Southeast Region

Sep/Oct '16 Premium Content

Southwest Virginia: The Heart of Appalachia

What do two Canadians, a German, and an Austro-American have in common? They have all made the journey to the westernmost corner of Virginia in the middle of July to experience the Heart of Appalachia—a corner so tightly wedged between Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and with so much

Sep/Oct '16 Premium Content

Pawleys Island, South Carolina: Riding to James Dickey’s Grave

My favorite day trips usually involve food, not the deceased. But All Saints Church in Pawleys Island, SC, offers too much to ignore: the grave of poet and novelist James Dickey, a famous ghost, and other Southern historical gems. And to make this destination even more desirable, it is close

Jul/Aug '16 Premium Content

Florida, Alabama, Mississippi: Shadowing the Gulf

America’s Gulf Coast is lined with miles of pristine, white sandy beaches lapped by the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico’s shallow continental shelf. The persistently warm weather and beautiful beaches attract tourists in droves, but we haven’t come for a tan. A Tale of Two

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 Premium Content

North Carolina: A Triple Dose of the Coast

When most motorcyclists think about North Carolina, their minds instantly turn to the misty peaks of the Great Smoky Mountains, the undulating twists of the Tail of the Dragon, or the sweeping beauty of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Understandably so. But while the roads in the western part of the

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 Premium Content

Western Arkansas: Up and Down in the Natural State

Millions of years ago a supercontinent drifted inexorably into ancestral North America. The resulting collision compressed and uplifted sedimentary rock, forming what is now called the Ouachita Mountains. Farther north, the same geologic forces uplifted the Ozark Plateau. Add another million or so years and travelers see streams and rivers

Jan/Feb '16 Premium Content

Wytheville, Virginia Shamrock Tour®: Virginia Really is For Lovers

It’s my favorite time of the year. The main season is over, life is a little less hectic, and I have some time to take deep breaths and reflect on an eventful summer. Yes, fall is here. Gone are the humidity and high temperatures. The first trees have started

Nov/Dec '15 Premium Content

Jefferson, Texas Shamrock Tour®: Bayou Chiefs

It is 1901. Dirt roads are evolving from indian trails and wagon routes to connect a country in the midst of a technological revolution. George M. Hendee and Carl Hedstrom have just completed their first 1.75-horsepower prototype of the Indian Motorcycle in Springfield, MA. More than 114 years later,

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 Premium Content

Folkston, Georgia Shamrock Tour®: Sand in the Swamp

Stretching across the Florida-Georgia border lies an impenetrable wall of stoic old oaks draped with Spanish moss and rooted in the dark, murky waters of the Okefenokee Swamp. With rumors of unexplained and supernatural phenomena, the swamp is full of secrets to be discovered. Sand Belongs on the Beach Folkston,

Jul/Aug '15

City Escape: Jacksonville, Florida

> The low-lying coastal region surrounding Florida’s largest city isn’t home to lots of curves that many motorcyclists crave. However, what a rider will find along this day ride from the city are lovely little seaside towns, southern swamps, and quiet rural communities to give one a much-needed

May/Jun '15 Premium Content

Trans-America Trail, Tennessee to Southern Colorado: Banjos, Tears, & Corn Nubbins

I have arrived in Tellico Plains, TN, and the official starting point of the Trans-America Trail (TAT). It took thousands of miles just to get here, but as I prepare to make my first turn onto the trail, I feel a weight and a reality of what I am about

May/Jun '15 Premium Content

North Carolina: Boone Town Mountain Loop

Back in RoadRUNNER’s August 2014 issue we introduced our Budget Touring Project Bike. The goal was to prove how affordable motorcycle touring can be by purchasing the cheapest road worthy motorcycle we could find and take it on tour. We bought a 1984 Honda Shadow 700 for $ 1,000

May/Jun '15 Premium Content

Iconic Roads: Blue Ridge Parkway

May/Jun '15

City Escape: Washington, D.C. - Virginia Hunt County

> From the streets of modern-day Leesburg, VA, riders motor through the idyllic horse and vineyard country of historic Loudoun and Fauquier counties, VA, and also will navigate briefly into Maryland and West Virginia. This backroad ramble can be taken anytime from spring through fall but is most enjoyable during

Mar/Apr '15 Premium Content

Snowshoe, West Virginia Shamrock Tour®: Adventure Times Two

Snowshoe is centrally located in Pocahontas County, and virtually any road here is a motorcyclist’s dream. It doesn’t matter what type of motorcycle one is riding, the never-ending curves mixed into the serene landscape make for an adrenaline-packed vacation. Webster and Greenbrier Counties, and neighboring Virginia’s Bath

Jan/Feb '15

City Escape: Little Rock, Arkansas

> This route takes you from Little Rock into the Ouachita Mountains and provides riders with some of the best roads and scenic overlooks in Arkansas, plus the opportunity for a relaxing mineral bath in historic Hot Springs. Length Approximately 200 miles Meet-up Spot Starbucks at 12901 Cantrell Rd, Little

Jan/Feb '15

City Escape: Charlotte, North Carolina

> Leaving the hustle and bustle of the Queen City, it doesn’t take long to find curvy, scenic mountain roads that will delight any motorcyclist. There are several interesting stops along the way, but this loop is all about the ride. The area’s moderate climate makes this route

Sep/Oct '14 Premium Content

Tallahassee, Florida Shamrock Tour®: Prospecting in the Panhandle

Reportedly searching for the Fountain of Youth, Juan Ponce de León landed on North America’s most prominent peninsula in 1513. He named it La Florida, or the flowery land, as he arrived around Easter. Roughly 500 years later, we’re not here to look for any magical waters; we’

Jul/Aug '14 Premium Content

Weekend for Two: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Known as “The Little Switzerland of America,” Eureka Springs, AR, offers the perfect escape for couples looking for a romantic getaway to another time. The town gets its name, and much of its history, from a nearby spring that was reputed to hold special healing powers. When word spread about

Jul/Aug '14 Premium Content

Kentucky: Doughnut Hunting Going Around in Circles

We came here seeking doughnuts. No, not the dunkin’ kind; calling those toroids doughnuts is like calling Chef Boyardee Italian food. No, we’re here for the real deal. And we’re willing to ride to find them. Thoroughbred From the rolling waves of Kentucky Blue Grass come some of

Jul/Aug '14 Premium Content

Reader Ride-North Carolina and Tennessee: Riding the Dragon’s Tail

Jul/Aug '14 Premium Content

Weekend for Two: Staunton, Virginia

Nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, VA, is a cultural crossroads offering a weekend of art, history, and motorcycling. The city is home to the American Shakespeare Center, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and the Museum of American Frontier Culture. Staunton’s quaint downtown features many buildings

May/Jun '14

City Escape: Orlando, Florida

> Seeking to escape the wonderful world of Disney? Take this clockwise loop around Central Florida’s third largest lake (Apopka) and Lake Dora to the city of Tavares, which is known as America’s Seaplane City. This lakeside community of luncheon and landing spots melds perfectly with pilots of