| Author | Message | ||
     Union_man |
My buddies and I take a spring trip every year. This year is my turn to plan and map. I am planning to go to the Dragon and surrounding area. I am going to be traveling with 3 friends. We love good roads, good food, and bars with atmosphere (hole in the wall type) when the riding ends for the day. We prefer to eat and drink at non-chain, Mom and Pop places! We are bringing camping gear, but only plan to camp if the weather is dry. We plan to trailer to Knoxville or Lexington and ride out from there. We have 7 days off and will spend 5 days in the area and 2 days hauling. Maps and/or pictures would be appreciated! | ||
| Mdoughten |
There are some pretty nice campgrounds around Townsend, TN and in the Smokey Mountains National Park.If you choose Townsend your not very far at all from Gatlinburg, which offers both big name restaurants/bars, and small scale (mom and pop) type stuff. There's even camping in Gatlinburg, which, in my opion, is a prime location.If weather doesn't alloy camping, there's a Days Inn/Suites on the south end of the strip (Broadway). Theres a little grocery/liquor store next door, fuel just beyond the grocery, and a local pub and grub next door to the gas. You can pull out of hotel parking lot, heading south into the park, and within 2 miles your hanging some glorious curves. It's about 50 miles to the Dragon 'area', and it's a hell of a ride the whole way. The hotel I speak of is not posh, but, it's not a dump, and it's reasonable. Have a great time, I know you will. I'm planning to be in the area Monday, May 7-8. If this is the time your there too, let me know. It would be cool to meet up if possible. Matt (Message edited by mdoughten on May 01, 2012) | ||
| Mdoughten |
*camping in Gatlinburg http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=camp ing%20in%20gatlinburg%20tn&oq=camping%20in%20gatli nburg&aq=1&aqi=g3g-v1&aql=&gs_l=hp.11.1.0l3j0i15.0 .0.1.11153.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0.X0vhFK8trlk& pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=1e895a 1a3e4cc197&biw=800&bih=470&pf=p&pdl=300 *camping in Townsend http://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&pq=camping%20 in%20gatlinburg%20tn&cp=18&gs_id=27&xhr=t&q=campin g+in+townsend+tn&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&oq=camping+in +townsen+tn&aq=0l&aqi=g-l1g-jl1&aql=&gs_l=&pbx=1&b av=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=1e895a1a3e4cc 197&biw=800&bih=470 *Days Inn/Suites, Gatlinburg http://www.daysinn.com/hotels/tennessee/gatlinburg /days-inn-and-suites-downtown-gatlinburg-parkway/h otel-overview | ||
| Hughlysses |
Gobs of info on the area here, including roads accommodations, restaurants, etc.: http://www.tailofthedragon.com | ||
| Reepicheep |
The Dragon is fun to people watch, and is a fun road, but if you are there on a weekend you will be dodging dodgy riders, and riding at "slowest kid in the class" pace. So check you ego at the door, slow down, relax, and just enjoy the parade. If you do it on a weekday, it can be a fun ride, but you still need to check your ego at the door. And the speed limit is both low and heavily enforced, so go in planning on working on smooth linked turns and perfect lines, get a nice picture taken to buy when you get back home, and enjoy something fried at the bottom of the hill. The *real* gem of a road there is the Cherohola Skyway. There is no food at one end of it, and one OK mom and pop type restaraunt at the other end. OK food, really slow service, but better than fast food. If you want something different, there is a gravel road that parallels about 1/3 of the Cherohola. The side trip to bridal veil falls is also nice, though a narrow road with really distracted drivers (it is beautiful everywhere you look). I would try and avoid Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge at all costs, unless you are deliberately looking for one night of "T-Shirt and Tourist hell" just for fun. The Mellow Mushroom right in the center of Gatlinburg is big, not too crowded, and has very good pizza... especially if you are hungry. Plan on ending your rides earlier than you think. It gets dark and isolated fast up there, so while you can ride, if something goes wrong, it could go bad quickly and it will take a bit of time for people to bail you out (not to mention it could be a ton of hassle for them). Leave lots of margin and be nice and relaxed. If you know where you are riding, so long as you aren't on the main roads between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, or don't need to go through either of these towns, there a ton of nice rentals in the surrounding area. But if you do have to go through those towns or on the roads between them (including the one through the park), you can easily find yourself in the middle of a 2 hour crawl. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Oh, and what dates will you be there? | ||
