the midst of these thoughts, an email arrives. It’s

Jul/Aug '13 Premium Content

Alberta, Canada: Ironhorse on the Cowboy Trail

Thousands of Canadians still head west hoping to capture some of the wealth from Canada’s richest province (per capita income) for themselves. But it’s also a favorite international tourist destination well known for its expansive blue skies and scenery as well as both winter and summer activities. Founded

Jul/Aug '13 Premium Content

Idaho: Six Scenic Byways in Two Days

Idaho has around 30 routes that are officially designated scenic byways. I spend a weekend in late September to take on a half dozen of these with a group of riders led by some avid motorcyclists from the Idaho Tourism Department. After landing at Boise Airport, I’m just 20

Jul/Aug '13 Premium Content

Roanoke, Virginia Shamrock Tour®: Dirty Dancing Through the Curves

As summer ends and autumn approaches, the days get shorter. While we get ready for winter by cleaning out the garage and servicing our motorcycles, trees use up the last of their food supply in a way that attracts millions of tourists. And what better way to see nature’s

Jul/Aug '13 Premium Content

Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma: Chasing Dragons

It’s a long ride from my home in Oklahoma to Deals Gap, the twisty, 11-mile section of Highway 129 bordering Tennessee and North Carolina also known as the “Tail of the Dragon.” But rumor has it that eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri are infested with elusive serpents just waiting

Jul/Aug '13

City Escape: Atlanta

> A scenic jaunt through the southern Appalachians and rural northern Georgia, this route contains an abundance of natural beauty. The best times to go are April to June and September to November. Length Approximately 226 miles Meet-up Spot Starbucks, 12330 Crabapple Rd, Alpharetta, GA. Lunch Stop Hofer’s of

May/Jun '13

City Escape: Washington, D.C.

> A relaxing ramble through rolling Maryland farmlands and the Blue Ridge Mountains with challenging curves and scenic vistas. The best times to go on this loop are May, June, September, and October. Length Approximately 186 miles. Meet-up spot Starbucks at 14941 Shady Grove Rd (Fallsgrove Shopping Center across from

May/Jun '13

City Escape: Portland, OR

> This route includes some of the most breathtaking scenery in the northwest United States, from sweeping vistas atop Mt. Hood to the geological wonder that is the Columbia River Gorge. Spring, summer, and fall are all glorious seasons to experience this road trip. Length Approximately 184 miles. Meet-up Spot

May/Jun '13 Premium Content

Haunted Ohio: Who Ya Gonna Call?

My eyes snap open. I’m instantly awake as if some internal alarm has been tripped. Against the faint light entering the windows, I see a dark form standing over me. I lay motionless for several long seconds before throwing a roundhouse punch and hit … nothing. Was it real or

May/Jun '13 Premium Content

Longview, Washington Shamrock Tour®: Volcano Craters to Foggy Seashores

Scanning my map, I quickly realize what an incredible motorcycling wonderland I’ve arrived at. There are not many locales where you can visit the ocean, the rain forest, the mountains, and the desert in a few hours. Oh, and did I mention that three national parks and one monument

May/Jun '13 Premium Content

Hudson River Valley, NY: Along America's Rhine River

“Some folks like to get away. Take a holiday from the neighborhood. Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood. But I’m taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line. I’m in a New York state of mind.” From the song “New York State of Mind” by

May/Jun '13 Premium Content

Colorado: Maiden Voyage

Something’s wrong, I think as rain pours from the skies above Lake City, gateway to the high passes of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. My eight companions are up there somewhere, riding big, fully loaded adventure bikes on four-wheel-drive roads that climb to almost 13,000 feet. They are

May/Jun '13 Premium Content

World Travelers-Thailand: A Land of Smiles

Under a veil of low morning fog, we quietly slide our motorcycles onto the pontoon and cross the Mekong River for the last time, exiting Laos and entering the most northern realm of the Kingdom of Thailand. After successfully getting the bikes off the float on the other side, without

