USA - Best of the South - 2012/2013

Ride through the Smoky Mountains on a Harley

American bikers consider riding a motorcycle in the Smoky Mountains as an ultimate adventure that you have to experience at least once in a lifetime!

Join us for a dream of a motorcycle holiday and unforgettable experiences on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle!

This will be a motorcycle tour you’ll never forget!!

A mix of old cities, beautiful lakes, high mountains and fantastic scenery is the cocktail we are going to enjoy on this motorcycle holiday.

We are going to ride along the Dragons Tail, Cherohala Skyway, Blue Ridge Mountain Way and through the Smoky Mountains.

The motorcycle tour: Best of the South

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Day 1: Major European airport – Atlanta, Georgia.
Our guide will be at the Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. Our coach will take us to our hotel downtown Atlanta, close to the airport and our Harley-Davidson Rental location.

Day 2: Atlanta, 0 km.
We relax after the flight and spend the time on sightseeing downtown Atlanta. Atlanta is the capital and the largest city in the federal state of Georgia, and it is the principal city in the ninth largest metropolis area of the USA. It is the principal city of Fulton County, even though a part of the metropolis is in DeKalb County. In July 2006, the city of Atlanta had a population of 483,108 whereas the metropolis area had a population of 5,138,223. In July 2006, the estimated population of the metropolis area was 5,478,667.
Atlanta is one of the mainsprings of the "new South" of the USA, and in recent years, along with Miami and Dallas, it has evolved from a city with regional trade to a city with international trade.
While the American civil rights movement was active, Atlanta declared itself "the city that is too busy to hate" – contrary to other southern cities that supported racial segregation. The progressive civil rights of the city made it increasingly popular with Afro-Americans, and, as a result, in 1972 the majority of the inhabitants of the city were Afro-Americans. Soon, Afro-Americans became the dominating political force of the city, and since 1974, the mayors of Atlanta have all been Afro-Americans. Besides, the majority of the fire chiefs and chiefs of police of the city are Afro-Americans, and other key positions in the local government are also filled by Afro-Americans.
We will pick up our bikes later today.

Day 3: Atlanta, Georgia – Chattanooga, Tennessee, app. 200 km.
On the way we will pass Chicamauga Battlefield, a battlefield from the civil war, located a little south of Chattanooga. The third battle of Chattanooga is the one that is normally remembered as the Battle of Chattanooga, which also comprises the battle of Lookout Mountain and the battle of Missionary Ridge. It was fought in the days from November 23rd to 25th 1863 during the American Civil War. By defeating the Confederate army under general Braxton Bragg, the Union army under major general Ulysses S. Grant eliminated their last foothold in Tennessee and paved the way for the invasion of the southernmost states, which came to pass with the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. We stay overnight in Chattanooga.

Day 4: Chattanooga – Pigeon Forge/Great Smoky Mountains, approx. 250 km.
We start the day with a ride up on Lookout Mountain, where we will enjoy the beautiful view of Chattanooga and its environs. At Lookout Mountain we are going to see Ruby Falls, an exceptional waterfall inside the mountain.
After that we go by the small roads along the Appalachian Mountains to the city of Pigeon Forge at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where we stay the next couple of days.
The Great Smoky Mountains is a mountain range in the southern part of the Appalachians in the east of the USA. The mountain range, also just called the Smokies, lies on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. The name comes from the low clouds that are often hanging over the mountain range. Originally, this was one of the homes to the Cherokee tribe of Native Americans, before the majority of these were driven away to Oklahoma in 1838 by the route that later on became known as the Trail of Tears. The Cherokee people called the mountains Sha-co-na-gee, or "place of blue smoke".
The mountain range counts 16 mountains of more than 1,800 meters. With its approx. 2,025 meters, the Clingmans Dome on the Tennessee-side of the border is the highest. This mountain range is the source of several rivers, e.g. the Oconaluftee River and the Nantahala River.

Day 5: Great Smoky Mountains, app. 250 km.
Today, we are in for great nature experiences – mountain roads like Foothills Parkway, Cherohala Skyway and Blue Ridge Parkway. Last but not least, a road that is very famous in the USA and is considered to be among the world's finest roads for motorcycle enthusiasts – the Tail of the Dragon that has 318 turns in 17 kilometres. After a beautiful day, we return to Pigeon Forge again. The route of the day is approx. 150 km.