| Jb2 |
Reep, Good question. I still think Franklin is the best place in that part of the country to homebase several days of riding from. There are so many roads that are so much better than the Dragon. If they're coming Memorial weekend they'd do good to join us.  JB2 | ||
| Nukeblue |
ride 28 from the dragon all the way down. it's amazing road. called the moonshiner. it's about 100 miles long. | ||
| Etennuly |
Oh so many roads.....Don't let the Dragon be the only spot on your map. Get good local county maps(not the motorcycle "ride me" maps) and follow squiggly lines that don't look like much. Outside of the Dragon, you could draw a 300 mile circle on a map, outlining some of the best twisties with good pavement in the entire country. I find the best meals are along a lost highway with just a sign on the front of the building and picnic tables outside. I cannot recommend any because I don't remember where they are, I just go out and find different ones. | ||
| 86129squids |
Union- do tell, when will youn's be in the area? Who's riding what kind of bikes, and skill levels? I live in Maryville TN, would be happy to host a cookout after a Sunday's ride (I'm off most Sundays)- there's a motel on TN 321 about a mile from Smoky Mountain HD where I used to work- they also have the "Shed" adjacent to the dealership, which is becoming known for great live concerts- Eddie Money was there last Friday, Tim Lee and TR3 was Saturday- definitely worth a stop there one day, plus they serve some good grub there to boot. +1 on avoiding Sevier County, due to the huge numbers of tourists, unless you feel like a day at Dollywood- somehow I doubt youn's would. Townsend isn't all that bad though, with good accommodations and places to eat. Avoid the Wear's Valley approach to Pigeon Forge, gets clogged with tourists quick- to get to the "back side" of Gatlinburg or bypass over to Cherokee NC, take "River Road"- it'll also get you over to Cade's Cove if you wanna. I gotta correct Reep here though- yes, the Cherohala is a much better ride than the Gap, but there ARE some great eats to be found- in Robbinsville there's a good Mexican joint, several others (just ask a local or 2)- on the Tellico Plains side, an old fave is the Tellico Beach Drive-In, with decent grub AND tables by the river, take a dip while there if ya wanna- but DON'T MISS the Tellico Grains Bakery! Everything from scratch, local ingredients, a wood fired oven, and on Saturdays they have pizzas to die for! They've become a kind of destination for bikers too. After eats, walk over to the MC outfitter's shop in the town square. Keywords/destinations: Ocoee TN, Ducktown TN, Bobarosa MC Bar (TN but close to NC), Maggie Valley, Wheels Through Time, Blowing Rock/Lake Lure NC, Black Mountain NC, Reliance TN, Hiwassee River, TN, Hot Springs NC, Norris TN, Hwy 360TN from Vonore to Tellico Plains, Bald River Falls (off the Cherohala), Dual Sport Touring in Friendsville TN (just to get to know Megan and Francois, UBER gearheads and super knowledgeable about fun MC stuff), and on and on. Holler with more details about things! | ||
| 86129squids |
Oh yeah- here in "Mur-Vil", if youn's stay in town, there's Brackins Blues Bar, plus Two Doors Down, in downtown Maryville- I used to bartend at the first, know the owner of the second bar well, both good places to end a day riding. Plus, you can walk to my house from there... | ||
| 86129squids |
The Hellbender MC resort is a good place to stay- plus Iron Horse Inn, both in the same area of W. NC... IIRC NC28. | ||
| Spike240sx |
Here a some routes that are awesome in the area. I just took some of the riders that were at the Dragon V Buell Meet on a couple of these. http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=17548+Tapoco+Roa d,+Robbinsville,+NC+28771+(Deal's+Gap+Motorcycle+Resort)&daddr=US-129+S%2FTa poco+Rd+to:35.38025,-83.86671+to:County+Rd+1146%2F Santeelah+Dam+Rd+to:US-129+N%2FTapoco+Rd+to:County +Rd+1134%2FJoyce+Kilmer+Rd+to:Joyce+Kilmer+Rd+to:C ounty+Rd+1127%2FSanteetlah+Rd+to:N+Carolina+143+E% 2FCherohala+Skyway+to:US-129+S%2FTallulah+Rd+to:Jo e+Brown+Hwy+to:Hiawassee+St%2FValley+River+Ave+to: N+Carolina+294+W+to:N+Carolina+294+W+to:TN-68+N+to :Hot+Water+Rd+to:Towee+Falls+Rd+to:TN-68+N+to:TN-3 