Hometown Harley-Bound: Day 4

Start Planning Your Own Epic Ride to Milwaukee

[Our near-800-mile road trip from Kansas City to Milwaukee to kick off Harley-Davidson's 110th anniversary ended with a quick and cold, 75-mile blast from Woodstock, Illinois, to the Harley-Davidson Museum in downtown Milwaukee. We didn't leave Woodstock without first stopping to check out the picturesque town square, however. This is such a perfectly charming representation of small-town Americana that it was the setting for the iconic Bill Murray film Groundhog Day, rather than the real town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. From there we crossed the border into Wisconsin and traced a route along the far southern edge of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, before thundering through the Menomonee River Valley and into downtown Milwaukee to arrive at the front door of Harley-Davidson's spectacular Museum.

Incidentally, we arrived at the Museum the same day the giant countdown clock placed on its archway showed 110 days until the 110th anniversary celebration activities officially kick off on Labor Day weekend (August 30th). Highlights for that celebration happening in and around Milwaukee include concerts by Aerosmith, Kid Rock, Toby Keith and many more, UFC fights, a parade, bike shows, rides, and special events at the Museum and other Harley-Davidson facilities.

[But you don't have to wait until then: 110th Anniversary celebrations have already started all over the world, with local dealers and Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) chapters hosting rides and other special events—including the highly anticipated "Epic Sturgis" event planned for this year's Sturgis Rally. Or, if you're so inclined, you can chart your own Epic Ride to Milwaukee and share it with other Hog enthusiasts via Harley-Davidson's web site. Find out about all that and more here, at the official HD110 portal site:   And, while you're at it, check in with Harley-Davidson's official lodging partner, Best Western, at . There you'll find everything you need to know about its Ride Rewards program that offers special discounts for bikers, and the Ride Planner tool that helps you locate the firm's 1200 Rider Friendly hotels and plan rides around them.

Here's hoping your own Harley homecoming ride is half as much fun as ours was, if not considerably warmer and more dry!