Where to go? Mr. & Mrs. ChinaV do the USA

[MotoKai]

This is purely vicarious...(which I will enjoy).

After the first few years of living in China and not having a motorcycle (used to ride a VFR500 in the US during my early 20s), I thought I’d wait until I move back to the US before owning a bike again. Now realizing that I don’t know when or if that time will come again - I’m sitting here waiting for my JH600 do be delivered to me in Shanghai

With that said, sounds like a dream to ride across the US - so here are some of my thoughts. I share this knowing that your awesome ride report will give me the vicarious high from across the Pacific. Here are some of suggestions from West to East (with help from National Geographic). If you want any additional info on any of these, just give me a shout.


Pacific Coast Highway Through Big Sur
California (Monterey - Big Sur - Carmel - San Simeon)
One of my favorite roads ever! Stunning - but I’ve only done it by car. Not a bad way to start your journey if you choose the southern route across the US to Wisconsin.

Route66 Through Arizona
Arizona
Main streets of Holbrook, Flagstaff and Williams still feature Route 66-style motels and diners.

Route 12 From Bryce Canyon to Capitol Reef
Utah
Journey through Utah’s canyon lands past eerie rock formations, breathtaking mountain ridges, pine forests, and mountain meadows.

The San Juan Skyway
Colorado
Unforgettable Rocky Mountain adventure offering sky-high peaks, Butch Cassidy’s hometown, and the haunting ruins of Mesa Verde. This is a 223-mile loop that you can do in one day (but allow 3 for sight seeing in the major towns and exploring Mesa Verde National Park - where the ancestors of the modern Pueblo people once lived).

The Golden Highway
Colorado - Kansas - Missouri
Quirky route though the heart of the Midwest.

The Orgeon Train
Oregon - Idaho - Wyoming - Nebraska - Kansas - Missouri
By heading North first, you’d add some mileage (albeit beautiful mileage), but you’d get to do a reverse trek of the of the emigrants seeking farmland in Oregon and gold in California, including: Lush Grande Ronde valley, the Craters of the Moon near Arco and Shoshone Falls near Twin Falls, Lava Hot Springs in Southern Idaho, 470-foot Chimney Rock near Bridgport, the giant red rock of Scott’s Bluff.

Lake Michigan Shoreline
Wisconsin - Michigan
Since you’ll be stopping in Wisconsin, you may want to consider the Lake Michigan Shoreline. The loop of the lake covers 1,160 miles, which means it’s about a week to experience all the sights. To shorten the trip either side of the lake is rewarding on its own. You can take a 4-hour ferry ride on the SS Badger between Manitowoc and Ludington (Ferry take bikes, cars and RVs). South of Ludintton is Saugtuck, MI which is both an artists’ colony and beach destination known for its dune-schooners (buggies giving rides through the high dunes).

Amish Country to the Hudson Valley
Pennsylvania - New York
Step back in time riding thru Amish country around Lancaster Pennsylvania with 28 covered bridges in the county - and one is on the way to Paradise, a small village east of Lancaster City. Build in 1893, the Paradise Bridge is supported by the Theodore Burr arch and crosses over the Pequea Creek on Belmont Road. Located in the heart fo Amish country, bridge traffic includes buggies as well as cars and motorcycles. Then continue north-east to the historic and beautiful Hudson Valley River towns of New York, where you can follow the river north from Harriman State Park to West Point and further North into the Catskills.