Travel Log: Bristol

It's no secret that many successful country music stars got discovered in Nashville, Tenn. It is, after all, home to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman and the old tunes that blasted from the Grand Ole Opry.

But just east, in the tiny corner of Tennessee's state, that's where country music was born.

Bristol, Tenn. -- or Bristol, Va., depending on which side of the street you're on -- heard recordings from the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and many more banjo-pickers. Those tunes can still be heard today if you can find the right spot in town: the back room of an auditorium, an old theatre, the stools of a legendary local barber shop.

The area's music came mostly from mountain men. And it's appropriate, considering the region is known for its terrain as much as its tunes. Outdoor recreation encompasses the surrounding cities -- hiking, horseback riding, kayaking and climbing.

Best thing about the combination that East Tennessee provides: If the weather or resources prevent one, you can enjoy the other.

Ridgewood Barbecue -- Rarely will the choice selection be a restaurant, but this isn't an ordinary stop. Ridgewood has been serving up some of -- if not the best -- barbecue eaten since 1948. To say the secret is in the sauce is an understatement; just two people know the unwritten formula. Don't worry about stumbling upon this establishment by accident, either -- you have to know where to go. But once you do eat there, you'll keep going back.
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emilyaug77 -- If you go through Cumberland Gap and down Hwy. 58 through Jonesville, Va., I'll be watchin' ya go by. My office window looks out over the highway and I get to watch all the race traffic and wish I was at the track already. There's a neat little place to eat on the Main Street in Jonesville called The Buttery. Also Riverfront Seafood Company in Kingsport. If you like music check out Down Home.

moparman62 -- T-bones on the grill in the Earhart campground have always been my favorite. This year I am raising the bar with my new camper.

KYJimbo -- Coming through the Cumberland Gap? Coming along 25 E to 11 W, and then on to Bristol? You have to stop at Cook's by the Creek in Mooresburg. Here's the info: 802 Old Highway 11 W, Mooresburg, TN, (423) 272-8922.

changingto18 -- I love the Sevierville through Pigeon Forge ride. Then come off the mountains into the Cherokee Nation. That Smoky Mountain trip is awesome. Plus you can stop and gamble along the way.

Join the Bristol Motor Speedway Crew!

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with a high of 69 degrees, low of 43
Friday: Cloudy with a high of 66 degrees, low of 46
Saturday: Rain with a high of 65 degrees, low of 41
Sunday: Partly sunny with a high of 55 degrees, low of 30
Complete Forecast

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• Let NASCAR.COM help book your last-minute travel.
• Directions and aerial map of Bristol

Heading out to Southern Virginia next weekend? Martinsville has some unique stops along the way. Share your personal favorites here.