The 100 Best Affordable Vacations (33 page)

It’s no wonder that organized motorcycle tours are all the rage. Unfortunately, these organized rides aren’t always cheap, sometimes costing thousands per week. But if you’ve got your own bike, have a friend who does, or can afford about $100 a day to rent one, you can easily craft your own voyage of discovery. Companies with nationwide networks include
Eaglerider
(888-900-9901,
www.eaglerider.com
);
AdMo-Tours
(760-249-1105,
www.rental-motorcycle.com
);
Street Eagle
(800-717-7970,
www.streeteagle.com
); and, of course,
Harley-Davidson
(www.hdrentals.com), which maintains a fleet of rental bikes.

Since 2000, McKechnie has mapped out 25 of his favorite back-road rides in each edition of his book. Asked for three of his current favorites, here’s what he recommends:

Magical Michigan Tour.
Have five days? Rent a bike in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, take the fast ferry to Muskegon, Michigan, and then drive the magnificent Lake Michigan shoreline to Ludington, Leland, Traverse City, Charlevoix, and then on to Mackinaw City before boomeranging back to the ferry in Muskegon.

In
Charlevoix
(800-367-8557,
www.charlevoix.org
), look for the whimsical hobbit-style homes and lodgings designed by Earl Young in the early 20th century scattered around town. Bed-and-breakfast lodgings, including the historic
Aaron’s Windy Hill Guest Lodge
(202 Michigan Ave., 231-547-6100,
www.aaronswindyhill.com
), start at $85. In
Mackinaw City
(800-666-0160,
www.mackinawcity.com
) don’t miss the 1880s
Fort Mackinac
on
Mackinac Island
(906-847-3328,
www.mackinacparks.com
, $10.50). For a twist, check out the
Icebreaker Museum
(131 S. Huron Ave., 231-436-9825,
www.themackinaw.org
, $10) aboard a Coast Guard icebreaker. In the summer
Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping
(9730 U.S. 23, 231-436-5584,
www.campmackinaw.com
) has campsites from $9 and cabins from $30.

BIKER FESTS

Even if you’re not into the ride itself, dip into biker culture with a visit to a motorcycle festival. Here are three top biker fests:

 
Bikes, Blues & Barbecue
. A mere youngster compared to the Daytona and Sturgis rallies—it began in 2000—this family-friendly Ozarks event has quickly grown in popularity, attracting hundreds of thousands of participants for five days of music, barbecue, and biking in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Most of the festivities are free; the not-for-profit event raises funds for local charities.
Bikes, Blues
&
Barbecue, 479-527-9993,
www.bikesbluesandbbq.org
.

 
Daytona Bike Week.
For a week each February/March, Daytona Beach, Florida, goes hog wild when some 500,000 bikers—from evangelistic preachers to soused partyers—hit town. The action (food, bands, camaraderie, and general insanity) has been going on since 1937 and spans multiple locations, including Bruce Rossmeyer’s Destination Daytona, Daytona International Speedway, and Main Street.
Daytona Bike Week, 386-255-0981,
www.officialbikeweek.com
.

 
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
. Since 1938, bikers—now up to 400,000—have glided through South Dakota’s dramatic Black Hills each August and taken over the town of Sturgis (pop. 6,500) for this annual celebration, including a mud rally, organized rides, concerts, and motorcycle stunt presentations.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, 605-720-0800,
www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com
.

Michigan Travel & Tourism,
888-784-7328,
www.michigan.org
.

Oregon Coast.
For a one-day ride, check out the 160-mile stretch of coastal U.S. 101 from Cannon Beach, northwest of Portland, to Florence, west of Eugene. Thanks to a century-old building moratorium, the views are pristine and plentiful. Don’t miss the grilled-cheese sandwich at the
Tillamook County Creamery
(4175 U.S. 101N, 503-815-1300) in the town of Tillamook, and the 38-mile Cape Meares loop ride from Tillamook is well worth the extra time—as is the road ahead that will seduce you with views and gentle curves that improve with every mile. Near Tillamook, camp, rent a cabin, or stay in a yurt at
Cape Lookout State Park
(800-551-6949, reservations 800-452-568,
www.oregonstateparks.org
); tent sites start at $19 and deluxe cabins are $76.

Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce,
503-842-7525,
www.tillamookchamber.org
;
Travel Oregon,
800-547-7842,
www.traveloregon.com
.

The Plains.
Tour the heartland of America by making a 1,144-mile circuit of the plains of northern Kansas and central Nebraska. Start in Omaha, Nebraska, and within 30 miles of heading south of the city, the urban feel starts to dissipate and rural farmland takes over. Travel through small towns like Pawnee City, Nebraska; and Concordia, Beloit, and Oberlin, Kansas; then swing north back into Nebraska to visit Ogallala, Arthur, Thedford, and Broken Bow. The loneliness of the area adds to the haunting appeal of the prairies.

Concordia
(785-243-4290,
www.concordiakansaschamber.com
) offers a few chain lodgings.
Pawnee City
(www.pawneecity.com) offers several bed-and-breakfasts, including
My Blue Heaven B&B
(1041 5th St., 402-852-3131), which has rooms with shared bath from $40. For campsites, check out the
Nebraska National Forest and Grasslands
(308-533-2257,
www.fs.fed.us/r2/nebraska
) or the
4-H Camp
(308-533-2224) near Halsey, which also has cabin rentals. The larger town of
Valentine
(800-658-4024) has a range of chain and other lodging options.

Kansas Travel & Tourism,
785-296-2009,
www.travelks.com
;
Nebraska Travel & Tourism,
888-444-1867,
www.visitnebraska.gov
.

ENJOY THE RIDE

Gary McKechnie, author of
Great American Motorcycle Tours,
offers these basic tips:

 Be sure your motorcycle is in top condition before you start.

 Get off the blacktop and onto the back roads.

 Ditch your schedule. To leave plenty of time for unexpected discoveries, limit your ride to a maximum of 200 miles per day.