Topic: What's to do this time of year in the States

[Scott]

Hello

The family and myself look like we are travelling to the States this time next year.
We will travel around and do the stuff that kids like to do (including myself)

After that the wife and kids will head back to Australia and I might hang around for a few weeks (3 or 4 )and see some stuff on a bike.

I am looking for opinions on what you would do this time of year.

Maybe bike shows or swap meets.

Maybe places to see on a bike or good roads and trips to take.  I probably would prefer to camp but I don't mind using hotels and pub accommodation.

Thanks for your thoughts
Scott

[BobbyR]

Hey Scott,

Glad to hear you are coming over. You did not say where you would be landing. At this time of year can can travel at will since it is summer over here.
The US is a big place so it takes a while to get around it.       

[oldhatt45]

Scott,

It depends on where you are going to be.  The "States" is a pretty big place.  LOL  almost as big as Australia.  LOL
If you are going to be somewhere along the East coast then one pretty famous road is "Tail of the Dragon", you can google it and get a bunch of info on it.  There are a lot of other places that are good to see along the east coast as well.

There re a lot of places out west that are pretty neat to see, but it would help if we knew which side of the States you are going to be.

If you are going to be here for 3 or 4 weeks, you might be able to do some east coast as well as some west coast.

I'm sure other guys will have more for you.

Charlie

[Scott]

I think I'll be landing over on the left hand side and then travelling with the kids for a bit, probably looking for theme parks and tourist attractions. Maybe travel by camper van.

During our travels I would like to find a bike to buy and when the family go back to Australia I will head back and pick up the bike.

There's another question.  Is there some states better than others to pick up a deal on a bike.

Scott

[Scott]

I don't mind longish stints on the bike to get from one side of the country to the other.

I say that now but who knows  how the body will be holding up in another years time.

Scott

[Stev-o]

Hey Scott -  California is a beautiful State to tour by motorhome.  There are plenty of theme parks and National Parks. 
Not the best place to buy bikes, they tend to be priced higher than other regions, the Midwest is the best place for deals.   

[oldhatt45]

Scott,

OK, Left Coast to start.
How long are the wife and kids likely to be here with you?
Theme Parks:  Disneyland, Universal Studios, SeaWorld are the top 3 that come to mind.  Those 3 should fill up at least a week.  LOL
Then there is the Redwood forest, Yosemite National Park, and on the way the Hoover Dam (pretty impressive being built in the 1930's).

THat's just the top ones off the top of my head.

You also got a lot of forum members out west as well.  I would think that one of them could find something for you that you could buy and drive.

Charlie

[Scott]

Wife and kids for about 3 or so weeks.

I think I saw the Redwood forest as a kid. I will ad it to my list to take my kids there.  Hoover dam should be on the list too.

[Scott]

Hey Scott -  California is a beautiful State to tour by motorhome.  There are plenty of theme parks and National Parks. 
Not the best place to buy bikes, they tend to be priced higher than other regions, the Midwest is the best place for deals.   

G'day Stevo
Do you know if you can just turn up to camp grounds or maybe try to book a few days in advance is better to get a spot.

The only time I have travelled in the States by camper was with a few mates after spending a year in Canada about 20 years ago.  For some reason that is all a blur now.  Come to think of it.  It was all a blur back then too

[DaveBarbier]

Hoover dam should be on the list too.

Not sure if this is accurate, but I heard that the concrete in the Hoover Dam is so thick that it's still curing, and will be even after it gets decommissioned years in the future. If you go, let me know if that's true, haha.


---
1978 Honda CB550K

[Don R]

 They had to water cool the concrete with pipes laid in the pour as it cured to prevent overheating. I hope you enjoy your tour, I'll watch to see if I can help with anything.

[Stev-o]

Hey Scott -  California is a beautiful State to tour by motorhome.  There are plenty of theme parks and National Parks. 
Not the best place to buy bikes, they tend to be priced higher than other regions, the Midwest is the best place for deals.   

G'day Stevo
Do you know if you can just turn up to camp grounds or maybe try to book a few days in advance is better to get a spot.

Hard to say, Scott. It just depends how booked up they are.  I spent 10 days touring Cali by motorhome  several Yeats ago, it was wonderful.  Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe were 2 highlights.

Beware: the Hoover Dam is in the Desert Southwest, temps can reach 115 F in the summer!

[Scott]

Is 115 hot.

I'm joking I'll look up the conversion now.

[Scott]

Crap 46 C

The hottest day I have had on a bike was 44-45C and I was slightly rooted after 10hrs with an open face helmet.

That's the day the CB900 engine spat it.

 Maybe check the weather forecast before I head off to the Hoover Dam

[Powderman]

Speed Week at Bonneville, Aug7-15

[Steve_K]

Barber Museum in Alabama has a great collection of historic motorcycles and a few race cars.  I have seen the pictures and that is on my bucket list.

