Blue Ridge Parkway
At 469 miles long, the Blue Ridge Parkway is the longest, narrowest National Park in the WORLD. Designated as both a National Parkway, and All-American Road, the parkway runs from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
The Parkway was begun during Franklin Roosevelt's administration in 1935. Although much of the work is attributed to Roosevelt's WPA and CCC, most construction was actually carried out by private contractors under federal contracts.
It took over 52 years to complete the road, through some of the most treacherous terrain in the US. the road consists of twenty six tunnels and some of the most difficult to build viaducts in the world. The parkway passes by Mt. Mitchell (highest peak in the eastern North America)
As a motorcycle and sports car enthusiast, you can do no better than this road. The speed limit is 45 mph for most of the 469 miles, but there are many twists and turns that require a hard brake from that limit.
You can drive as hard as you like on the parkway. The fact that the road closes in bad weather, means no salting, and no grading, so the road itself is in great shape. A fact not lost on anyone who has traveled the Northen U.S. roads. You can also slow down to cruise speed, so you don't miss some of the most spectacular scenery in the Eastern U.S.
There are some great accomodations available on the parkway. Although they would be considered rustic by todays standards (no phones, no TV's), that is the thing that makes them appealing to others. The restaurants at these parkway hotels offer a great menu and are highly recommended.