Day 6: Pigeon Forge – Nashville app. 350 km.
You cannot say Nashville without saying Country Music. An early start from Pigeon Forge will bring us to Nashville, the cradle of Country and Western music. Our route is set for Cumberland Plateau and parts of Trail of Tears. This is the authentic Tennessee, curvy roads, scenic landscape, farmland and small villages along the road to Nashville.

Day 7: 0 km.
Today we will spend some time at the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame. In the evening we will go down town to Lower Broadway and seek the food and music at Tootsies Orchid Lounge, The Bluegrass inn, Robert’s or some of the many other places.

Day 8: Nashville - Shelbyville (Lynchburg) app. 350 km.
From Nashville we set for Whiskey the American way. Our ride will be part of the US top five road Natchez Trace Parkway, before we set off for Lawrenceburg, Pulaski, Fayetteville and Lynchburg. Arrived at Jack Daniel’s Distillery, you will have the opportunity for a guided tour and afterwards purchase some bottles or merchandise. Our hotel is in the nearby town of Shelbyville.

Day 9: Shelbyville - Memphis, app. 350 km 0 km.
From Shelbyville we set off for Memphis, Graceland, Sun Studio, Beale Street and BB King Blues Bar. Our route will take us thru Columbia and Jackson and some parts of Natchez Trace Parkway will also be a part of our journey today.

Day 10: Memphis 0 km.
Our first stop will be Graceland. You will get a guided tour into the home of Elvis Presley. After this amazing experience, our next stop is Sun Studio. You will have some time of your own, before we end our day in Memphis down town Beale Street at BB King Blues Bar.

Day 11: Memphis, Tennessee – Vicksburg, Mississippi, app. 400 km.
The city is situated by the river and is known for one of the major battles of the civil war, which characterises the city. It also has a cosy downtown area with old houses and buildings. For gamblers, there are several casinos on and by the river. We will be riding on the famous Route 61. Many Southerners travelled north along Highway 61 to get to St. Louis. It goes from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Wyoming, Minnesota, and it was also used as the title of Bob Dylan’s song and album, “Highway 61 Revisited” – Dylan is a native of Minnesota.

Day 12: Vicksburg, Mississippi – New Orleans, Louisiana, app. 400 km.
We leave Vicksburg and go to Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. We go further south to New Orleans, where we stay overnight, downtown in the French Quarter. New Orleans (French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is the biggest city of the federal state of Louisiana. It is also called Crescent City (“half-moon city”) because of its shape, due to the location along the Mississippi river. The nickname of the city is “Big Easy”. The city has a population of about 490,000, while the Greater New Orleans Area (including the nearby suburbs) has a population of about 1.2 million.

Day 13: New Orleans, 0 km.
We will all have a day off in New Orleans, where we can experience the French Quarter, the capital of jazz music and always a jolly place. There are also lots of music venues, restaurants and shops in this area.
You also have the opportunity to go for a sail on the river on board a paddle steamer. Unfortunately, in the surroundings, you can also see the effect of hurricane Katrina, but the city is recovering and is a great experience.

Day 14: New Orleans, Louisiana – Fort Walton Beach, Florida, approx. 400 km.
We leave New Orleans and ride along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico to Mobile, Alabama, and on to the holiday village Fort Walton Beach in Florida. On the way we will have lunch just outside Mobile at “Ed’s Shed” – a restaurant where you can have alligator steak and watch its wild fellow species swimming around just below the terrace where we are having lunch. Of course, you may choose a more traditional lunch.
We arrive at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where we will be staying at a hotel on the beach. Now it is time to bathe and relax on the beach.

Day 15: Fort Walton Beach, Florida – Atlanta, Georgia, approx. 550 km.
The day starts early. We leave the beach and head north to Montgomery, Alabama, and on to our hotel in Atlanta, situated near the motorcycle rental company. We will have a farewell dinner and stay the night in Atlanta. Drop off of bikes will be today in Atlanta.

Day 16: Atlanta – major European airport.
Depending on your flight, you can go sightseeing or shopping the rest of the day. We say good-bye, hoping that you have had a fantastic tour, and, to the motorcycle touring enthusiasts, until later – we look forward to seeing you again for other fantastic motorcycle tours at destinations out in the world.

Day 17: Arrival.
Arrival at your departure destination.