What online travel resources. for research, planning, or ideas do you use? 

I came across this site today:

 

Yermo, the wife and I usually pick a destination and migrate towards it. We like the two lane back roads as the interstate system is a great way to save time and see NOTHING!

I do check out a few sites to see what roads are in the areas we are traveling like this one;



  

Sometimes though, there is a freshly paved road going in the general direction we are headed. This would be a required detour IMHO!

We have a few other sites that we use also but one of the best is; contact the states that you will be traveling through.

Last year for example, we found ourselves traveling through Mississippi. There are Blues markers in the state near where some of the blues greats have called home. The welcome center on I-59 did a good job of giving us a map which included ALL of the locations for these markers. This is a trip we are planning this year. (Yeah, the Blues and biking go together "Like peas and carrots". 10 extra points for anyone that can tell me what movie that is from!

I've used   for years. I plan and map out all of the trips we take and find this website useful. I also use google earth to see exactly what I'm getting myself into. I like to be prepared

Lisa Epifano Hall Thanks!

Do you take a GPS along on your rides? (I forget if I've asked that question before)

I don't like to go anywhere without my GPS. But I tell it where I want to go! I put all custom routes in, never letting it decide the route.

What kind is it?

Do you know how to pull GPX tracks off of it? If so, you can upload your rides with a description here (in the Maps section) or you can send me the file and I can do it for you. The when other people plan rides through that area they'll be able to use your ride, and the rides of so many others, to use as a reference. 

Eventually, I'm going to build in the ability to pick and choose parts of others trips to include on your own trip maps, sort of like what I did long hand for my cross country trip this last summer:

eventually these maps will be downloadable to the GPS.

It's a Zumo 660. I've been meaning to set some time aside and load some of my favorite routes in the map section here. I'm currently planning our trip Sapphire NC in May, doing my research by finding all the great roads I haven't taken yet. We go to NC at least once a year taking the BRP all the way down. 

Now you're speaking my language. The start of the BRP is about 180 miles from here. I /love/ that road and have done the length of it many times. 

And I find myself in the Smokey Mountains anywhere from 1 to 4 times a year. I love riding down there. 

If you try the maps and it fails on you please let me know. There are a number of bugs I have to fix, but it sort of works if you're gentle with it. (Otherwise you can send me any routes you'd like included and I'll put them up for you.)

My dream is to live minutes from the parkway and ride it anytime I'd like. It is my favorite road so far.  It's about 300 miles from me.  I make sure I go at least once a year. As soon as I get on it I feel like this is where I belong. 

I know the feeling! 

There are /so so very many/ wonderful roads off the BlueRidge and all around from top to bottom. One could spend years exploring them all.

Speaking of roads off the BRP have you ever tried Route 151 near Waynesville, NC. I've found that to be the most technical road I've been on to date.  It's really steep with switchback after switchback. Lots of fun!  Although the first time I was on it was just after a rain and wet leaves were all around making it a lot more interesting. 

I've been on 276 as I've stopped in Waynesville a few times. I think I remember this road.


But I'm not familiar with 151. 

I'm a lover of super technical roads. 

I'm very familiar with 276. We usually stay on Maggie Valley and that's the road off BRP that we take. You'll have to try 151 and let me know what you think

151 in North Carolina Huh? I like where ya'll are going! keep it up!

I have one for you to try also.
Hwy 123 in Arkansas North of Hwy 7

Take a look. It's not a long road but the part by the BRP is phenomenal

Lisa Epifano Hall ok, now i found it. Yea, that does look like fun but short. I'm adding it to my todo list as I can't remember if I've ridden it or not.


DaFish Isn't the Arkansas Dragon?


I rode this last summer. Crazy switchbacks on the far side.

Lisa Epifano Hall That map worked for you! Excellent!

Piece of cake

I just wish I could stop hitting the reply button too fast and leaving an empty reply.

Yes it is the Arkansas Dragon. I rode it this past year for the first time.

Now that road near Pisgah National Forest? I rode one there to the BRP last year also but I don't think it is the same one.

 Lisa Epifano Hall Hmm. Good point. I'll add a check to prevent empty posts.

DaFish There are so many good roads. I've gotten into the habit of taking a GPS with me just to track what roads I've ridden and which I haven't.

Oh, and by the way, for each map that gets saved there's a full res screenshot generated (which is why it's so slow to save) but you are totally allowed to do whatever you want with the screenshots except remove the attribution at the bottom right. 

So you can put together a map and then share the screenshot of it out to Facebook or where ever, or print them out, publish them in a book, do whatever you want.

(which is why I'm not using Google Maps for this stuff).

Just click Download Screenshot)

 Lisa Epifano Hall I just now realized where your profile picture was taken. Duh. 

The dragon has been an annual trip since 97.  My first time on it a tractor trailer was coming at me from the opposite direction. The cab was in the correct lane but the trailer was on my side. Gotta love when that happens. 

Hey ya'll. You don't have to be so formal! "Fish" is fine!

As for the screen shots/save. Uggh...I still use 2 dimensional maps folks! That's why I take unscheduled detours sometimes