Nay, nay, nay, Vegas...I must politely disagree. :spank:
California??? Yeah, there are some fabulous roads there, but if you want an experience of a lifetime, Wolfman, you need to take Erci's advice and come to Deal's Gap on the Tennessee/North Carolina border. Here's the thing...everyone goes for The Dragon, but what people that have never been there before don't get until they visit is that there are literally TONS of great roads, all within a few miles of there.
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Deals Gap is kind of a Tourist Trap, at times it might be too congested. Plus do they still allow tractor trailors on that road? At least in California, they don't allow certain size vehicles on the roads that are so twisty.
The Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains has great roads, I've been on them, just not on a bike. But beside the riding, what else is there to do besides rafting or campning or going to Dollyworld?
One day, I too would like to ride the Gap. But in general if you're on a budget and due to time constraint, California has EVERYTHING. The Beach, lakes and rivers, Hollywood, Mountains, and hundreds if not thousands of miles of twisted pavement that's not congested. Plus it's in close proximity to other areas like Vegas, Grand Canyon, and so on.
It's just unfortunate that most visitors are unable to visit the finer side of America, such as the Midwest or even the deep south or the upper pinninsuala of Michigan or Wisconsin. NYC, LA, & Vegas is usally the top three.