Summer Is The Perfect Time To Explore

They say some of the best adventures begin when you surrender to the wind and follow where it leads. Living in Northern Nevada affords motorcycle enthusiasts plenty of opportunity. Drive any direction and you'll find yourself enjoying some of the best back roads and destinations in the nation.
With summer's arrival, there's no end to the possible day trips, which, if time allows, can easily become a weekend getaway. Any of the following can be adjusted by taking a different turn in the road and you'll be on your way to discovering your own favorite rides.
Lake Tahoe is always an obvious choice, with 72 miles of road dotted with plenty of casinos, shops, bars and restaurants as well as places to camp. The lake's crystal clear water and clean beaches make this Nevada's crown jewel. Scenic points abound and this ride can be completed in five hours or a couple of days.
Summer is the perfect time to explore farther afield, and with the Sierra Nevada range in our backyard, there's no end to the possible adventures.
El Dorado and Placer wine country and Sacramento are just two hours away. San Francisco by way of Highway 88 is another good trip.
A favorite is taking Highway 395 north to Highway 70 at Hallelujah Junction. This road travels through Beckworth and Portola. Turn left at Highway 89 into Graeagle and continue through Clio and Sierraville, eventually landing in Truckee. Or simply follow Highway 70 to Quincy. From there, you can continue on Highway 70 through the Feather River Canyon, or follow it around to Bucks Lake Road or Highway 89 cutoff to Lake Almanor. The latter connects to Highway 36 through Chester, Westwood, Eagle Lake (side trip on Highway 139), and Susanville.
Traveling Interstate 80 West to Highway 20 ends in Nevada City, with its quaint buildings and diverse shops and restaurants. You can avoid heavy traffic and opt for a more scenic tour by taking Highway 49 through Downieville, eventually connecting with Highway 89. Make a right turn there and you're a short ride from Truckee or go left and take the back way through Clio into Graeagle.
Other ideas include: Reno to Verdi, Bodie, Pyramid Lake, Placerville, Sutter Creek and Apple Hill. There are also Napa, Sonoma and Calaveras counties, all within a few hours.
Most of these communities were once thriving timber industry towns but today are dotted with bed and breakfasts, shops, wildflowers and camp sites.
The thing to remember is that no matter which road you're on, it usually loops toward home. So get a map, throw a dart and start day trippin'!