Planning Midwest Trip
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Planning Midwest Trip
Hi all,
I'm planning my first road trip and would really like to hit the midwest since I've never seen it before. I would be leaving western NY and keyareas I would like tosee are eastern Iowa, Northern/Western Wisconsin/Eastern Minnesota (basically the Mississippi River Valley) and the UP of Michigan. I was thinking of doing a loop, with one half going into Canada and around that way. Anyone have any suggestions or prior experience in these areas. I'm wanting to do this trip with the idea of not planning too much and from the hip as much as possible. I have a buddy in northern wisconsin I'd like to stop in and see. It seems like to get through Ohio and Illinois you have to hit major cities. I'd like to avoid these obviously. Thanks for any help.....ya'll havea great forum here.
~Ryan~
I'm planning my first road trip and would really like to hit the midwest since I've never seen it before. I would be leaving western NY and keyareas I would like tosee are eastern Iowa, Northern/Western Wisconsin/Eastern Minnesota (basically the Mississippi River Valley) and the UP of Michigan. I was thinking of doing a loop, with one half going into Canada and around that way. Anyone have any suggestions or prior experience in these areas. I'm wanting to do this trip with the idea of not planning too much and from the hip as much as possible. I have a buddy in northern wisconsin I'd like to stop in and see. It seems like to get through Ohio and Illinois you have to hit major cities. I'd like to avoid these obviously. Thanks for any help.....ya'll havea great forum here.
~Ryan~
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From: i live outside Omaha Ne on the Iowa side in the Loes hills, some great places to ride
RE: Planning Midwest Trip
sounds like you have it figured out. i live in western iowa and many people here trip to the Mississippi valley in the fall of they year to ride the river from top of iowa to the bottom as the fall colors are so great to see. say in late September to first week or two of October.
don't forget to stop at a LOCK that lets boats and barges up and down the river.
don't forget to stop at a LOCK that lets boats and barges up and down the river.
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Joined: May 2005
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RE: Planning Midwest Trip
I kinda did that trip but in reverse a couple of yrs ago. Went down through Minneapolis, passed close to Chicago (Tried to avoid all large city centers, but difficult sometimes), across Indianna, Ohio (avoid toll hwys ... too many stops) and Pennsylvania to Americadein NY, then to Laconia NH for bike rallys at bothplaces. Came home by way of Main (great Lobster places along that way!!!)Up through New Brunswick, scooted over to Nova Scotia (did the Cabot Trail ... awesome riding and scenery... A MUST DO!); crossed the bridge onto PEI (just to get pictures); then across Quebec and then back into Ontario. Took 17 days.... Only one way to describe that trip ... A W E S O M E !!!!
6th Gear
Joined: Apr 2006
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RE: Planning Midwest Trip
We live in WI, central area, and love the RIVER ROAD. Get yourself somewhere around the Mississippi River and head north or south and enjoy the nice road, scenery, and fun shops & bars along the way. Years ago I did a family "vacation" in a car traveling into Canada through International Falls, MN that would be neat too. Email or PM me with any WI or MN questions and I'd be happy to help you out!
Stacey
Stacey
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Joined: May 2005
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From:
RE: Planning Midwest Trip
You should definitely plan on being in Savanna, IL and New Diggings, WI on a weekend. Savanna is an old river town of about 3000 pop. that fills up with bikers on the weekends with lots of bars and antique shops. The Iron Horse Social Club has a free motorcycle museum in the back.
New Diggings is an old mining town about an hour north of Savanna that has two biker bars. One is an old barn that was moved and remodeled into a bar; the other is an old general store circa 1824 or thereabouts. Looks like some of the stuff in there never sold. They both have food and it's a great ride between the two towns. Ask anyone what roads to take.
J & P Cycles is in Anamosa, IA, about 60 miles west of Savanna. They have a nice retail store. Anamosa has some nice bars downtown that welcome bikers, plus the National Motorcycle Museum is located there. Practically all the roads in the eastern 60 miles or so of Iowa are great motorcycling roads, and practically all of Wisconsin is full of great roads.
New Diggings is an old mining town about an hour north of Savanna that has two biker bars. One is an old barn that was moved and remodeled into a bar; the other is an old general store circa 1824 or thereabouts. Looks like some of the stuff in there never sold. They both have food and it's a great ride between the two towns. Ask anyone what roads to take.
J & P Cycles is in Anamosa, IA, about 60 miles west of Savanna. They have a nice retail store. Anamosa has some nice bars downtown that welcome bikers, plus the National Motorcycle Museum is located there. Practically all the roads in the eastern 60 miles or so of Iowa are great motorcycling roads, and practically all of Wisconsin is full of great roads.
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