Vacation ideas?

[indysteel]

The area around Lexington is very nice. I do the Horsey Hundred every Memorial Day weekend out of Georgetown Kentucky and really enjoy it.

That said, I'm partial to eastern and middle Tennessee for riding. I've done the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee a couple of times now. It's a weeklong tour that generally goes from state park to state park. The name itself is misleading in that it doesn't go across the state. Rather, they pick an area and do a big loop. The roads in Tennessee are great and most have a significant shoulder. They offer lots of pretty scenery. There are several books on cycling in Tennessee with maps and suggested routes. I did a ride two years ago near Franklin, Tennessee (south of Nashville) and really want to go back to that area in particular.

I tend only to use the roads in state parks as "thru" roads. For the most part, they don't typcially have much of a shoulder and there's a fair amount of traffic on them. I wouldn't center a ride around them. I have only been to a couple national parks. Those that I have been on were rideable, but there was a lot of traffic.

[Catrin]

The area around Lexington is very nice. I do the Horsey Hundred every Memorial Day weekend out of Georgetown Kentucky and really enjoy it.

That said, I'm partial to eastern and middle Tennessee for riding. I've done the Bicycle Ride Across Tennessee a couple of times now. It's a weeklong tour that generally goes from state park to state park. The name itself is misleading in that it doesn't go across the state. Rather, they pick an area and do a big loop. The roads in Tennessee are great and most have a significant shoulder. They offer lots of pretty scenery. There are several books on cycling in Tennessee with maps and suggested routes. I did a ride two years ago near Franklin, Tennessee (south of Nashville) and really want to go back to that area in particular............

What a great idea! As a Tennessee native I can vouch for the scenery IndySteel, can you think of any of those titles?

[nc tam]

Agree with the Lexington, KY area. This fall I think there is a big horse event that may impact your plans. DH has work there in October and had some trouble finding a hotel. Just a heads up.

Middle and east TN are beautiful with varied terrain. I grew up in middle TN and lived a total of 8 years in east TN but those were before I started road biking.

I live in western NC right now. Fantastic place for road biking if you don't mind hills. I have a book of routes in and around Boone which could easily keep you busy for a week or two (or more). Most of the routes are loops, some including the Blue Ridge Parkway. During the week the back roads are lightly traveled. I've had little trouble with local drivers. The tourists on the Parkway are another story but early mornings on the Parkway are generally low traffic so the tourists for the most part can be avoided. Gotta keep an eye out for dogs, of course. I can dig up the book name and author when I get home. It's beautiful here and if you need a break from the bike there is sooo much to see and do.

[Blueberry]

This book is good for western NC: http://blueridgebiking.tripod.com/

There's another one for around Asheville, but I've found that there are some road name/route issues with some of the routes.

[jp4995]

Thank you all for your input! If we do end up going to Lexington I will be sure to schedule around the busy season- I'm not a fan of huge touristy crowds!

I'm lobbying my husband to take our two vacation weeks this years as "us" vacations. Usually we take both weeks and see family, but both our sets of parents only live 7 hours away (and in the same city, no less!), so we can see them over weekends easily. So, we may end up doing both KY and NC if I succeed in my lobbying efforts.

[Catrin]

This book is good for western NC: http://blueridgebiking.tripod.com/

There's another one for around Asheville, but I've found that there are some road name/route issues with some of the routes.

Thanks for this, I am from East Tennessee but haven't lived there since a teenager. I am hoping my lovely new Long Haul Trucker will help me to rediscover region

[indysteel]

Catrin, the book I have is called Bicycling Middle Tennessee. I picked it up at the bike shop that's at the northern end of the Natchez Trace. They had several different books on the area.

Where in Tennessee are you from? I love the state--at least from a cycling standpoint. I'm trying to talk my DH into doing BRAT with me.

[Catrin]

Catrin, the book I have is called Cycling Middle Tennessee. I picked it up at the bike shop that's at the northern end of the Natchez Trace. They had several different books on the area.

Where in Tennessee are you from? I love the state--at least from a cycling standpoint. I'm trying to talk my DH into doing BRAT with me.

I was born in East Tennessee - as an interesting side note you may have noticed that people from East Tennessee are never from Tennessee, but from East Tennessee I am from the Knoxville/Maryville/Great Smoky National Park area.

The book that someone mentioned about cycling the Blue Ridge mountains looks interesting as well! I can't spend any extra money though - gotta pay for my lovely new Surly in 21 days

[nscrbug]

Catrin, the book I have is called Bicycling Middle Tennessee. I picked it up at the bike shop that's at the northern end of the Natchez Trace. They had several different books on the area.

Where in Tennessee are you from? I love the state--at least from a cycling standpoint. I'm trying to talk my DH into doing BRAT with me.

Since you happened to mention it....how would road biking be on the Natchez Trace? I know there is no commercial traffic allowed (like the Blue Ridge Pkwy), but how is traffic in general? And is there a sufficient shoulder to ride on?