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Ride the open roads of the US and Canada
What better way to explore the open roads of the US and Canada than on a motor bike? Imagine the curves in the Rocky Mountains, the long straight sections of Route 66, or biking the Big Sur on the Californian Coast.
There are three ways to organise this.
You can rent a motorcycle and head off on your own from any number of locations around America and a few in Canada. The range of bikes on offer is extraordinary; EagleRider offer 182 different motorcycles ranging from classic Harleys to trikes and Slingshots.
You can follow a pre-planned route with all your accommodation arranged in advance for you. Self-drive tour packages include a late model motorcycle, hotel accommodations, a day-by-day itinerary with driving directions. Set routes have been carefully planned to guide you along the most scenic and attractive roads in the area or you can plan your own and still have the reassurance of a bed at the end of the day.
The third, and the most popular, is to join a guided tour. These are great in that, not only are you riding with like minded people, but you will have the security of knowing that should there be a problem, your guide will sort it out for you; they will also sort out all the logistics leaving you free to enjoy yourself! Some hidden roads are easy to miss if you are riding on your own. On a guided tour, your guide will make sure to lead you along all the best riding stretches and also on certain tours like Route 66, uniquely you also have access to gated roads. There is a vast choice of routes both long and short, taking in all the must-visit places in America. Aside from the obvious Route 66, there is a 15 night holiday exploring the Wild West starting in Los Angeles and going inland as far as Monument Valley seeing the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite and San Francisco. You can go from coast to coast in 16 nights, enjoy a short on/off road adventure around Baja California, or perhaps my favourite: riding from Seattle up into the Canadian Rockies (Banff and Jasper) and then following the Continental Divide all the way south through Glacier National Park and Yellowstone finishing in Colorado.
Harley-Davidson’s big 115th Anniversary is all planned for August 29 – September 2, 2018 in Milwaukee. The event is a call to all motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to join in the grand, citywide celebration. The party is not just about a landmark anniversary of a brand that began in a wooden shed over 100 years but a chance for a great party attended by tens of thousands of motorcyclists. Judging by past events, there will be headliner music, racing, foods from around the world, museum tours, custom bike shows, marriage ceremony packages, bike parade (which drew 6,000 motorcyclists for the 110th), probably dancing and extreme camaraderie. The line-up has yet to be announced but at the 110th Anniversary the likes of Kid Rock, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and the Blue Oyster Cult were a few of the 28 headliner acts and 60 bands.
To make the party even more special, EagleRider, the exclusive US provider of rental and tours for Harley-Davidson, have put together four amazing trips riding through some of the most iconic motorcycling destinations in the world, culminating in Milwaukee in time for the party. There will be plenty of celebrations along the way as each city along the route where there is a Harley-Davidson dealership is celebrating. The routes start in Portland, Maine, Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and San Diego.
Sandra Potter is Founder of Frontier Travel.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
There are three ways to organise this.
You can rent a motorcycle and head off on your own from any number of locations around America and a few in Canada. The range of bikes on offer is extraordinary; EagleRider offer 182 different motorcycles ranging from classic Harleys to trikes and Slingshots.
You can follow a pre-planned route with all your accommodation arranged in advance for you. Self-drive tour packages include a late model motorcycle, hotel accommodations, a day-by-day itinerary with driving directions. Set routes have been carefully planned to guide you along the most scenic and attractive roads in the area or you can plan your own and still have the reassurance of a bed at the end of the day.
The third, and the most popular, is to join a guided tour. These are great in that, not only are you riding with like minded people, but you will have the security of knowing that should there be a problem, your guide will sort it out for you; they will also sort out all the logistics leaving you free to enjoy yourself! Some hidden roads are easy to miss if you are riding on your own. On a guided tour, your guide will make sure to lead you along all the best riding stretches and also on certain tours like Route 66, uniquely you also have access to gated roads. There is a vast choice of routes both long and short, taking in all the must-visit places in America. Aside from the obvious Route 66, there is a 15 night holiday exploring the Wild West starting in Los Angeles and going inland as far as Monument Valley seeing the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite and San Francisco. You can go from coast to coast in 16 nights, enjoy a short on/off road adventure around Baja California, or perhaps my favourite: riding from Seattle up into the Canadian Rockies (Banff and Jasper) and then following the Continental Divide all the way south through Glacier National Park and Yellowstone finishing in Colorado.
