Ride Information
& Routes:
Destinations
Sometimes an interesting destination adds to the overall enjoyment
of the riding experience whether to a mountain top vista or a unique
rural museum. The following are some NER visited and recommended
destinations.
General Attractions
New England
Visit New England Guide - scenic drives and places to see.
Vermont
Vermont Attractions Association - visit this site for more
information on these and other interesting Vermont destinations.
Official Vermont Tourism Site - attractions,
lodging, dining
Vermont Travel Guide - VirtualTourist.com
Vermont Tourist
Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
Vermont Covered Bridges - Virtual Vermont
Vermont
Lighthouses - New England Lighthouses
GoogleMap
of Vermont Destinations below
Ben & Jerry's, Waterbury
- this is a nice destination located on Rt 100 just 1 miles north of
Rt 89 (exit 10) in Waterbury, VT. Go for a factory tour or
just have some ice cream and visit the gift store. Nice rest
stop along beautiful Rt 100. A 1 hour stop is typical for
motorcyclist. (GoldWingBob1)
Bennington Battle Monument - Bennington -
Soaring more than 300 feet above the lovely streets of Old
Bennington, a striking stone monument marks the site of a critical
military supply depot.
Hildene - Manchester - in the
beautiful green mountains of VT is the home of Abraham Lincolns only
son that survived to be an adult. The guided tour really explains
life in this mansion back in the early 20th century. The sounding
grounds are truly remarkable and very beautiful. (OSJ)
Hubbardton Battlefield and Museum - Castleton - During the early
morning hours of July 7, 1777, British General John Burgoyne's army
met the resistance and bravery of Americans for the first time in
the Battle of Hubbardton.
King
Arthur Flour Bakery - Norwich - very good baked goods to satisfy
the most determined sweet tooth. - (Easy Ed)
Knight's Spider Web Farm, Williamstown - OK, so this is a
little quirky and certainly not for those with acrophobia.
This is a small one man operation that has caught national attention
due to it's uniqueness. You may want to call to ensure Will
Knight will be there to greet you - he is a character worth meeting.
45 minutes for this "something different stop." (GoldWingBob1)
Lake Champlain
Ferries - Taking the ferry is the best way to end a day of
riding in Vermont and the Adirondacks. - (Easy Ed)
Lake Willoughby in Vermont - Westmore - The Lucerne of America.
Marble Museum, Proctor
- An out of the ordinary museum built on the site of a former marble
quarry. At the worlds largest marble museum see marble art in
a studio & gallery and learn how calcium carbonate (powdered marble)
is used in a variety of products from chewing gum to toothpaste.
Gift shop. A 90 minute stay is about right. (GoldWingBob1)
UVM
Morgan Horse Farm, Weybridge - At this National Historic
Site, the "Home of the Morgan," you can tour the breeding farm of
this world famous horse. Learn the history of the Morgan and
take a guided stable tour. One hour or a little more for this
stop. (GoldWingBob1)
Robert Frost Interpretive Trail - Ripton - 1.2 mile easy hike
along a scenic trail that celebrates Frost's poetry. A terrific
place to get off the bike and stretch your legs. The trail is in one
of the very best areas to ride - near Rtes 100, 17, Lincoln Gap,
125, 73, Bethel Mountain Road, and Roxbury Mountain Road. Watch for
moose. (Easy Ed)
The Shelburne Museum, Shelburne
- This is one of Vermont's best kept secrets and a very cool place.
Americana is exhibited in 39 buildings and includes an outdoor
history collection with many relocated items: a lighthouse, a steam
locomotive, a covered bridge, an operating vintage carousel and the
huge steamboat Ticonderoga. Their website does not convey just
how terrific this place is. To do it justice plan on 4 hours
however, you could easily spend a day. (GoldWingBob1)
Ticonderoga Ferry - Ferry service from Shoreham, VT. to Ft.
Ticonderoga, NY
The Vermont Country Store, Weston - Large
store with lots of old fashioned goodies. Have traditional New
England fare at the
Bryant House Restaurant next door.
pictures
of Vermont at picturesofplaces.com
New Hampshire
Visit NH -
Official New Hampshire tourism site.
