Topic: Anniversary Road Trip from Indy to Maine

[CBJoe]

Hello Folks,

Next year will be our (the wife and I) 10 year anniversary and to prove how awesome she is, Rose has directed me to purchase a new CB1100 in the spring    ......sooner depending on whether there will be a 2015 model or not.    ether one of the new CB1100's or possibly one of the newer MotoGuzzi California 1400's.  Depends on how test rides go when the weather starts warming in early spring.





We're looking to take up to 3 weeks there and back alternating between camping and staying at small bed and breakfast's and seedy hotels. 

So what I'm looking for by starting this thread is to document any must see's and to do's between here and somewhere around Mt. Katahdin.  Also, I'd like to get some feedback on the best time of year to travel to Maine.  At the moment we are planning on early to mid June.

Our only real goals are to hit Niagara Falls, ride the interior of Maine, and then come back down the coast a bit before heading back towards Indianapolis. 

Here's a rough first idea of the trip.....just pretend the stopover in Buffalo includes the falls.
 


Thanks to anyone for providing input on great roads, routes, or stops that we should hit   We are early in the plans, so haven't done a lot of research yet.

Cheers, Joe

[faux fiddy]

My only thing I've done anywhere close to that route is I went through Wheeling WV and / or the little finger of WV that sticks up between Ohio and Pennsylvania and the interstate of all three states. From what I saw of it my curiousity was peaked by what was off the interstate,  especially the roads that crossed the interstate a hundred feet above us.

All I can suggest is don't take the same way back as you take there, and research internet for any small town festivals that might occur in sync within a day or two of your three week schedule.


+1 on camping, +2 on seedy motels.

[BigBrownDog]

It doesn't where you go or how you get there. Just enjoy being together because in the end that's all that really matters. Make some memories!!  John

[Don R]

We hit Pa once when the keystone games and the carlisle swap meet were on. Not a motel from Ohio to central Pa. Gettysburg is awesome, its south of your route though. I did enjoy the two lane mountain roads.

[faux fiddy]

We hit Pa once when the keystone games and the carlisle swap meet were on. Not a motel from Ohio to central Pa. Gettysburg is awesome, its south of your route though. I did enjoy the two lane mountain roads.

I seem to remember a town named Washingtonville or something like that. Us folks in the post 1776 world of America can get a good feel of what the Brits and revolutionaries were dealing with as far as terrain  in the woods and mountains there.

[Stev-o]

Watkins Glen and the Finger Lake Region is a beautiful area and great for riding.

"...pristine lakes, gorgeous waterfalls, and magnificent parks to the charming villages, one-of-a-kind museums and wineries"

http://www.fingerlakes.org

[fmctm1sw]

Kind of like Don said...  Your route is a little too far north but the 9-11 Memorial is in Shanksville, PA.  Right off the Lincoln Highway actually... 

[CBJoe]

It doesn't where you go or how you get there. Just enjoy being together because in the end that's all that really matters. Make some memories!!  John

Thanks John,  Just saw your other post.  I'm sorry for your loss, Hang in there.

Joe

[CBJoe]

We hit Pa once when the keystone games and the carlisle swap meet were on. Not a motel from Ohio to central Pa. Gettysburg is awesome, its south of your route though. I did enjoy the two lane mountain roads.

Thanks...Pennsylvania isn't out of the question on the return trip.  The plan is to go south along the cost for a time and then head inland and back towards Indiana. 

Joe

[HondaMan]

Wow, it's remarkable how much that bike resembles Honda's Sport Tourer version of the CBX-6!

[fmctm1sw]

NFL Hall of Fame in Canton?

[BigBrownDog]

You're more than welcome, Joe. Looks like you guys will be going through the Adirondacks, Lake George is a real nice area to ride and also Lake Placid. Have a Merry Christmas!!!!  John

[Stev-o]

NFL Hall of Fame in Canton?

Bet his wife would love that.

[cb650]

Rider mag had some nice local loops.  One included Maine and I'm sure there was some others in between.