Harley-Davidson’s big 115th Anniversary is all planned for August 29 – September 2, 2018 in Milwaukee. The event is a call to all motorcycle enthusiasts from around the world to join in the grand, citywide celebration. The party is not just about a landmark anniversary of a brand that began in a wooden shed over 100 years but a chance for a great party attended by tens of thousands of motorcyclists. Judging by past events, there will be headliner music, racing, foods from around the world, museum tours, custom bike shows, marriage ceremony packages, bike parade (which drew 6,000 motorcyclists for the 110th), probably dancing and extreme camaraderie. The line-up has yet to be announced but at the 110th Anniversary the likes of Kid Rock, Aerosmith, ZZ Top and the Blue Oyster Cult were a few of the 28 headliner acts and 60 bands.
To make the party even more special, EagleRider, the exclusive US provider of rental and tours for Harley-Davidson, have put together four amazing trips riding through some of the most iconic motorcycling destinations in the world, culminating in Milwaukee in time for the party. There will be plenty of celebrations along the way as each city along the route where there is a Harley-Davidson dealership is celebrating. The routes start in Portland, Maine, Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and San Diego.
Sandra Potter is Founder of Frontier Travel.
If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.
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One of my favorite thing is to hang out on a motor bike with my girlfriend. I love the feeling of flying with wind belowing.I have been dreaming of exploring more place. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve always wanted to do a road trip across the USA but the amount of planning involved (I’m not a stop at a motel type person!) is daunting. Knowing that I could have a pre-planned route with accomodation arranged is extremely helpful. Especially if I can cater those hotels to my tastes – as I’d like a bit of luxury at the end of a days driving. I’m not that experienced with a motorcycle, although I have driven one before – are these sorts of tours suitable for beginners?
hi Steve, thank you for your comment, I did try to reply by email. I would not advise doing a long trip by bike if you are not fairly experienced. Why not do some by car and then a short, guided bike trip for just a few days to get the feel of it. This can be arrange by any reputable tour operator including my own!
I have always wanted to take a trip on the long roads in the US, particularly through Route 66. I am not good with balance however so I am not sure that a motorbike would be best suited to me, perhaps an open top Mustang! Saying that, my partner is a huge motorcycle enthusiast, perhaps he will convince me.
Hi Frances, if balance is a problem, you could certainly do Route 66 in a Mustang. The other option would be a Polaris Slingshot or Harley Davidson Tri-Glide Ultra both of which are three wheelers and so more stable.
Travelling the US on a motorbike really is a dream isn’t it lol. I agree that this could be one of the best ways to see new places. It’s easier to do this in the US as the roads are much more open unlike the UK! I do like the sound of joining a guided tour, very effortless and you can just follow and enjoy. Just like Frances said, however, balance is an issue!
Hi Jane
The US roads are a sheer joy! And, as I said to Frances, you can do the trip by car (but not guided) or in a three-wheeler where balance should not be a problem.
Route 66 has been a dream of mine for ages! The roads look a lot easier to drive on than the roads here in England. There’s so many places I want to see in the US. Joining a guided tour would also be a good option as you have someone who knows where there going.
hi Francesca
I agree the Route 66 is an iconic route to travel. Details of the holiday are on our website if you would like more information; so do please have a look and contact us if you would like to know more.
coming from a family of bikers this is totally the dream to get out on those long open beautiful roads there is nothing like it! The scenery is just stunning as well I bet it was an amazing experience!
I have not done it on a bike (I am not a biker) but I can attest to the scenery which is mind-blowing. Let us know if you would like to do it.
I think a lot of my generation, especially those who had motorbikes early on in their driving life, have always had a hankering to ride on America’s wide open roads. Many of us watched that iconic film “Easy Rider” many times over and aspired to laid-back cruising on power bikes through some awesome American landscapes.