City Escape

A collection of 158 posts

Sep/Oct '17

City Escape: West Palm Beach, Florida

Sep/Oct '17

City Escape: Colorado Springs, CO

This scenic loop west of Colorado Springs includes some great small towns and miles of tree-lined splendor. Some iconic mountains and rock formations are mixed in for good measure. The ride is best made from late spring through early fall. Rocky Mountain weather is, to say the least, variable,

Jul/Aug '17

City Escape: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Enjoy a relaxing ride through small towns and farmland to the northwest before dipping south into the Irish Hills, which got its name from the Irish immigrants who settled there in the 1800s. Some of the best scenery and roads in southeastern and central Michigan are incorporated in the route.

Jul/Aug '17

City Escape: Salt Lake City, Utah

This route leads through central Wasatch Mountain State Park and offers stunning views of the surrounding valleys and peaks. The best time to travel is in the summer, but even then unpredictable weather can bring snow. Autumn is especially beautiful. The loop is intentionally short to allow riders time to

May/Jun '17

City Escape: Charleston, SC

South Carolina’s Lowcountry is rich in history, art, cuisine, and natural wonder, and the perfect setting for a late spring or summer ride. Take in Charleston’s brilliant colors and blooming azaleas and magnolias, then saddle up for a charming ride north through surrounding small towns and forests, with

May/Jun '17

City Escape: Milwaukee

When selecting a route near Milwaukee, it often pays to follow the hometown iron. Highway 67 is very popular with Milwaukee Harley riders, as they take this twisting route through Kettle Moraine State Forest. A bonus is the small town of Eagle, which offers various pub and grill establishments and

Mar/Apr '17

City Escape: Portland, Oregon

Fuel up at See See Motor Coffee in northeast Portland and head west through the Coast Range to explore Oregon’s logging heritage and see where Lewis and Clark spent a soggy winter in 1805-06. The city of Astoria thrives as a port and tourist destination, and winding roads

Mar/Apr '17

City Escape: Knoxville, Tennessee

This route, in and around the Smoky Mountains, has a little bit of everything: exceptionally curvy roads, stunning scenery, charming villages, and an iconic movie location. There are few one-day rides in America that can compare to this escape. The route is appropriate for experienced mountain riders who will

Jan/Feb '17

City Escape: Roanoke, Virginia

This Star City roundabout is a City Escape with an attitude. Seriously folks, only dual sports need apply. The first 40 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway are perfect to relax and shake off the morning kinks. Once you drop off the mountain on Route 812 at the Sunset Field

Jan/Feb '17

City Escape: Honolulu, Hawaii

Aloha, island riders. This escape from the bustle of Honolulu is a figure eight that features most of what makes Oahu great. The ride includes the can’t-miss twists, turns, and views of Round Top/Tantalus Drive. It also boasts miles of coastal riding and two passes through the

Nov/Dec '16

City Escape: Columbia, South Carolina

Not far west of Columbia, SC, riders encounter the outdoor recreational offerings and scenic vistas of Lake Murray. Venturing deeper into the state’s hilly Upcountry, bucolic backroads lead to historic sites recounting the state’s pivotal role in winning the American Revolutionary War. Riders also will see the plantation

Nov/Dec '16

City Escape: Austin, Texas

Our second largest state (behind Alaska) isn’t well known for its motorcycling roads, but small areas like the Hill Country are hidden gems to explore. As the most liberal and artsy city in Texas, Austin also offers a lively community and some of the best barbeque in the country.

Sep/Oct '16

City Escape: New York, New York

Escape the city’s hustle and bustle into New Jersey’s backcountry. It’s not nicknamed the Garden State for nothing! Ride through beautiful farmland, forests, and past too many lakes to count. Crossing the Delaware River, this route pokes into Pennsylvania and New York countryside. Length Approximately 160 miles

Sep/Oct '16

City Escape: Palm Springs, California

With the suburbs of the Coachella Valley expanding in every direction, there’s one place they can’t grow: Joshua Tree National Park. The Mojave Desert’s endless sand, crimson rocks, and indigo skies combine to create an eerie solitude. Joshua trees, cholla, and desert flowers erupt from the barren

Jul/Aug '16

City Escape: Rapid City, South Dakota

The Black Hills of South Dakota are one of the most impressive and interesting riding venues in the U.S. Dramatic scenery, iconic national sites, a plethora of roadside attractions, and beguiling byways are big draws. The best time to go is early or late summer. Length Approximately 227 miles

Jul/Aug '16

City Escape: Nashville, Tennessee

While there’s plenty to see and do in Music City, exploring the tranquil farmland around Tennessee’s capital will satisfy the motorcyclist’s soul. The laid-back atmosphere invites a slower pace. Edgar Evins State Park serves up curves and beautiful views. Many distilleries call the surrounding area home,

May/Jun '16

City Escape: Boise, Idaho

This loop northeast of Boise is a microcosm of the rest of the Pacific Northwest. It is varied and spectacular. Throughout the ride, the ecosystems change from high desert foothills, to chaparral, to alpine. Then there’s the water! Lakes, lazy rivers, white water rapids, and hot springs are the

May/Jun '16

City Escape: Washington, D.C.

Beginning halfway between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, MD, this City Escape traverses verdant, back-in-time Maryland countryside. Enticing byways wind through pastoral settings, along streams, and into the heart of historic villages. A stop for lunch just north of the Pennsylvania border gives riders an even closer glimpse

Mar/Apr '16

City Escapes: Billings, Montana

Wide open spaces, hundred-mile views, and light traffic highlight this loop southwest of Billings, MT. Enjoy the sights and sounds of nearby waterways with most of the route flanked by beautiful Montana rivers like the Yellowstone, Stillwater, Rosebud, Bear Creek, and Clark Fork. This is a ride best made

Mar/Apr '16

City Escape: Miami, Florida

Only two routes cross the Florida Everglades, Alligator Alley (I-75) and the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41). This City Escape treks across approximately 60 miles of the Tamiami Trail through the heart of the Florida Everglades. This ride is best experienced between the months of October and May; after

Jan/Feb '16

Milwaukee City Escape

> When the glaciers melted, they left the area north and west of Milwaukee with gouged and rolling terrain. These glacial kettles and drumlins make for twisting and undulating backroads. This trip on two-lane roads through the Kettle Moraine State Forest is best attempted between mid-May and mid-

Jan/Feb '16

Denver, Colorado City Escape

The highest continuous paved road in the United States is in Rocky Mountain National Park—Trail Ridge Road. Connecting Estes Park (the town that inspired Stephen King’s novel, The Shining) to Grand Lake, home of … well, a pretty big lake! But then again, why settle for ghost stories, big

Nov/Dec '15

City Escape: Salt Lake City, Utah

> This route travels the rural “Wasatch Back” beginning at the mouth of Emigration Canyon in Salt Lake County and loops northward on twisty canyon roads, over mountain passes, and through the pastoral Morgan and Upper Ogden Valleys. June, September, and October are the most scenic months to ride. Length

Nov/Dec '15

City Escape: Richmond, Virginia

> This route transports riders from Richmond, VA, the former Confederate capital, across rolling farmland in central Virginia to several iconic locations, marking the final days of the American Civil War in the spring of 1865. Riders interested in Civil War history should factor in plenty of time to peruse

Sep/Oct '15

City Escape: Las Vegas, Nevada

> This loop south of Las Vegas is a serene escape from the urban bustle. Once free from the neon lights and the traffic of Sin City, riders will experience the raw beauty of the Mojave Desert. The clear desert air allows awe-inspiring views of rugged mountains, expansive sand