New Hampshire Travel Guide -
VirtualTourist.com
New Hampshire
Tourist Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
New Hampshire Covered Bridges - Visit NH
New
Hampshire Lighthouses - New England Lighthouses
GoogleMap of
New Hampshire Destinatioms listed below
Castle In the Clouds - Moultonborough -
when we come here with the kids we
spend most of the day on the property. The house itself has
breathtaking views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the hills and mountains
beyond. There are miles of hiking trails on the site as well. We
usually eat a light lunch in the old horse barn, were the tables are
set up in the stalls. You can also take a tour of Castle Springs
bottling plant and see the actual spring that produces the water for
bottling. (OSJ)
Crawford Notch State Park - Willey House - Gorgeous spot where
sheer cliffs tower over a peaceful lake and waterfall. Site of the
doomed Willey family. (Easy Ed)
Loudon Road
Race Series -
Wanna see the big bikes race? Well several
weekends a year from April to October the
LRRS puts on some great racing in
Loudon NH at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Most of the
racers are locals just having fun with their bikes over the weekend,
some up & coming young talent always can be found in the pits and on
the banks of the track. Ive been going here since it was called
Bryar Motorsport Park and watched
people like Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, Kevin Schwantz race around
that track. The Loudon Classic is the oldest continuous race held
in the states, but sadly no longer a AMA national.
One of Michelle
& I favorite things to do after the races was to sit on a small
grassy hill right by the stands that faces the main road exiting the
parking lot. We would sit there for at least a hour watching all
the bikes & people leave the track. What a interesting site it is.
(OSJ)
Sugar
Hill Speedway - Weare -
Like the sound of engines, smell of oil and the
thrill of racing? I dragged the family here one Saturday afternoon
to go watch
these things race around up there.
Watching those little 50cc bikes was a lot of fun. They also raced
Karts & little mini cup cars up there. We spent the whole day in the
stands and walking around the pits. Tickets were cheap, the racing
was real and we had a ball. (OSJ)
The Wright
Museum - Wolfeboro - One of
my favorite places is The Wright Museum, a World War II Museum
located in Wolfeboro, featuring authentic displays of Home Front
America between the years 1939 and 1945. The displays are truly
amazing. They have Zero's hanging from the ceiling, amfibs, tanks
fo several types, and lots of informative displays. Really a great
place to stop when in the Lake Winnipesaukee area. (FJGary)
Pictures of New Hampshire at picturesofplaces.com
Maine
Maine Office
of Tourism - Official Maine tourism site.
Maine Travel Guide - VirtualTourist.com
Maine Tourist
Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
Maine Covered Bridges - Maine DOT
Maine
Lighthouses - New England Lighthouses
GoogleMap of
Maine Destinations below
Acadia
National Park - Stunningly beautiful rocky
coastal ride. - (Easy Ed)
Biddeford Pool -
Cant talk about Maine without talking about the
ocean, and lobsta, right? Well that a little something I know quite
a bit about. I lived in Saco for awhile back in 1989 with my then
girlfriend Michelle. We always loved taking the Concours out for
rides all over Maine. Once special place was called
Biddeford Pool it had a section
along Ocean ave that was a very rocky shore. We spent many late
afternoons out there sitting on those rocks. It became even more
special when on my 22nd birthday I asked that Michelle to marry me
on those rocks at Biddeford Pool. (OSJ)
Cape
Neddick (Nubble) Light - Cape Neddick - Great light near York.
Cole Land Transportation Museum
- Bangor -
Set
right of I95/I395 interchange. Very nice museum with tons of old
cars/trucks/trains/motorcycles & many other powered vehicles.
Really a neat place to visit. We spent around 2 hrs here. Yes Bangor
is not the best place in the world to ride your motorcycle, but
getting up here can be fun. One neat place to eat close by is a
Denny's Which in itself
is not a spectacular place but this one is not your
average Denny's Its set up like a retro 50's dinner. (OSJ)
Desert of Maine - Freeport
- I've never been here, but I
plan to: it's a large field of ice-age dunes outside Freeport, ME,
called "the desert of maine..." (flanga)
Fort George - Castine - Originally known as Fort Penobscot, Fort
George was the last post surrendered by the British at the end of
the Revolutionary War.