60+N+to:TN-72+E+to:US-129+S%2FState+Hwy+115&hl=en& ll=35.569377,-84.172783&spn=0.137676,0.250969&sll= 35.453399,-84.2696&sspn=0.137875,0.250969&geocode= FWstHQIdrX3_-iEwGrFPgjTibylR1WlCML5eiDE_rlSpRT7Uww %3BFesBHAId51MA-w%3BFRrcGwIdqksA-ykhPBN5wsBeiDECK- A5Rj57Xw%3BFXrRGwIdOC0A-w%3BFfT4GwIdoFoA-w%3BFe2VG wIdS3n_-g%3BFa-IGwIdKFb_-g%3BFaZVGwIdbN__-g%3BFWZE GwId4hMB-w%3BFRDtGQIdjskC-w%3BFVQZGAIddDr8-g%3BFYB VFwIdVLP9-g%3BFeugFgId-xT8-g%3BFfLdFwIdCWv6-g%3BFf ENGgIdgd75-g%3BFYceGgIdUXj5-g%3BFV_nGQIdr374-g%3BF Uk4GwIddor5-g%3BFX4oHQIdhzT7-g%3BFQRxHwIdzEz7-g%3B FfhbHQIdVlX_-g&mra=dme&mrsp=18&sz=12&via=2&t=m&z=1 2 http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=17548+Tapoco+Roa d,+Robbinsville,+NC+28771+(Deal's+Gap+Motorcycle+Resort)&daddr=Junaluska+Rd+ to:Wayah+Rd+to:Wayah+Rd+to:Unknown+road+to:Tallula h+Gorge+Scenic+Loop+to:N+Carolina+106+W%2FDillard+ Rd+to:Franklin+Rd+to:N+Carolina+28+N%2FUS-64+W%2FH ighlands+Rd+to:Cullowhee+Mountain+Rd+to:N+Carolina +116+S%2FOld+Webster+Rd+to:US-441+N%2FUS-74+W%2FGr eat+Smoky+Mountains+Expy+to:N+Carolina+28+N&hl=en& ll=35.248984,-83.597717&spn=0.552895,1.003876&sll= 35.43382,-83.771439&sspn=0.275817,0.501938&geocode =FWstHQIdrX3_-iEwGrFPgjTibylR1WlCML5eiDE_rlSpRT7Uw w%3BFSj5GAIdQEEB-w%3BFemLGAIdpLoD-w%3BFeCHGAIdQoUG -w%3BFeIaEgIdYZIH-w%3BFdnyEQIdhp8H-w%3BFd0uFgIdz4s I-w%3BFU7tFgIdz2IK-w%3BFbw9GAIdXu4I-w%3BFYBoGgIdJr EK-w%3BFVI2GwIdUOcJ-w%3BFSA6HAIdVsQI-w%3BFfQjHQId5 P__-g&mra=mi&mrsp=12&sz=11&t=m&z=10 http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Highlands,+NC+28 741&daddr=US-64+E+to:N+Carolina+107+N+to:Pine+Cree k+Rd+to:Walnut+Creek+Rd&hl=en&ll=35.10699,-83.2286 45&spn=0.133692,0.245819&sll=35.139844,-83.258858& sspn=0.133638,0.245819&geocode=FS_cFgIdb4QK-yknNkm 3Qx5ZiDHWcsGg-SBFeg%3BFbOxFwIdoTwL-w%3BFSDVFwIdxOk L-w%3BFZXoGAId4skK-w%3BFe4kGAId5kwJ-w&mra=mi&mrsp= 4&sz=12&t=m&z=12 http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Ellijay+Rd&daddr =Cullowhee+Mountain+Rd&hl=en&sll=35.223185,-83.158 264&sspn=1.068,1.966553&geocode=FcuCGAIdBMQI-w%3BF ZqFGgIdfswK-w&mra=mr&t=m&z=9 Sorry for the long links. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Excellent! That road is my "don't miss" road whenever I am in the area, good to know there is actually decent food near it! | ||
| 86129squids |
Oh, and BTW, Tellico Grains Bakery is only open for lunch, shutting down around 4ish, might even end serving at 3ish... plus they're closed Sundays. If you head there, early is best- and look for their selection of dry spices, "Alchemy Spice", out of Chattanooga- hands down some of the best dry rub spices I've had, worth the trip there just for them! Perfect for campside cooking! There's another decent diner in the square there though, and a new seafood/pizza joint besides the Exxon there- heck, the Exxon even has good food. And, don't forget, Benton's Smoked Hams is just up the road on TN411 from there- gotta mention them due to the BACON thread! Here in Maryville, if you don't mind spending some $$$, Foothills Milling Company is unbelievably good! http://tellico-grains-bakery.com/ http://foothillsmillingcompany.com/   | ||
| 86129squids |
Here in town, here's the place for 'cue: http://www.fullservicebbq.com/ And, for a real good Cuban sandwich, just up the road: http://www.metropulse.com/places/aroma-cafe/ Another 'cue place, I've not tried, but heard good things- plus they're on the water AND feature live music... http://www.sweetpbbq.com/ Yes, I'm a "foodie", love to cook AND eat, plus I've always worked in a restaurant of some sort... Heck, just get with me and I'll fire up the grill or smoker here at the house! | ||
| Union_man |
Thanks! I always like to ask for help from friends before I travel. Placemarked so far: Bobarosa MC Bar (TN but close to NC) Wheels Through Time Blowing Rock/Lake Lure NC Hot Springs NC, Bald River Falls Deals Gap (Camp?) Full Service BBQ Hellbender MC resort (no order or direction, yet) I am getting closer to drawing a line on a map.  What is the opinion on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Where is the best start point and end point? How many miles can be done in a day on the "BRP"? I have heard about low speed limits. A day...more or less? Is the Jack Daniels tour any good? It is in a "Dry County"??? I have been on a few brewery tours.  Do they give out Whiskey doggie bags? I don't get it. One of the group is a Civil War buff. I am not. I think that an unexpected stop at a historical Civil War site would go over well. The best one or two places would be plenty. Again, thanks. | ||
| 86129squids |
