Help X. pick a bike vacation!

[Xrayted]

Trek420 - BRP does sound good. I heard it's a great area to get out and hammer or just cruise along. Come on out for a visit with us east coast girls! (and blow our doors in with those CA legs!)

Hey tnbikegirl - Welcome to TE! Glad to have you aboard! Thanks for your input. I accept seconds. (mostly food) One more OBX person tallied up.

roguedog - Wow what a post. I can tell you really love that area. That's what I like to see, enthusiasm.
Wine country sounds divine, but I'm (sadly) such a cheap date, that there would be no tastings for me unless someone was there to watch over me. (yeah, really that bad )
I do love wineries though and would still go just for the experience and the conversations with others. Meeting new people is one of the goals/perks of this trip. Are there any TE'ers nearby?
Is Napa anywhere near the ocean, ladies? In other words, is this a trip that I could pair with some seaside rides easily? (I'll be renting a vehicle too.) I need major water somewhere on the trip. It centers and relaxes me. Can't have a vacation with out that dynamic.

Southern Belle - I'll look that one up as soon as I get off work tonight. Thanks for the suggestion! I may be PM'ing you if I need more info, ok?

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Well, another great group of suggestions. Most of them I wouldn't have thought of, so that's perfect. I'll keep trying to post to everyone, but I'm sorry if I miss anyone. I really do appreciate you taking the time to respond when you have so many other things you can be doing with your precious time.

THANK YOU!!! ((hugs all around)) and to those who have PM'd me instead. Some very cool suggestions there.

X.

[roguedog]

[B]

roguedog - Wow what a post. I can tell you really love that area. That's what I like to see, enthusiasm.
Wine country sounds divine, but I'm (sadly) such a cheap date, that there would be no tastings for me unless someone was there to watch over me. (yeah, really that bad )
I do love wineries though and would still go just for the experience and the conversations with others. Meeting new people is one of the goals/perks of this trip. Are there any TE'ers nearby?
Is Napa anywhere near the ocean, ladies? In other words, is this a trip that I could pair with some seaside rides easily? (I'll be renting a vehicle too.) I need major water somewhere on the trip. It centers and relaxes me. Can't have a vacation with out that dynamic.
X.

Ya sorry for the long post. You don't really have to drink wine. The scenery aroudnthe wine regions are just lovely.

Napa is about an hour or so from the coast. You can ride to the coast like they do in the Waves to Wine event! However, Napa does have great food and it has Calistoga if you want to "take to the waters."

Monterey, Mendocino, & Santa Barbera are right on the coast and there tons of other stuff to do than taste wine in these places.

The more remote areas like Amador is really far from the coast. And really, you'd go there just to taste wine and ride. Not that it isn't beautiful but it's inland and it's still very small towny so don't be expecting night life or anything.

Silicon Valley (is also about an hour away from the coast but many people ride there. Um.. I think there are many TE'ers out here. Lots to ride. Lots to eat and see. YOu can go up to SF in about an hour. Though I'm not sure I'd stay in SV itself. NOthing but suburban sprawl though there are LOTS of nice rides. Might be better to stay in SF or Sausalito area as your base camp and drive around with your bike.

Also the coasts of Santa Barbera and the coasts of Mendocino are waaayy different so it depends on what you're looking for.

To give you a high level idea of the areas I'm talking about try this url: http://www.davidstuff.com/wine/california.gif.

happy choosing!

[Xrayted]

roguedog - I know you've got plenty to do without helping me out so my sincerest and most deep felt THANKYOU!! Your descriptions and details are so amazing. No matter what I decide, someday I will definitely go to the wine country. You've planted a seed in my brain.

Come on girls, I need ideas! I'd love to end up meeting some of you as well, so if you live in an area that is good for biking, let me know about it. I may end up doing 4-5 days one place and 4-5 another. I'm looking for a destination that is more than just good for biking though. I love art galleries, museums, theatre, concerts, parks, little dimly lit blues bars... so if you live in a culturally diverse area, please speak up.

many thanks

X.

[Veronica]

California is awesome. Lots to see and do if you come to the Bay Area.

V.

[chickwhorips]

5. Must be w/in the lower 48. (sorry CWR)

i feel like i'm discriminated against.

well there goes my suggestion.

[DebW]

i feel like i'm discriminated against.

well there goes my suggestion.

This Alaskan tour in the just-arrived WomanTours catalog caught my eye:
http://www.womantours.com/wt.alaska.html

Have you been in that area, CWR? And come on, tell us your suggestion. Some of us will listen.

[Bad JuJu]

Hey, Deb, I was actually considering that tour myself. Those parts of Alaska are gorgeous, once you get away from the tourist centers of Juneau and Skagway (and even they have their attractions--when they're not flooded with cruise ship passengers). My brother and his family live in Juneau so I visit there about once every couple of years.

Alas, the dates won't work for me, but I'd love to hear about the tour if you--or anyone else here--decides to take it.

[Kitsune06]

I vote you come to PDX and take a day to swing down through Eugene, too. Eugene is incredibly popular with bikers and culture, esp. with the new hospital going in. Lots of fun folks there, too. PDX and the surrounding area is home to TE and hey, I'm here!

[chickwhorips]

This Alaskan tour in the just-arrived WomanTours catalog caught my eye:
http://www.womantours.com/wt.alaska.html

Have you been in that area, CWR? And come on, tell us your suggestion. Some of us will listen.

no i haven't been down to that area. looks like it would be beautiful though. nice little tour of the area.

i personally would go anywhere where there wasn't a lot of tourists or poeple in general, but thats just me.

not sure of any other specific tours like that around here, but i'm sure they wouldn't be hard to find.

[bcipam]

Well I second everyone's suggestions - all good.

Another one to consider - The Skinny Tire Festival in Moab Utah. 4 days of the most glorious riding. Great people to meet. It's for a good cause (LAF) and doesn't cost much (OK when there I realize you have to fly and travel in).

For info go to skinnytirefestival.com. The dates are alittle earlier than you want (March 2 - 5, 2007) but it's worth the travel.

[Xrayted]

i feel like i'm discriminated against.

well there goes my suggestion.

Well, then convince me, dear. I'll listen. Since when do you give up so easily?

[chickwhorips]

good point, but i know its expensive to fly up here and a long trip.

[Kitsune06]

I still vote for the PNW. In fact, I second myself. Why? If the US was a box of granola, and one shook it hard enough, all the fruits, flakes and nuts would roll to this coast.

... and I know for a fact you're a nut.

[Xrayted]

Ya mean I graduated from flake to nut? Coooool!!

Kitsune - I'm afraid if I come over there with you, I may never leave. Hmmm, come to think of it, that's not so bad, is it?

X.

Edited: Sorry CWR. **on my knees, giving the puppy eyes, with fresh veggies and fruits in hand**
I really do value your opinion on all of this. I've actually dreamed of going to Alaska since I was a kid. I just never had the guts you've got. I'm working on it though, really. Don't give up on me yet, ok?

Signed,

Chicken Sh*t X.

[maillotpois]

Have to second Rogue Dog's posts about Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. I'ver ridden thousands of miles (truly) in all of those counties and it's just fantastic here. If you decide to do that, I can give you heaps of specific ride route suggestions. And yes, there are a group of TE-ers here. They're (we're) weird enough to be fun, too.