Every summer my son and I take a trip. Last year we went up to Cherokee NC and rode the Dragon and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We are thinking about going back this year and riding the BRP from Ashville up into Virginia.

The alternative would be a trip to the Mississippi River. Any ideas or recommendations about what would make a good ride centered around the river?

 

I do the same thing every year. I began with my daughter and now take my son. I'm not sure where you are starting from. We are in upstate SC. I made a trip through southern Georgia to the FLorida panhandle. We traveled the coastline of Florida, Alabama, Mississipi and La. Went north up along the river. Several old battlefields, etc. Rode the Natchez Trace (it's kind of like the Blue Ridge without the mountains) north toward Memphis. It was a pretty good ride. I'm not sure with the Hurricanes what kind of condition things are in. If you decide to go to the Blue Ridge and ride north through Virginia, I can make some reccomendations. I have done that several times. SKyline drive is a good ride, if you have time cut across to Gettysburg. From there you can go over to York (a short ride) and tour the Harley Plant. I also enjoy spending a day in the Ammish ccountry and visiting Hershey PA. If you are traveling back south there are several routes that are good rides.

 

Natchez Trace Parkway -- 444 miles Long and is supposed to be very scenic and historical. It stretches from Natchez, MS. to Nashville, TN. My wife and I hope to do it someday.

For more info:

http://www.scenictrace.com/

 

I agree with DragonNester about the Natchez Trace.

magnoliarunner

 

We rode the Natchez Trace last year in May and it was great. Not much traffic and a lot of places to pull over and rest. Check out the web site Scenictrace.com.

 

To start this ride - get to Baton Rouge, La. take hwy 190 west outta town to hwy 15. Take hwy 15 north to Vidalia, La. and cross the river into Natchez.

Take route 1 north out of Natchez and head towards Pine Ridge - Anna - Church Hill and that road will take you on into Port Gibson or catch the Natchez Trace to Port Gibson, but Rte 1 is alot more fun. Post Gibson has alot to see and camping is available too.

After Port Gibson head north on hwy 61 to Vicksburg - More History here too....and a couple casinos if you like that stuff
After Vicksburg pickup Rte 1 north again at Waltersville and that will get you back to the river. Runnig Rte 1 will take you on the old old old route and its traveled very little.

Rosedale - Clarksdale is steeped in Blues history and those places you will see on your ride up Rte 1 -

From Clarksdale to Memphis there isnt much to look at except flat land fields and buggy as hell on about sunset. Between Clarksdale and Memphis is Tunica - the Las Vegas of Mississippi with 7 casinos to take your money. The Horseshoe has the best buffet. Sam's Town has the best Bar B Que