Madawaska Four Corners Park - Madawaska - The most northeastern
town in the U.S. The first park dedicated to motorcycling. One of
the 4 corners stops for those doing a 4 corners of the U.S.
motorcycle ride. NER has an engraved paver at the monument.
Western Maine
Meet - Maine European Motorcycle Enthusiasts -
well every year
MEME puts on a show that you would think I've been too. But alas,
I've yet to make it. A certain NERd from Maine went last year and
did this really cool
movie from his day. Of course this
being in Bethel Maine you all know of a great place to stay while
you’re here. The
Riverview Resort is the only place
to lay your head when you want to stay in Western ME. Hopefully I
will make it up there in 07 to enjoy the show. (OSJ)
Owls Head Transportation Museum -
Owls Head - About 1 hr due south from Bangor. A great place to
see some old vehicles as well as air planes. Every year they host a
Vintage Motorcycle Meet & Antique Aeroplane Show. Michelle & I
finally made it up there in 2006 and had a great time. It’s a
beautiful museum. Right in downtown Rockland you will find many
shops to enjoy and great food at the Rockland Cafe. (OSJ)
Portland Head Light - Cape Elizabeth - Pretty
Lighthouse. Popular with
photographers. - (Easy Ed)
Walkers Point - Kennebunkport -
Oh, and you want
lobsta? Just down the street in Kennebunkport was a little place
called
Nunans they have lobster's Very
tasty ones. Once your done cracking, eating and slobbering all over
yourself you can continue down Ocean Ave in Kennebunkport to see "
Walkers Point " Home
of our
#41.
(OSJ)
Pictures of
Maine at picturesofplaces.com
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Office of Travel and Tourism - Official Massachusetts tourism
site.
Massachusetts Travel Guide -
VirtualTourist.com
Massachusetts
Tourist Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
Massachusetts Covered Bridges - Dale Travis
Massachusetts Lighthouses - New England Lighthouses
GoogleMap of
Massachusetts Destinations below
Battle Road Visitor's Center - Lexington -
On April 19, 1775, British soldiers and
American militia, "minute men" met in a series of unplanned
skirmishes along a 22 mile stretch of road that ran from Boston to
Concord.
Bridge of Flowers - Shelburne Falls - 400 foot trolley bridge
converted into a unique garden. Worth a stop during a Mohawk Trail
Ride. Try
McCusker's for lunch. (Easy Ed)
Bunker Hill Monument - Charlestown -
The monument was erected to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill,
the first major conflict between British and Patriot forces in the
Revolutionary War, fought there June 17, 1775.
Hammond Castle - Gloucester
- One of
the largest private collection of medieval armor and artifacts in
New England. Located right on the coast with wonderful view of the
ocean below. They do a self guided tour so you are free to roam the
property and the castle itself. (OSJ)
Old North Bridge
- Concord - On April 19,
1775, the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord with a
clash of arms known to history as "the shot heard round the world.
Pictures of Massachusetts at picturesofplaces.com
Connecticut
Connecticut Office of Tourism - Official Connecticut tourism
site.
Connecticut Travel Guide - VirtualTourist.com
Connecticut
Tourist Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
Connecticut Covered Bridges - Dale Travis
Connecticut Lighthouses - New England Lighthouses
GoogleMap of
Connecticut Destinations below
Devils
Hopyard State Park - East Haddam - Picturesque Chapman Falls and
scenic stone potholes. Great riding on Hopyard Road, Haywardville
Road, Grassy Hill Road, Route 82, and Mt Parnassus Road. (Easy Ed)
Fort
Griswold - Groton -
800 men led by
traitor Benedict Arnold destroyed the "immense" stockpile of goods
and naval stores kept here. Buildings, wharfs and ships were soon in
flames. One hundred and forty-three buildings, nearly all the town,
were consumed
Gillette Castle - East Haddam - A fun tour on beautiful grounds.