[rb550four]

You could pick up route 20 just south of Buffalo and head east  instead of I 90...tons of things to see. The north east's idea of the grand canyon- they have a nice place to stay there- did that. Finger lakes wine region is also on that route- did that...nice but all the grapes taste the same there. Tons of other stuff to see on route.
Then head north to I 88 soccer hall of fame on the way to Oneontaor stay on 20 go a little south to cooperstown baseball hall of fame , more wineries and Ommegaan beerand others lake  camping, pricey hotels, nice small town . Take the east side of the lake back up to 20 you can get to I 90 through sharon springs really small town  nice ride , find your way to the adirondacks - lake placid find out if there is anything going on in town through chamber of commerce go east through the adirondack park to lake george  check with chamber about MC Rallies that may be going on then ,that place will be a zoo, then go to vermont , careful the whole state is 50 mph, it's beautiful but slow . NH , bar harbor ,cadillac mountian at sunset...beautiful.  just some ideas for a route that isn't interstate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_20_in_New_York
http://www.nyroute20.com/
http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/attractions/national-baseball-hall-fame-museum?gclid=CjwKEAiA_NmkBRCe3ubC1aWAtEcSJACxkkbq1SFGnihB98R60KR23EyUOeRprxNjnwDUvEAt9uyG7hoC4Mbw_wcB
http://www.lakeplacid.com/
http://www.lakegeorge.com/
http://www.barharborinfo.com/
Have a great trip!

[rb550four]

Forgot to mention, all the beaches in Maine are rocky , but there is a really nice sandy beach on the Maine /New Hamshire  line

[Kevin D]

I can't recommend any of these lobster shacks in particular, but the next time I get to the coast of Maine, I will be trying a few:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/slideshows/the-10-best-lobster-shacks-in-maine

[CBJoe]

NFL Hall of Fame in Canton?

Bet his wife would love that.

Heh...she might like it better than me   Somehow I never got into sports...I usually get glassy-eyed if there's a game playing. 

[CBJoe]

You could pick up route 20 just south of Buffalo and head east  instead of I 90...tons of things to see. The north east's idea of the grand canyon- they have a nice place to stay there- did that. Finger lakes wine region is also on that route- did that...nice but all the grapes taste the same there. Tons of other stuff to see on route.
Then head north to I 88 soccer hall of fame on the way to Oneontaor stay on 20 go a little south to cooperstown baseball hall of fame , more wineries and Ommegaan beerand others lake  camping, pricey hotels, nice small town . Take the east side of the lake back up to 20 you can get to I 90 through sharon springs really small town  nice ride , find your way to the adirondacks - lake placid find out if there is anything going on in town through chamber of commerce go east through the adirondack park to lake george  check with chamber about MC Rallies that may be going on then ,that place will be a zoo, then go to vermont , careful the whole state is 50 mph, it's beautiful but slow . NH , bar harbor ,cadillac mountian at sunset...beautiful.  just some ideas for a route that isn't interstate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_20_in_New_York
http://www.nyroute20.com/
http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/attractions/national-baseball-hall-fame-museum?gclid=CjwKEAiA_NmkBRCe3ubC1aWAtEcSJACxkkbq1SFGnihB98R60KR23EyUOeRprxNjnwDUvEAt9uyG7hoC4Mbw_wcB
http://www.lakeplacid.com/
http://www.lakegeorge.com/
http://www.barharborinfo.com/
Have a great trip!

Highway 20 looks like a winner to me!  That takes us through a lot of the areas we were looking to hit on the way out.

[JWExperience]

I live in syracuse and usually take a more southern route into nh by going through Troy NY which is not much of a sight but taking rt 9 (I think) into Vermont and east is a great ride on bikes with winding mountain roads and really charming small towns spaced out nicely. Northern Vermont and New Hampshire are nice but much more sparse. Also we travel yearly to ongunquit, me which is a great tourist area with nice beaches and also surrounded with plenty of sights.


Scorching Earth and Setting Fire to the Rain!!!!

[70CB750]

Sounds like a plan 

[rb550four]

JWE,  are thinking of rt 7 through Troy to Bennington, VT. ,  then north ?nice ride.

[DanJ]

I would recommend you hit Maine before school gets out if you are going though Bar Harbor and the coast line.

[MoMo]

Maine is best in the fall and route 9 in VT was a great ride


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[JWExperience]

Nope, 9 all the way into New Hampshire. Great ride. Did it myself on a 91 suzuki gsx1100g tourer which was fun two times. Begins as seven in New York but then stay on rt9.


Scorching Earth and Setting Fire to the Rain!!!!