City Escape: Flagstaff, Arizona

As the youngest state to be admitted into the contiguous U.S., Arizona still can still feel like a frontier. From tourist luxury in Sedona to semi-abandoned history in Skull Valley, central Arizona offers a wide range of options for motorcycle travelers to explore. Tourist-friendly natural beauty can be found just off the highway at places like Slide Rock State Park. Greater challenges are numerous, such as the four-mile hike to Pocket Knob, which brings adventure seekers nearly 2,000 vertical feet up to stunning vistas. For those preferring to enjoy the state from the saddle, several stretches of pavement curves along SR 89A, as well as detours like the Red Rock Scenic Loop in Sedona, provide miles of archetypal Arizona scenery without needing to get off the bike.