May/Jun '13 Premium Content

Colombia: The New World Ride

Motorcycle in Colombia? “You must be crazy,” my friends say. “We’ve already established that,” I retort. “You’ll have to come up with a more compelling reason to keep me from going.” “Oh … bandits, kidnappers, drug cartels, armed rebels … you’ll never be seen again,” they warn. But when

Mar/Apr '13 Premium Content

World Travelers-Cambodia and Laos: Mekong Meanderings

With Pakistan, India, and Nepal behind us, we are flying low over Thailand’s hedonistic capital, Bangkok. Through the small oval window, we can see mile upon mile of rice paddy fields; the entire shimmering landscape is still submerged after recent heavy rain. Shantytowns intermingle with newer structures until all

Mar/Apr '13 Premium Content

California: Hot Springs the Hard Way

Seeking a hot spring while the temperature in Los Angeles boils over 100 degrees might seem like a rather strange journey, but my loaner BMW F 800 GS and I are off to do just that in the Eastern Sierra. Let’s go! Slipping out of town at noon in

Mar/Apr '13 Premium Content

Switzerland: Swiss Dream Ride

Playing cards were fastened to the frame of my bicycle with clothespins. I’d packed a lunch and tucked my Heidi book into my pants. As the cards hit the spokes, my bike made a satisfying roar down the street, and I felt certain that I would be in Switzerland

Mar/Apr '13 Premium Content

Texas: Hill Country

Few would deny that digging into the ground of the 28th state would yield anything less than red, white, and blue dirt, so rolling into this part of the country on anything other than a Harley can feel a little like going to a cross-stitch party without any needles. That

Mar/Apr '13 Premium Content

West Virginia Civil War Tour: Riding through History

Tensions between the aristocratic, plantation-based culture of eastern Virginia and the independently minded mountain people of western Virginia had simmered for years prior to the Civil War. Sharp disagreements over slavery, voting rights, and economic issues finally boiled over when Virginia seceded and federal troops moved rapidly into this mountainous

Mar/Apr '13 Premium Content

Exeter, Rhode Island Shamrock Tour®: Twisting the Throttle through the Ocean State

Although Rhode Island is the smallest state, it offers lots of historic sites to make it a good Shamrock Tour® base. This tiny piece of America is only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, so trips into neighboring New England are unavoidable and certainly well worth it. Some interesting

Jan/Feb '13 Premium Content

World Travelers–Nepal: Earth's Eden

It’s 6 a.m. The bikes are feeling strong as we negotiate potholed tar around the town of Butwai in the dry Nepali lowlands. We pass a humble white-washed stupa (temple) on our left. Above our heads, attached to a long line, yellow, red, blue, and white prayers gently

Jan/Feb '13 Premium Content

Vermont and New Hampshire: The Adventures of L’Uccello Arrabbiato and The Tomato

Two motorcycles—an orange Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX (L’Uccello Arrabbiato) and a red Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring (The Tomato)–are parked in downtown Stowe, VT … “L’Uccello?” “Yes, Tomato.” “That’s it? They just leave us out here in the rain? They go into the cafe and get

Jan/Feb '13 Premium Content

Virginia Wine Tour: A Sampling of Appellations

Wine and motorcycles are an odd, yet appealing, combination. If mixed the wrong way, the two can leave one scarred for life. In my younger days, I found that out the hard way. But, if handled responsibly, these two endearing disciplines can uncork memories that last a lifetime. Like motorcyclists,

Jan/Feb '13 Premium Content

Warm Springs, Georgia Shamrock Tour®: FDR’s Backyard

It’s early in the season, the end of April, when we leave home on two very agile, comfortable, and fun-loving sport-touring bikes to go on our first long trip of the year. Christa rides a 2003 BMW F 650 GS, and I’m on my 2007 Kawasaki Ninja 650R.

Jan/Feb '13 Premium Content

British Columbia: No Country for Old Men

Spring is the season of new growth, mating … and old men trying to stop the passage of time by planning an annual, mid-life-crisis, off-road motorcycle trip. It’s not as easy as an organized tour where all you have to do is follow the guy in front of you and