J A F

I'm in the process of planning this years motorcycle trip. About ten of us are escaping the cold of Canada to come ride stateside. I'm having one of my drivers trailer all our bikes down with a rig. Then we'll fly down to meet the bikes. Starting in Houston, to Phoenix, to LA, to Vegas. Here's my question. I've never been to Texas, so where's some fun places to go? We don't really have a set route. Just have to make it to Vegas to fly out after 9 days.

Thanks

BigBlue

I've always enjoyed San Antonio and the surrounding area.

Chrisreyn

Palo Duro Canyon is going to be along your way and is one of the prettiest places you'll ever see. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...rks/palo_duro/

J A F

That looks amazing

Chrisreyn

From there you can travel due west to Albuquerque N.M., every mile of it is scenic, the places I woud suggest would be Zuni Pueblo and Gallup. Then yer into Arizona. When ya get to Flagstaff you turn south to Phoenix, or north to the Grand Canyon. Last time I was out there I went to the North Rim , throught Jacobs Lake, then up to St. George and Zion Canyon. Zion is listed as the most beautifull of Americas National Parks..... I would agree, to me it beats Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon hands down....
on edit: oops, alot of that route will be snow bound this time of year....
Hope this gives ya some ideas...

kelley15

I like Fort Davis. Great bike riding country. Really big observatory out there. You can go and check out the Marfa lights. This is the area I like to go to on vacation, but it is 600 miles from where I live. Would be pretty good for you because it is not to far off interstate 10. http://www.fortdavis.com/

hotdram

Second the Palo Duro Canyon area. Also the Hill Country is awesome as well.
It is the area around Austin/San Antonio


Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (north of Fredericksburg)



~Rob

justcampin

If you are anywhere near Fredericksburg, stop and eat some German food

Dorkweed

What he said!! Just a bit south of Amarillo.

Hoss

If you're on bikes then you HAVE to take a ride out through the Hill Country. Head west from Houston. Anywhere west of I-35 from Waco all the way down to San Antonio. There's a lot of beautiful country out there and it's very popular with the bikers. Marble Falls and all of that area out there is really nice.

Another vote for Palo Duro Canyon too. Very nice.

Mule Skinner

J.A.F.

When you get to Flagstaff and head south to Phx take the State Route 89 south. It basically parallels I-17 but takes you thru Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. Once you get to Oak Creek follow the signs back I-17. This is a beautiful drive and take lots of pictures.

tbone

Being from Amarillo I recommend PD Canyon but the trouble is it is in the middle of nothing as in flatness for hundreds of miles. The hill country is fun riding though.

RustyJC

From Houston to Phoenix? Sounds like I-10 unless you want to do the Hill Country in which case you might want to take US290 from Houston to Fredericksburg (it'll start to get a little more interesting west of Austin), then Texas 16 down to Kerrville and I-10. OK, here are the jumpoffs:

1. Do the Hill Country. You'll be in it between Austin and Kerrville. This is a must. Just about all the back roads are good, but be sure to ride the "3"'s below Kerrville and Texas 16 from Medina to Kerrville.

2. Next, do Big Bend. US 90 along the Rio Grande to Marathon or Alpine will be more interesting than I-10, but take your pick. Come out of the west end of Big Bend National Park and then take the River Road from Study Butte to Presidio, then on to Fort Davis via Marfa.

3. Do the Davis Mountains scenic loop.

4. Now, north to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. On north to Carlsbad Caverns if you've never been there and want to see it - it's close by.

5. From there, you can head west through the mountains (Ruidoso and Cloudcroft, NM) or head to El Paso and get back on I-10 - take your choice.

After the above, you'll probably need to stop in El Paso and buy new tires, anyway. You'll never do all this along with the rest of your trip in your 9-day window, so pick and choose from the list above.

I'm not sure if THIS link to the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America forum will work for a non-member, but there are some nice shots of the Kerrville-to-Big Bend and River Road areas I described above. HERE'S another with some of the Davis Mountains and Guadalupe Mountains.

Rusty

derek840378

definetly do hwy 90 into san antonio the take 35 north. u gotta stop at the reptile ranch!!! i suggest going to marfa in west texas at night to see the lights. do not come to crosby, nothing here but mexican food restaurants
sa/austin area is the best in the state