Steve

[Wobbly]

Being from San Diego, I am prejudice. But these are some suggestions:
http://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Must-do-road-trip-California-s-Highway-101-2379133.php
Nor shortage of amusement parks in Southern California--no need to list. If you decide to check out Southern Cali--I have plenty of good ideas for you that not everyone might know. I would follow up by PM.
Mandatory is a piece of this:
https://roadtripusa.com/route-66/

Arizona has a lot to offer too--not just he Grand Canyon. These are my favorites:
http://oldtucson.com

Then, there is the real thing for cowboys of all ages:
http://www.tombstoneweb.com/

You like planes?
http://www.pimaair.org/
I believe you can also tour the amazing airplane storage facility at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base from Pima Air. Air planes side-by side as far as you can see.
http://www.dm.af.mil/units/amarc.asp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/309th_Aerospace_Maintenance_and_Regeneration_Group

All pretty awesome for small and big kids. 

Barstow, in the Mojave Desert, on your way from LA to Vegas, is a must if you like trains. I have been stationed there for three miserable years (there is Fort Irwin further into the desert and the Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow)--it gets a little warm.

I could go on and on. Let me know when you decided a route, and I give you some detailed suggestions. I also got plenty of pics.

[BobbyR]

If you did got to Barber, I'd turn north east from there and follow the Smoky Mountains for some great riding. I'd avoid the Tail of the Dragon as often it's filled with chucklehead wannabe sport riders wreaking all sorts of havoc on travelers. It's a technical ride, and maybe not worth the effort.

DC is wicked humid, but if you're keen on US history, it's a must. Else, treat it like a bad case of syphilis. NY is further north (about 600km from DC) and a great trip, but traveling on a motorcycle is not how I'd recommend it. Stay further west, and skip DC, NYC and go to the Poconos, and points north (Vermont and NEw Hampshire White/Green Mountains).  Older, earlier style of settlements in the U.S., plenty of historic stuff, and summer is the best time of the year for seafood in New England (healthy 2-4# Maine lobsters) and lots of fresh clams.

If you skip NYC you will be basically looking at nothing but trees once you leave the farms of NJ. After a while the trees all look the same. The Poconos are only an hour from Midtown Manhattan anyway. You owe it to yourself to visit Times Square, the WTC, Chinatown and the South Street Seaport. NY is the safest big City in the USA.

Once you have seen the City there are longer steeper more twisty roads than the Tail of the Dragon in Orange County on the way to West Point. The Hudson Valley is magnificent. 

I would go through Boston and see that lovely city. Costal Maine is quite beautiful.

[flybox1]

Its tough to beat the Seattle/PNW in the summer time (July/Aug/Sept). 

[oldhatt45]

BobbyR,

You forgot to mention the Intrepid Museum, (A WW2 aircraft carrier) in NYC.  Scott and kids could easily spend a whole day just going through that.

On the way to NYC if he does that, there is always the Jersey Shore.  Seaside has a pretty nice boardwalk with lots to do for the kids.

And I agree, the Hudson Valley is really magnificent.  And don't forget West Point Military Academy.  That is likewise very interesting. 
You  also have the Revolutionary war forts like Ticonderoga, and Fort William Henry.

There is also Sleepy Hollow near Tarrytown, just north of NYC.  The famous Headless Horseman and Ichabod Crane. 

Charlie

[BobbyR]

Charlie, you are indeed correct. There is so much to see from Pa to Maine. Gettysburg is in Pa and is very interesting.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

As far as camping goes, if you go to Yosemite, you may want to make a reservation since the park can get very crowded in the Summer.  I had some memorable RV trips with my family up the Pacific Coast all the way to the Canadian border.  DEFINITELY check out the redwood forest (Sequoia is the most famous).  The California coast especially from Monterrey through San Francisco and further north though Oregon and Washington are absolutely beautiful.  The beaches in Southern and Central California are some of the best in the world, too.  If you make it up to Oregon, you can drive portions of their beaches that are long a flat.

[Tews19]

Not the best place to buy bikes, they tend to be priced higher than other regions, the Midwest is the best place for deals.

The cat is out of the bag!

[Davez134]

Hoover dam should be on the list too.

Not sure if this is accurate, but I heard that the concrete in the Hoover Dam is so thick that it's still curing, and will be even after it gets decommissioned years in the future. If you go, let me know if that's true, haha.


---
1978 Honda CB550K

It's a cool ride, but for sure not this time of year. It will probably be 115 degrees near the lake today. I live about half hour away. Been on the tour and it is indeed true, concrete is still curing. There is a new bridge that was built to help with traffic. So you can ride across dam, then go ride across new bridge and view it from a little distance. This time of year, take a car though!

[Scott]

Man o man, thank you very much for the replys.

I think I will get myself a pad of paper and start making notes.  Also off to ebay now to get a map and get my head around where stuff is.

It's a year away still, but I'm already looking forward to the trip now.

Scott