Don’t Miss the Fiddlin’ Brewin’ Bar-B-Q’N Cook-off in Nashville!

In Nashville, TN next Wednesday and Thursday (September 28 & 29) the Fiddlin’ Brewin’ Bar-B-Q’N Cook-off will be taking place at Gaylord Opryland. This is the third annual year for this delicious event where some of the best BBQ recipes in the state will go head to head for the Tennessee State Championship. And this year is all the more special because Iron Chef Bobby Flay will be in attendance! Join in with some great food, refreshing beer, and some Nashville country music legends like Cross Canadian Ragweed and Micky & the Motorcars. While you’re at it, check out our outstanding lodging options in the area as well as other activities that are sure to be a must while you’re around.

No visit to Nashville is complete without a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This 37 million dollar structure will have you marveling at the two-story display of every gold and platinum record to hit the country charts, and the museum features 40,000 square feet of country music’s history on display, as well as a full-service restaurant and gift shop. The 214-seat Ford Theater is also housed here. Don’t miss out on your chance to see the history and the future of country music first-hand.

Welcome to the Nashville Zoo, home to hundreds of animal species, including over 75 species of reptiles, amphibians, insects and birds with keen abilities to hide from predators, leopards, lemurs, meerkats, white-cheeked gibbons and more. The Nashville Zoo, which ranks among the top 10% of American zoos, also features the Jungle Gym, a world-famous playground that can accommodate over 1,000 children. A restaurant and gift shop are also available at the zoo, making it easy and convenient to spend the entire day mixing it up with the animals!

On the six hour Jack Daniels Country Tour, you’ll have the opportunity to learn the secrets behind Jack Daniels’ Tennessee Sipping Whiskey. Learn more about the man who bought the nation’s oldest registered distillery at age 13 and then enjoy free time to explore quaint Lynchburg, Tennessee. Stroll through the unique shops or visit the Tennessee Walking Horse Museum, then travel back to Nashville while viewing working Tennessee Walking Horse farms. Get ready for an entertaining and educational experience.

Annual Rock’n Ribs BBQ Festival Returns to Springfield, MO

For everyone who loves barbecue and Bass Pro Shops, get ready for some real excitement when the Annual Rock’n Ribs BBQ Festival begins at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Springfield, MO from April 16th through the 17th. This event is held to raise money for charities each year and features activities like a barbecue competition, live music, and a large variety of entertainment including a petting zoo. Besides the excitement of the event, this Bass Pro Shop location is one of the most interesting to visit because it was the first Bass Pro location to open in 1971.

After eating your fill at the Rockin’ Ribs event, you will want to visit some of the attractions in nearby Branson, Missouri that are popular with the locals of Springfield, MO. The Silver Dollar City theme park is a great favorite of people who live in the area, and people travel from all over the nation to visit this park each year. There is an old-fashioned theme and an old-fashioned atmosphere to the park that transports you back to the 1800s. With foods, rides, and exhibits dedicated to this theme, it’s an unusual park with unusually good entertainment. You can see timeless performances in the various theaters at Silver Dollar City, and you can enjoy natural scenery throughout the park. There is no end to the wonders this park has to offer.

Don’t forget to check out some of the popular Branson shows while you’re visiting. Branson is famous for it’s shows, so you may want to pack them into your trip. You can start your morning with the award winning Branson show Red, Hot… and Blue! This show is sure to start your morning right with performances designed to thrill you. Experience a variety of music and dancing as these world-class performers give you a show you won’t forget. After your morning show wakes you up, visit some of the sights of Branson before seeing one of their legendary night shows.

The Shoji Tabuchi Show has earned its spot as one of the most popular shows in Branson with stellar violin performances by Shoji that you will not be able to see anywhere else. Shoji Tabuchi’s entire family gets in on the music of the show. It’s one evening of music that nobody should miss while they are visiting Branson.