I'm a big fan of country music. Problem is, I live in the Northeast (Pittsburgh, PA), and there isn't a whole lot of country music events/places/bands etc, in Pa. I haven't really visited the south for any length of time, and when I have gone south, it's been to major cities, so you get that sort of "cosmopolitan" feel, no matter where you go in town. I'd love it if any of you southerners or veteran travelers know when a Northen redneck might go and feel at home in the south. I'm thinking of going no further than Georgia though. I just don't have the time to drive any further. I also love the outdoors (fishing, hiking, etc.) So with this in mind, where do I go?

Thanks

Come to Virginia and attend one of numerous bluegrass festivals- lots in the mountains (Galax comes to mind) Camping, tents, great music & tolerent minds! Must be websites dedicated to bluegrass.. Anyway, a place to start!

My suggestion would be Nashville. I'm originally from the Pittsburg area and we have lived in Atlanta for years. Our children have moved to Nashville. We like it a lot. Lots of country areas and music and Nashville is growing but still has that small city feel.

Here are two in North Carolina:

Ole Time Fiddlers and Bluegrass Festival
78th Continuous Event
May 24 - 25 - 26, 2002
Fiddler’s Grove Campground
Union Grove, North Carolina


MerleFest 2002
Wilkes Community College, April 25 - 28, Wilkesboro, NC
A 15th Anniversary Tribute to the lives and music of Doc and Merle Watson including:

Leahy
Nickel Creek
Patty Loveless
The Sam Bush Band
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Yonder Mountain String Band
Earl Scruggs & Friends
Jerry Douglas

I suggest driving south to Lexington Kentucky to see the beautiful horse farms, tour the distilleries, and visit the KY Horse Park. You'll be listenin' to country music the whole time!

Then, if you're interested, you can drive east one hour to Louisville and visit Churchill Downs, and, if you're a baseball fan, the Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger museum.

Then you must drive south to Nashville, the home of country music and a great place to visit. You can boot scoot at Wildhorse Saloon on Second Avenue, visit the Grand Ole Opry, Music Row, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. You'll love it. From Nashville, if time permits, it's a nice drive to Chattanooga and then Georgia.

Enjoy!