Our 4 Bucket List Motorcycle Rides in the West article, written by WRN editor Genevieve Schmitt, showcases some incredible scenic rides America has to offer on the left side of the map. I’m lucky to have been able to ride two out of the four, considering my home is on the east coast.
Out here, on the right side of the map, we’ve got some bucket list rides of our own. Here are my personal favorites to date. Have you ridden these? If not add them to your bucket list.
1. Blue Ridge Parkway – Virginia to North Carolina
The Blue Ridge Highway spans the Appalachian Mountains and connects Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia to Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains. There are hundreds of scenic pull-offs and I could easily spend several days just taking in the breathtaking scenery each one offers.
It became obvious where the Blue Ridge Parkway got its name on my first day riding it. The mountain vistas on a clear, sunny day offer views of multiple layers of "blue ridges."
The non-commercial, two-lane paved road is 469 miles long through Virginia and North Carolina. The maximum posted speed is only 45 mph, which can be difficult to maintain if you like to ride the twisty roads as sporty and quickly as I do.
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