| Author | Message | ||
     Jjjd |
I am in the planning stages for a trip with my wife to the dragon. What i am wondering is where is a good place to stay? I would like to stay on the north side seeing we will be coming from wisconsin and it would only be for a weekend.We will be trailering the bikes down and back to make things a little faster as far as travel time.I am really stoked because this was her idea in the first place  Any other ideas about any other rides to take while we are down there? Any help is very much appreciated. Thanks Paul | ||
| Hughlysses |
I'm sure people will chime in. Meanwhile, check http://www.tailofthedragon.com for comprehensive info on the road, area, lodging, etc. | ||
| Arcticktm |
Closest places to stay are on the south side, in NC. If you really want north, then somewhere like Townsend, TN is where you'll likely end up, if you want a motel/hotel, or do Google searches for private rentals. My advice - don't plan your whole trip around the Dragon. It is just 11 miles of a the biggest 2 wheel circus in the US. It is cool, and you should do it (carefully, please), but don't just ride it over and over like some do, and never realize all the other much better riding there is in the immediate area of W NC. M28, Cherohala, and virtually any squiggly line you can find on whatever maps you are using. | ||
| Sifo |
I just got back from there last Friday. I agree with Arcticktm. South of the Dragon in Robbinsville is a good place to stay. The ride up 129 to the Dragon is a very nice ride too. Take M28 on the way back for some more great riding. East out of Robbinsville on the Cherohala is very fun, relaxing, and scenic. At the north end of the Dragon you can pick up a nice ride on the Foothills Parkway. From there you can head to Gatlinburg to take 441 south through the Smoky Mountain National Park, but that's sure to be packed on a weekend. From Robbinsville we were able to head south into GA and hit some of the roads that Glitch posts those awesome pics and videos of such as Wolf Pen Gap. I found myself actually laughing as I rode a section of Wolf Pen Gap. Also almost cried on Wolf Pen Gap when I crashed my wife's Sporty on a switchback. Honestly, from Robbinsville you could be blindfolded, spin yourself around a few times, take off the blind fold and ride the direction you are facing and do pretty well. We had the luxury of a 2 week trip and did not hang around the Deals Gap area on the weekend. It will surly be busy on the weekend. Certainly have fun, but be safe. Those roads are dangerous for the same reasons that they are fun and scenic. | ||
| Froggy |
+1. I hit it during Buelltoberfest last fall. It was great, but not the highlight of my trip  | ||
| Wheelybueller |
+1 M28, Cherohala last time (2007) I was at the "dragon" it was cop central,be careful,it is great fun. My wife and I rented a house,$600.00 for the week. Cant wait to get back to Robbinsville NC.  Yes,I was one of them,I was between Buells,note the jacket. Baggers will lean when pushed | ||
| Xl1200r |
That picture just confirmed for me that a Road King will be my next bike. | ||
| Thetable |
Accommodations, can't comment much, as I usually just camp where ever I can find a shower. As to 129, ride it early or late in the day, otherwise it is just a huge frustration. Plenty of really good roads in the area otherwise to go play on during the day when all the idjots are cramming into the CROT parking lot. | ||
| Thetable |
And now it cop central has moved across the border, particularly the Skyway on the NC side. | ||
| Sifo |
It is fun to stop and sit at the scenic overlook on the dragon and watch the world go by though. There's more than one way to see the world.  | ||
| Etennuly |
I don't see any sparks flying off that RK. There is no reason to not be off the side of that thing dragging a knee! You are just lazy and prefer using that 'seat'!   | ||
| Wheelybueller |
remember,sitting is NOT a sport.  It is only a "bagger" not a sportbike and is limited to light sport duty.  Besides if you push it to hard,it will possibly get scratched. We had fun together,I put 30K on it the 2 years I had it.  We stayed at the Kickstand Lodge in 2006 http://kickstandlodge.com | ||
| Glitch |
Cop Central  | ||
| Kyrocket |
I just broke down there 'bout this time last year. The Easy Rider tour will be in Cherokee NC close to there around the first part of Sept. I believe, and Maggie Valley is pretty nice and scenic plus you can ride the Blue Ridge. The Dragon was packed when we went, once you've done it and got your shirt/sticker you'll want to explore the outer areas. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Posted this to the wrong thread... Definitely Townsend. Much nicer / wife friendly "resort" like cabins. The commute from there to the gap is a very pretty / relaxed road, and it gives you a "back door" to get into pigeon forge if you want a bigger restaurant or something. The loop will make you go across the Cherhohola, then turn right around and come back across it, but that's not by any means a bad thing. If you have two days, and if "wheels through time" is still in Maggie Valley, that would be a nice destination as well. Come to think of it, Maggie Valley might not be a bad place to stay either. It's "further", but its all fast interstate, so if you are trailering the bike, it'll go fast. That might be a better launching point for the gap, the Cherohola, and the blue ridge parkeway. The parkway would be a nice "first ride" with a passenger, its slow, relaxed, lots of restrooms and rest areas, and jaw droppingly beautiful. | ||
| U4euh |
