STAR 2018 Location...where to go?

[Landon]

Land Between the lakes doesn't have the lodging available nearby. Also, if you're riding in KY, the best stuff is in the eastern half.

My 2c.

Norm Kern

I agree the riding in eastern KY is far greater then the Land between the lakes area, but LBL could possible meet the requirement that STAR being held in the middle of the country and eastern KY would not. Lots of things could be reached from that area also; one could visit Memphis and go to Graceland, a lunch ride to Lamberts would be within reach, a route focused on ferry crossings could be done, one could ride to Bowling Green to do a Corvette plant tour and museum visit. Just threw it our there as an idea, obviously when you start talking east of Colorado and West of TN the options are very limited if you want great riding.

[africord]

This would be a killer for those in the Northeast and Northwest, but Texas Hill Country?  Its two solid days for me to reach San Antonio, and I'm in Nebraska!

[tino]

Just south of Nashville,TN, near Franklin on I-65. Central Time zone, south central to SW TN area. Embassy Suites. It's only 15 miles from the famous Loveless Cafe and the northern end of the Natchez Trace Parkway,(NTP) which btw, is the best, most curvy and scenic portion of the NTP.


There are many good roads between I-65 and an area that stretches from there, west to the Tennessee River. Basically in an area bordered by I-40 to the north, AL and MS to the south, I-65 to the east and the TN River on the west.


The best roads that come to mind are : NTP, TN13, TN99,TN 128, TN28, TN100, TN203. I led some LA riders up there last fall and all agreed the roads were fun.
Just something to consider...
Tino

[HawkGTRider]

Branson, MO, is close enough to the great Ozark mountain roads that it could be a good choice. IMHO, Springdale AR was a bit too far west of them. There are lots of great roads in MO as well.

Land Between the lakes doesn't have the lodging available nearby. Also, if you're riding in KY, the best stuff is in the eastern half.

My 2c.

Norm Kern

At Gettysburg yesterday, I was chatting with a couple who live in Branson. They encouraged me to visit Branson because they thought I'd like the shows and the riding. Interesting thought.

[normkern]

Not enough lodging/dining in Bull Shoals area for more than about 100 people, plus marina is busy with regulars that time of year.

Norm Kern

[Patmo]

This probably goes without saying, but.....

When considering lodging, don't discount the possibility of hotels connected to Convention/conference centers and don't discount large Casino type establishments.  These places are usually very experienced with working with groups our size.  BUT....don't forget the need for adequate parking and vendor areas as well.  Downtown locations also usually mean traveling through traffic on the way to, or back from, the good roads and can mean limited parking/vendor space. 

When considering possibilities outside the general areas of cities, the choices for lodging AND food are generally more limited or even non-existent.

I'm liking all the suggestions so far........any more?

[normkern]

Regarding Wisconsin, The Dells would not be bad, but LaCrosse would be much better. The great roads are west of the Dells in an area bounded by I90 to the north and US 18 to the south and the Mississippi river on the west. The best stuff is north and west of Spring Green, where TWISTAR was held.

If we had STAR in LaCrosse and the membership got to ride these great roads, it might revive interest in a regional TWISTAR-like event.

Norm Kern

[GlibGuy]

At Gettysburg yesterday, I was chatting with a couple who live in Branson. They encouraged me to visit Branson because they thought I'd like the shows and the riding. Interesting thought.
At Gettysburg yesterday, I was chatting with a couple who live in Branson. They encouraged me to visit Branson because they thought I'd like the shows and the riding. Interesting thought.


At STAR in Springdale last year I visited Branson.  It reminded me of the Pigeion Forge/Gatlinburg area(s) - tons of visitors and almost gridlock traffic in the town itself.  It does have lots of hotels/eating places, and is close to some good roads.  Maybe if we stayed on the perimeter  to avoid some of the congestion


My parents used to enjoy going to Branson for the shows.  My mom particularly liked Shoji Tobuchi so I went to see him.  It was pretty darned good I'll have to say! 


At Gettysburg yesterday, I was chatting with a couple who live in Branson. They encouraged me to visit Branson because they thought I'd like the shows and the riding. Interesting thought.