Near to great roads through Devil's Hopyard State Park and Grassy
Hill Road. - (Easy Ed)
Old Lighthouse
Museum - Stonington - Great view and a nice tour. - (Easy Ed)
Submarine Force Library & Museum - Groton - See missles,
torpedos, and vintage subs. Look through a periscope and see the
Nautilus. Fun couple of hours. - (Easy Ed)
Pictures of Connecticut at picturesofplaces.com
Rhode Island
Visit
Rhode Island - Official Rhode Island tourism site.
Rhode Island Travel Guide - VirtualTourist.com
Rhode Island
Tourist Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
Rhode Island Covered Bridges - Dale Travis
Rhode
Island Lighthouses - New England Lighthouses
GoogleMap of Rhode Island Destinations below
Point
Judith Lighthouse - Narragansett
- Very scenic spot with
areas to walk in and around the Coast Guard station. Great food in
nearby Galilee and north in Narragansett Center. Try
George's or
Champlins. (Easy Ed)
Pictures of Rhode Island at picturesofplaces.com
New York
New York State
Tourism Website - Official New York tourism site.
New York State Travel Guide -
VirtualTourist.com
New York
Tourist Attractions - RoadsideAmerica.com
New York
Covered Bridges - New York State Covered Bridge Society
New York Lighthouses - Lighthouse Friends
GoogleMap of New York Destinations below
Ausable
Chasm - worth a look from Route 9 on your next Adirondack/
Lake Champlain ride. - (Easy Ed)
Baseball Hall of Fame - Cooperstown - See the history of
baseball.
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site - Eagle Bridge -
Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site is the location of a
Revolutionary War battle between the British forces of General John
Burgoyne and Colonel Friedrich Baum against the American forces
under Brigadier General John Stark and Colonel Seth Warner.
Crown Point State Historic Site - Crown Point - The ruins of
Fort St. Frederic, "His Majesty's Fort of Crown Point
Fort Stanwix
National Monument - Rome - The American victory at this frontier
fort directly contributed to the British defeat at Saratoga in 1777;
setting the stage for westward expansion through New York.
Fort
Ticonderoga National Historic Landmark - Ticonderoga - On May
10, 1775, Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys
crossed Lake Champlain from Vermont and at dawn surprised and
captured the sleeping garrison. This was the first American victory
of the Revolutionary War.
Hanford Mills
Museum - East Meredith - Learn how things worked in the old
days.
Harriman State Park and
Bear
Mountain State Park - Nice spots for a picnic, a hike, or a
ride. Try Seven Lakes Drive and Route 106 in the parks. The Perkins
Memorial Tower atop Bear Mountain affords spectacular views of the
park, the Hudson Highlands and Harriman State Park. Be sure stop at
nearby West Point. (Easy Ed)
Howe's Cavern
- Howe's Cave - Explore these great underground caves. What is a
stalagmite?
Oriksany Battle State Historic Site - Oriksany - Considered to
be a significant turning point in the War of Independence, the
Battle of Oriskany, fought on August 6, 1777, has been described as
one of the bloodiest battles of the war.
Saratoga National
Historic Park - Stillwater - Here in the autumn of 1777 American
forces met, defeated and forced a major British army to surrender.
Stony Point State Historic Site - Stony Point - One of the last
major Revolutionary War battles in the northeastern colonies. This
is where Brigadier General Anthony Wayne led his corps of
Continental Light Infantry in a daring midnight attack on the
British, seizing the site's fortifications and taking the British
garrison as prisoners on July 16, 1779.
United
States Military Academy at West Point - Pretty grounds on the
Hudson Cliffs. Good military museum. See Cadet parade on Saturdays.
Be sure to ride the Storm King Highway (Route 218), Route 6/202,
Route 301, and Seven Lakes Drive and Route 106 in Harriman State
Park. (Easy Ed)
Pictures of New York at picturesofplaces.com
Good Mountaintop Rides
Vermont
-
Mt Equinox
- (OSJ)
-
Mt Mansfield
-
(OSJ)
-
Mt Ascutney
- (billbrown143)
-
Okemo
Mountain - (billbrown143)
New Hampshire
-
Cathedral Ledge -
(Google Map:
N44 03.782 W71 10.032) Rocky cliffs outside
N Conway with great views of Mt Washington Valley; very easy ride.)