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Nashville, TN: Fly & Drive -- Grand Ole Opry-tunities
From jubilant jug bands to the likes of Lyle Lovett, Tennessee's rolling Cumberland River hills are alive with the boogie-sweet sound of music.

Place we love, even if it's touristy: Having outgrown The Ryman (a.k.a. "mother church of country music"), The Grand Ole Opry lies 15 minutes outside Nashville proper, and broadcasts the world's longest-running radio show in a format little-changed since the '30s. Check out the Disney-eseque tin roofs, river-fed hotel, and, of course, country legends.

Where the locals go: Famous for its real country ham, fried chicken, made-from-scratch biscuits, and pecan pancakes, Loveless Cafe uses all local products and a generous amount of savory bacon grease (and we mean that in the best of ways). Located on the Natchez Trace Parkway, it embodies the true spirit of the south.

Chill-out spot: Hold the music for a moment and set your soundtrack to the rolling Cumberland River during a stroll over the Shelby Avenue Bridge. It's an easy walk from downtown, and views of bobbling boats and yonder mountains just might inspire you to make like a Dixie chicken, you Tennessee lamb, and head your way to Dixieland.

Where to do a do-si-do: Kick up your heels at the Wildhorse Saloon, where you can participate in everything from "Achy Breaky Heart"-style line dancing to sashay-promenade square dancing. If you don't know how, just take a free lesson. At 66,000 square feet, this place is so huge it goes through 3,000 gallons of barbecue sauce a year.

Local secret: After working up a square-dance sweat, it's time for totally tubular refreshment. Las Paletas Gourmet Popsicles was nominated by our readers during our "Local Secrets, Best Finds" survey due to its fresh ingredients and daring Mexican-inspired flavors ranging from prickly pear and hibiscus to honeydew and chocolate wasabi.

History lesson: Step into the plantation past at Belle Meade, where the mansion dates back to 1853, and the stone columns out front are riddled with bullets from the War Between the States. After checking out the antique carriages and 1790 log cabin, whinny your way over to the stables, where two famous rival horses trace their lineage: War Admiral and Seabiscuit.

You can take it with you: Get your vintage old western concert posters at Hatch Show Print, a letterpress print shop featuring the likenesses of Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks, and other country hall of famers. After, get your music-to-go at the Ernest Tubb record shop on Broadway.