[Patmo]

Tino.....while I have a very soft spot for Franklin, Tn in my heart, I'm not confident that it would be a good location for a STAR.  The main problem being the lack of LOTS of great riding.  I will agree with you that all of the roads you listed are very nice, but there just isn't enough of them to fill 4 days of riding. 2 good days, yes. 4 days, no.  BUT...if you include the are east and northeast of Nashville there is certainly enough very good riding in the area to fill 4 days.  The problem becomes the seperation between the two areas.  Murfeesboro is between them, but it's still a good 20 miles from the east side of Murpheesboro to the outskirts of Franklin, and then you still have to either go through the town, or around the town, to get to the good riding.  If you set up in Franklin there is a good 30 miles on 840 to get by Murfeesboro to the good riding around Center Hill.  A BIG plus for the area is the amount and variety of dining and entertainment options, along with the number of great places to visit in the area....the Trace, Liepers Fork, Jack Daniels, Broadway, downtown Franklin, etc. 

[stevegrab]

This would be a killer for those in the Northeast and Northwest, but Texas Hill Country?  Its two solid days for me to reach San Antonio, and I'm in Nebraska!

Last time STAR was there it was held in April because of the heat. For those who deal with winter weather it is hard to be ready for a long riding trip that time of year (sometimes I've hardly ridden yet). Also that may be difficult for some that are used to planning around the traditional STAR dates in mid June.
Wisconsin sounds nice, and would be knew (at least in my 15+ years).
Pat thanks for getting this going, I was reading some info on another thread with talk about STAR host site needs. Often our "close to the great roads" conflicts with others like needing a large room for banquet and other things. So you end up in a more downtown setting with some traffic congestion near the site. Few places are perfect, I was wondering where the banquet would be at Stratton until I went to a meeting in that room (didn't realize they had something like that).

[tino]

Tino.....while I have a very soft spot for Franklin, Tn in my heart, I'm not confident that it would be a good location for a STAR.  The main problem being the lack of LOTS of great riding.  I will agree with you that all of the roads you listed are very nice, but there just isn't enough of them to fill 4 days of riding. 2 good days, yes. 4 days, no.  BUT...if you include the are east and northeast of Nashville there is certainly enough very good riding in the area to fill 4 days.  The problem becomes the seperation between the two areas.  Murfeesboro is between them, but it's still a good 20 miles from the east side of Murpheesboro to the outskirts of Franklin, and then you still have to either go through the town, or around the town, to get to the good riding.  If you set up in Franklin there is a good 30 miles on 840 to get by Murfeesboro to the good riding around Center Hill.  A BIG plus for the area is the amount and variety of dining and entertainment options, along with the number of great places to visit in the area....the Trace, Liepers Fork, Jack Daniels, Broadway, downtown Franklin, etc. 

You are correct Patmo. It would be tough to find 4 days worth of goods roads. We unfortunately are very limited when it comes to the central part of the country.  The MO/AR Ozarks are one of my favorite riding areas in the central U.S., I was just trying to mix it up a bit with this suggestion.  I realize how hard it must be to find a spot that has all we need. My dream STAR would be in San Diego County California. Unfortunately, it does not seem like many members care to ride that far.

[Landon]

Someone's going to have to show me the 4 days worth of great riding in the Colorado Springs area.

[Patmo]

Someone's going to have to show me the 4 days worth of great riding in the Colorado Springs area.

Never been out there, so I won't be any help with that.....but I'm hoping there is enough to fill the days!

[Landon]

Never been out there, so I won't be any help with that.....but I'm hoping there is enough to fill the days!

If you've never been I think you will really enjoy it. Rocky Mountain National Park, Mt Evans, Pikes Peak are all within reach of the rally. But don't expect roads like what are available in the Smokies, they are not nearly as technical. The Rookies are very scenic though.

[stevegrab]

I have a hard time believing there isn't a lot of great riding there. I for one will head back to Taylor Lake and maybe try the Cottonwood Pass road from there. Is a day ride to Rocky Mtn NP not doable? Mount Evans, Independence Pass, Leadville, Pikes Peak, those were rides done at STAR in Avon?

Landon sounds like you know the area, and you're right it isn't the most technical twisty roads, Deal's Gap, VA 16, and even our SE Ohio roads will beat that. But we don't have the scenery, the mountains and all that. I'm looking forward to it.
First time I went out west to ride (Taos in 2010) I fell in love with it, and we spent about 7 days in Colorado and hit some of the standard places (RMNP, Ind Pass, etc.)