Townsend is where we got married at, and everything bout it beautiful, including location on a motorcycle. The "loop" if staying in Townsend is something you won't forget | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Bryson City, NC is a great little town on 19 between Cherokee and Deals Gap. We always stay there because it's centrally located- a few miles from 28 south to Franklin (awesome road), and 28 north is gorgeous all the way to 129 and the Dragon. Fontana Village is the closet place to the Dragon, but it's east like the other places I've mentioned. The only thing directly north of the Gap is Great Smoky Mtn National Park. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
reguardless of the area, you won't be dissatisfied. down around the dragon. | ||
| Thetable |
They weren't too bad when I was there two weeks ago, but usually my deal is on pass first thing in the morning, sitting back at the CROT by 0900, and if I can't get my fill on local roads, another pass leaving out of the CROT after 1800. Minimal traffic, and what traffic is there is locals (they will be doing the passing), and generally speaking, no LEOs. Blount Sheriffs seem to be taking it pretty easy, and only going after yellow crossers and those with blatant disrespect. THP is somewhat of a different story. NC has been cranking up enforcement in the area. This is info gleamed from a couple of the locals that I rode with. | ||
| Sayitaintso |
I'll be there this weekend, so i'll give a report when when I get back. Hopefully it won't be with a picture of a little slip of yellow paper. | ||
| S1wmike |
From Robbinsville we were able to head south into GA and hit some of the roads that Glitch posts those awesome pics and videos of such as Wolf Pen Gap. I found myself actually laughing as I rode a section of Wolf Pen Gap. Also almost cried on Wolf Pen Gap when I crashed my wife's Sporty on a switchback. Honestly, from Robbinsville you could be blindfolded, spin yourself around a few times, take off the blind fold and ride the direction you are facing and do pretty well. +1 I spent a rain filled week at march wetness 6 but had perfect riding Monday and Tuesday to start the week. Monday we spent all over the North GA. mountains and Tuesday we ran out to the dragon, best ridden in the middle of the week. | ||
| Coops53233 |
You could also look at Gatlinburg, TN. There are a lot of vacation cabins there. If the owner is not using it at the time, they usually rent them out at pretty good prices. Plus, after you've ridden some of the good roads, Gatlinburg has some good bars, restaurants, and other touristy things to do. I think we used www.mountainchalets.com. We had a super-nice, fully furnished 2 story cabin, 2BR, 2BA w/ hot tub, full kitchen, dining room, Satellite TV and internet for about $110 per night (divided by 4 guys). Boy, that hot tub felt great after a day of riding Deal's Gap and the Cherohala. | ||
| 86129squids |
Townsend/Walland on the TN side, lots of nice rentals on the Sevier County side of the Foothills. In Walland, a nice backroad is East Miller's Cove Rd- if you follow it CAREFULLY it will take you to Pigeon Forge the "back way" without needing to use Wear's Valley Road, which can get crowded. Brother's Cove Rentals there is SUPER nice, but VERY steep grades to get up and down the mountain. Took a rental FLHX there with the GF once and never did stop rolling til we got to the cabin, for fear of rolling BACKWARDS. Be sure to ask about getting to/from the property before you go. +1, nice places in NC. Fontana Village/the "Hellbender"/hwy 28 is all guud- on the way to Bryson City you can stay at the Iron Horse Campground. Good peeps, built for bikers. Lots of places in/around Robbinsville. Do some web surfing and see whutcha find. www.fromthehandlebars.com Email Ben Steinberg at the Deal's Gap store- he's a good dude, heck, you could even stay AT Deal's Gap if you wanted to be in the middle of things all the time... Personally, I'd find a secluded cabin with a hot tub and a hammock. | ||
| Babired |
I stayed at the Abby Inn in Maggie Valley in 06 it was a nice place to stay this is about 65 miles north of the Dragon. You go thru the Cherokee Indian reservation and small touristy type towns going to the Dragon. There are some really good house rental deals out there too. I almost rented one for the week last year but I didn't have any takers on wanting to rent it out with me. K | ||
| Jjjd |
Thanks for all the info. We are not going to limit ourselves to the dragon alone.My wife and I will get the shirt and move on and make the most of the limited time we do have. I have a couple more questions like what is "the loop"? I am very curious to the roads and about how long it would take to ride. We are thinking October 23rd for going down and riding, is this a heavy time as far as traffic in this area goes? Once again thanks for all your help  | ||
| Dragonslayer |
Didn't y'all know? Deal's Gap is closed!!! Everyone will have to go somewhere else to ride. | ||
| 86129squids |
Yeah, what he said, Deals Gap is closed.  (Message edited by 86129squids on August 06, 2009) | ||
| Sifo |
Didn't y'all know? Deal's Gap is closed!!! I guess I went just in time! | ||
| Glitch |
Everyone will have to go somewhere else to ride. No problem! Come on down to Wolf Pen Gap! It's better than the Dragon anyway | ||
| Sifo |
Glitch, I blame you for my crash on Wolf Pen Gap riding my wife's sporty. It's all your fault! I was having way too much fun, then that damn switch back! You are an evil man!  I also went to this dreadful place on your recommendation.  Folks, don't listen to Glitch. Pure evil I tells ya!  |
