retirement tour ideas
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 234
Likes: 2
From: Midland NC
retirement tour ideas
After 35 years in the military I am finally retiring in May 2015. My riding partner is also retiring and we need some ideas. We want to ride all the states along the Atlantic ocean starting in North Carolina, going around Florida's Gulf coast, all the way to TX then through NM, AZ. NV. on to CA along Hwy 1 to OR, WA, then to Yellowstone and Sturgis before returning home to NC. Any suggestions on things to see and do would be greatly appreciated.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: FUAC
Congrats on your retirement and thank you for your service.... so have you decided? Are you going to get away from the 35 years of having military style haricut and grow your hair out, or you gonna keep it short? :-)
Enjoy your freedom brother... we enjoy ours because of men like you.... thank you
Enjoy your freedom brother... we enjoy ours because of men like you.... thank you
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,959
Likes: 1,988
From: CA
Thanks for your 35 years of service and congrats on retirement.
The loop you describe sounds great.
My $.02 worth - Avoid the interstates as much as you can, the two lanes are much more interesting and the food in the small town mom n pop restaurants will usually be better than the same old fast food crap along the highways.
Get a national park Senior Pass, gets you into all the parks free along with discounts on other stuff. Hit every national park you can. When you are in CA don't miss Yosemite and take the road to Glacier Point.
On the PCH just north of Big Sur stop at the Fernwood Resort, great bar, good food and ok motel rooms.
A little more upscale (nothing will be cheap on the coast) is Ragged Point, south of Big Sur.
If you like seafood, Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing has, IMHO, some of the best in CA.
In Northern CA, "The Avenue of the Giants" parallels 101 through the redwoods, a great ride.
Good luck!
The loop you describe sounds great.
My $.02 worth - Avoid the interstates as much as you can, the two lanes are much more interesting and the food in the small town mom n pop restaurants will usually be better than the same old fast food crap along the highways.
Get a national park Senior Pass, gets you into all the parks free along with discounts on other stuff. Hit every national park you can. When you are in CA don't miss Yosemite and take the road to Glacier Point.
On the PCH just north of Big Sur stop at the Fernwood Resort, great bar, good food and ok motel rooms.
A little more upscale (nothing will be cheap on the coast) is Ragged Point, south of Big Sur.
If you like seafood, Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing has, IMHO, some of the best in CA.
In Northern CA, "The Avenue of the Giants" parallels 101 through the redwoods, a great ride.
Good luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 376
From: Mississippi
Congrats and thanks for your service. Are you riding all the way around FL?
+1 on the National Park Pass. Retired military you may qualify for a cheap one. I know a Disabled Vet that gets his cheap or free??
The typical rides at Sturgis, Mt Rushmore, Iron Mtn Road, Needles Hwy, Badlands, Devils Tower. Don't miss Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth Highway at Yellowstone. Cody is a nice stop and the rodeo in the summer is a blast.
The National Parks in Utah are nice, Grand Canyon on the way over, a stop in one of the towns where Rt 66 passes through, Million Dollar Highway in CO.
+1 on the National Park Pass. Retired military you may qualify for a cheap one. I know a Disabled Vet that gets his cheap or free??
The typical rides at Sturgis, Mt Rushmore, Iron Mtn Road, Needles Hwy, Badlands, Devils Tower. Don't miss Chief Joseph Highway and Beartooth Highway at Yellowstone. Cody is a nice stop and the rodeo in the summer is a blast.
The National Parks in Utah are nice, Grand Canyon on the way over, a stop in one of the towns where Rt 66 passes through, Million Dollar Highway in CO.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 364
From: Washington
Crater Lake in Oregon.
Mt Rainier do both Sunrise and Paradise and while you are there Windy Ridge at Mt St Helens.
The ride over North Cascades Hwy(HWY 20) is very cool. Also in Washington
Hwy 12 Lolo Pass in Idaho on your way to Sturgis .
Then ride the Bitterroot Valley in Montana to the top of lost Trail Pass. http://www.explorethebitterroot.com/...ole_valley.php Then head to Jackson,Wy and through Yellowstone and over Beartooth Pass
Mt Rainier do both Sunrise and Paradise and while you are there Windy Ridge at Mt St Helens.
The ride over North Cascades Hwy(HWY 20) is very cool. Also in Washington
Hwy 12 Lolo Pass in Idaho on your way to Sturgis .
Then ride the Bitterroot Valley in Montana to the top of lost Trail Pass. http://www.explorethebitterroot.com/...ole_valley.php Then head to Jackson,Wy and through Yellowstone and over Beartooth Pass
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 105
From: Kentucky
Congrats on the retirement.
Just take off and follow the sun/good weather. Every State has something to see. Retired truck driver, still love the road, just went from 18 wheels too 2.
Just take off and follow the sun/good weather. Every State has something to see. Retired truck driver, still love the road, just went from 18 wheels too 2.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
As many National Parks as possible. Blue Ridge Parkway, Tail of the Dragon, all around the Smoky Mountains, Northwest Arkansas (Ozarks). As much of the Rocky Mountains as possible. Big Bend Park in Texas, Coronado Trail in Arizona, Oak Creek Canyon in Arizona, Black Hills in South Dakota. This just scratches the surface of the wonderful places in this great country that you spent your life defending.
Thank you for you service, and enjoy a much deserved retirement.
Bill
Thank you for you service, and enjoy a much deserved retirement.
Bill
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 268
Likes: 17
From: Albertville, AL
Thanks for your service!!!!! and wow retired, maybe some day......ride til you can ride no more and them ride again........God, how I wish I could ride the roads for life....
Ride brother!!!!!!
DAVE
Patriot Guard Rider!
Ride brother!!!!!!
DAVE
Patriot Guard Rider!
