9 great American factory tours

(CNN)Depending on the metric, U.S. manufacturing is either bouncing back or going to hell in a handbasket -- albeit one expertly crafted in Brooklyn by a tattooed weaver named Holden.

What's indisputable is that some American producers are thriving -- so much so that they're willing to pull back their factory curtains, giving visitors a glimpse at the assembly line magic.

"Everyone becomes a 5-year-old on a factory tour," says Karen Axelrod, who, with husband Bruce Brumberg, wrote "Watch it Made in the U.S.A.: A Visitor's Guide to the Best Factory Tours and Company Museums."

"The best ones get you close to the machinery, the sparks, the excitement."

Here are some of Axelrod's favorites, along with a couple of under-the-radar picks.

Harley-Davidson Vehicle and Powertrain Operations Tour

"Harley offers some of the best tours," says Axelrod. "They put you right on the floor."

The company has two other U.S. factories, but its Kansas City plant is the only one that shows visitors a complete assembly of one of its dream machines -- in this case its Sportster, V-Rod and Dyna models.

"Sons of Anarchy" fans will recognize the Dyna, which deserves an acting credit given how often it appears on the show.

The $35 "Steel Toe Tour" is worth it for behind-the-scenes glimpses at tank, frame and fender manufacturing as well as painting and polishing.

And, yes, you really do have to wear steel toe protection -- a safety vest and glasses -- making this more up-close than many factory tours.

Reserve in advance as tours sell out.

Huy Fong Foods Sriracha Tour

This is the tour for the person who puts Sriracha on everything.

Founded in 1980 by Vietnamese immigrant David Tran, Huy Fong Foods' take on the Southeast Asian chili sauce has become a cult foodstuff, loved for its sweet, fiery flavor and bottle with the green cap and rooster label.

The free 45-minute walk-through takes you inside Huy Fong's 650,000-square-foot facility in Irwindale, California, past huge machines sorting red jalapenos and ending in the bottling area.

There's a gift shop on site -- because who doesn't want Sriracha-flavored ice cream?

Huy Fong Foods Headquarters, 4800 Azusa Canyon Road, Irwindale, California; +1 626 286 8328; Free tours run Monday-Friday.

Fender Factory and Custom Shop Tour

Jimi Hendrix, a Fender loyalist until his untimely death, would have dug this guided jaunt through the wood mill, metal shop and assembly rooms at the guitar giant's Corona, California, factory.

The real fireworks occur at the final stop: the Fender Custom Shop, where you'll watch the production of one-of-a-kind masterworks and can even buy one if you're feeling inspired.