You're running too far west to make it to Lynchburg TN, yes, the JD distillery is a cool stop, but I recommend you focus on E TN and W NC. Mebbe S GA if you get ambitious. Once the day's riding is done, a campfire, some good fixin's, a jar of spring water, and a little Ben-Gay ointment should be in order. True story. If you're the planner, figure out the endurance/metabolics of your riding buds, and go forth. | ||
| 86129squids |
"You're running too far west" Whoops, I meant East. | ||
| 86129squids |
"One of the group is a Civil War buff. I am not." Hey buddy- you Do know, the South Will Rise Again! Damn yank carpetbaggers. | ||
| 86129squids |
Well, crap. This is NOT a political thread. Dang. | ||
| Glitch |
Take a ride through Nantahala Forest. | ||
| Hughlysses |
What is the opinion on the Blue Ridge Parkway? Where is the best start point and end point? How many miles can be done in a day on the "BRP"? I have heard about low speed limits. A day...more or less? BRP has amazing scenery and is a great road but not necessarily a great motorcycle road. Speed limit is 45 MPH and is enforced and you can get serious tickets for speeding. It's definitely worth taking a ride on, but I'd recommend limiting it to ~100 miles or so at a time when traffic isn't too heavy (if you can arrange it). You'll be near the western end so I'd recommend you get on there and maybe go as far as Asheville, NC and come back via the interstate or other roads. There are no gas stations on the Parkway so gas can be hard to find; here's a handy guide to where to find gas near the Parkway: http://www.diamondbacknc.com/gascard.pdf The best thing about the BRP is once you're up in the mountains a little ways, almost any side road off of it will have GREAT twisties. | ||
| Fb1 |
What is the opinion on the Blue Ridge Parkway? One of the coolest riding roads in the world, worth spending an entire vacation on. Where is the best start point and end point? Mileposts 0 and 470 (or 470 and 0 coming from the south). How many miles can be done in a day on the "BRP"? Theoretically? 470. But why?!?!? I have heard about low speed limits. A day...more or less? Mostly 45, with a few 35's tossed in, plus I think there are three separate construction detours at the moment, which will add mileage (and time) to the journey. The Parkway deserves to be savored. Sure, it's doable (aggressively) in a day or two, but what a waste of one of the most unique roads in the world. Best, FB PS: There IS gas on the Parkway, ya just gotta know where to look... | ||
| Fb1 |
Looks like two of the closures have re-opened since I last checked. One major closure now (MP 218 to 237 in NC), scheduled to be completed some time this month: http://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures .htm | ||
| Prior |
Link to gas stops on the Parkway- print it out and stick it in your tankbag. There aren't necessarily signs for the stations. http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/v.php?pg=50 I haven't ridden the whole parkway, yet, but hope to finish it up this summer. You can easily spend an entire day checking out side roads along a very short stretch of the Parkway. Definitely a very cool road. | ||
| Jetbuilder |
My grandfather build the Charahala and Tellico Plains is my Fathers home town. Check with DOT in TN first though they had a bad tornado go through a few weeks ago. So I dont know if the roads are clear. Red | ||
| Etennuly |
Union.....what kind/types of bikes will the other folks be riding? It makes a difference of when and how on road choice. On a big cruiser like an Ultra the BRP is a nice casual comfortable ride, on a Hyabusa.....not so much. I ride a Uly so the BRP is an easy, beautiful, scenic ride. | ||
| Sifo |
BRP is great for a day or two. After that it starts to look all the same to me. The sights are amazing, but they do blur together. Some of the best riding is just off the BRP. Little Switzerland is a favorite place to have lunch when I'm out that way. +1 on Franklin too. I'll usually take 64 from the Asheville area back to Franklin. Great ride! The biggest problem with a MC vacation in that area is that you have too much to ride and too much to see. Take your time and enjoy it. Let each day soak in. You don't have time to see it all, so just don't try. | ||
| 86129squids |
What Sifo said! This area is WAY too dense with great choices... FWIW, I've heard that the BRP is prettiest down here around Asheville- you can pick it up just before you hit Cherokeee NC on 411. It's sad, but I've not done the BRP except for the short jump from there to Maggie Valley. Gotta fix that, expecially since I got this GL1000 now... |
