Tours

City Escape Premium Content

City Escape: Allentown, PA

“Well, we’re living here in Allentown; And they’re closing all the factories down.” —Billy Joel, “Allentown” Allentown’s robust manufacturing economy became a Rust Belt casualty in the late 20th century. Billy Joel’s hit song paid tribute to the indomitable spirit of the people living in a

Travel Guide

8 Best Places for A Fall Color Ride Near the Smokies

The Smoky Mountains are covered in deciduous trees. Their dense canopies are already gorgeous in the summer, but once fall comes around, the mountains burst into flame. Figuratively speaking, that is. No matter where you go in the Smokies in the fall, you’re bound to see some stunning leaves.

Travel Guide

Unplugged and Unreachable: Visit These 9 US Destinations in America Without Cell Reception

Are you sick and tired of phone calls? Would you rather chuck your phone out the window than answer another text or email? It sounds like you need to unplug for a while—and fortunately many places in the U.S. are still beyond the reach of cell and Wi-Fi

Destinations Premium Content

In Pursuit of Wildness: Pinnacles National Park

Once upon a time, it was called Pinnacles National Monument, but today it is America’s newest national park. That’s where this story begins. Graduating from San Jose State, getting married, and landing my first permanent job with the National Park Service all within one week was a miracle.

City Escape Premium Content

City Escape: Bemidji, MN

Bemidji, MN, is one of the cities claiming to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan. Although we may never know for sure where (if anywhere) Bunyan was born, this tour will certainly convince you he hails from northern Minnesota. You’ll begin and end your ride at Bemidji’s famous

Travel Guide

8 Points of Interest In and Around Weston, WV

Weston, WV, (population 3,943) is the county seat of Lewis County. Weston is a quiet town with a compact, walkable downtown with a handful of interesting shops, restaurants, and museums. The Weston Downtown Historic District has a bit of that time-machine feel, as if time stopped moving about 70

Classic Roads Premium Content

The Waterfront Jewel of America—Great Lakes Seaway Trail

A beautiful waterscape is one of the best backdrops for a laidback motorcycling outing. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail serves both good times and water views in spades. This National Scenic Byway (also known by its previous official name, Seaway Trail) is a series of designated roads in Pennsylvania and

Travel Guide

9 Unique Attractions Along Ohio's Windy 9

Ohio’s Windy 9 is an exhilarating collection of motorcycling roads out of Athens, OH. These nine roads offer something for everyone, whether you enjoy a relaxed, meandering cruise or a heart-pounding romp through challenging technical curves. But motorcycling isn’t just about the roads. The things you see along

Accommodations

Review: Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground—Tellico Plains, TN

In the rolling hills near Tellico Plains, TN, the Cherohala Mountain Trails Campground (CMTC) offers a haven for motorcyclists seeking adventure and relaxation in the Appalachian Mountains. Kellie and Wayne have owned the CMTC for over a decade now and are outstanding hosts. Not only are riders welcomed with a

Reader Ride Premium Content

Three Texans, Four Strokes, Five States

I’ve really gone and done it this time. Idaho is not an easy feat to pull off from Central Texas. I had mulled over various scenarios—shipping, flying, staging, renting, begging, borrowing. I even tried to talk myself out of it and pick a different trip that was easier

Classic Roads

Ride into the Green at Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees

Michigan is famous for its trees, sporting lusciously full canopies of leaves. Taking your motorcycle to the Tunnel of Trees lets you ride right into the midst of the greenery. The Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route—also known as SR 119 or locally as M-119—is a narrow paved

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

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

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) but rather

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

Destinations Premium Content

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 the

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 dot, the

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

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

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 largest

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