Few things can unite people, like music. It evokes memory and mood and—when on a road trip—becomes an adventure background track. Whether your bag is classic rock, country, jazz, or blues, there are places that exist on and through music and that make perfect road trip destinations.
Here are five destinations that no music lover or road traveler should miss out on.
Nashville, Tennessee – The Country Music Capital
Nashville is a no-brainer country for music fans. It’s a town where there’s music drifting out of every corner of every street, where honky-tonks echo late into night. The Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry are definite must-visits but don’t forget to visit The Bluebird Cafe, where up-and-coming songwriters leave everything on stage. The live music is unlimited, ranging from A-level concert tours to intimate songwriter sets on a nightly basis. And let’s be real—there’s no experience like driving on Broadway, windows rolled down, classic country blasting through speakers.
Memphis, Tennessee – The Confluence of Blues and Rock
If Nashville is country’s soul, Memphis is rock and roll birthplace. You can smell history on every corner of every street. Start on Beale Street, where blues permeates through crowds of people, then continue on to Sun Studio, where the rest of the world heard of legends like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. And, of course, there is no skirting around Graceland, but pay your respects to where rock and roll started by also taking on the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
New Orleans, Louisiana – The Soul of Jazz
New Orleans is not only home to a musical environment—music is New Orleans itself. From the instant that your foot touches Frenchmen Street, there is no doubt that there is life here 24/7. Brass bands, jazz quartets, and street performers fill every corner of every street with life around the clock. Preservation Hall is where to experience authentic jazz, but that is only where it starts. Venture through the Quarter, follow your ears, and duck into whatever corner performance or bar piques your interest. You can’t make a bad decision.
Austin, Texas – The Live Music Capital
Austin isn’t only country—there’s plenty of that, obviously. It’s also a melting pot of musical cultures, and live music is its life’s blood. Sixth Street is lined with bars that have live bands playing, but out-of-the-way clubs like The Continental Club and Antone’s are where things really take off. Try to schedule your visit around SXSW or Austin City Limits Festival, if possible, to experience it all.
Detroit, MI – The Birthplace of Motown
Detroit’s music history is rich. It’s where Motown started, and that ethos continues to permeate throughout the city. The Motown Museum, housed within historic “Hitsville U.S.A.,” gets you right where legendary artists like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder made history by cutting hit recordings. But there’s life after history, too—there’s plenty of great talent emerging out of Detroit today, no matter what your musical interest is. Look out on stage at The Fillmore or venture into a jazz club to experience what’s on the horizon of changing musical culture in Detroit.
A Quick Note Before You Head Out
Every good road adventure is predicated on a good playlist and a well-stocked vehicle. It’s easy to forget to plan on the exciting things, but keep in mind that there are also the necessities. Even things like your Ford Fiesta maintenance can pay big returns to make your adventure easy and free of care. No one likes to have to break down by the next rest stop after driving too far without checking oil levels.
So, pack your bags, fill out your favorite tracks, and hit the road, driving through some of the most musical cities on our planet. Something is enchanting about pairing wide-open roads and legendary beats that makes mileage vanish like magic.
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