Old-time and traditional mountain music, along with their many contemporary variations, are showcased here through summer concerts and exhibits. If you're looking for American roots music, this new center is the place to visit. The rural communities and small towns that adjoin this section of the Parkway have an extraordinarily rich musical heritage and have produced an amazing number of music pioneers.

While many mountain and foothills communities also share these rich traditions, none surpasses the Galax-Mt. Airy variety. Which is why having a music center here makes so much sense and a "must visit" destination.

GETTING STARTED: Browse the rotating exhibits at the interpretive center, which opens early summer and includes a staffed information desk, a shop with a fine selection of recorded music and books about the Parkway and region, and an auditorium for special programs and small concerts. Ask about special programs.

DON'T MISS: Concerts are held on Saturday evenings from June to mid-September and on Sunday afternoons in late September and early October. Whatever the season, these foot-tapping performances are always crowd pleasers. Most are free; all showcased talented performers who carry on the music traditions that are so much a part of the region. The outdoor stage and amphitheater are nestled in a hillside, and the setting gives a feeling of intimacy between audience and performer. The tree-covered slopes of Fishers Peak provide a scenic backdrop that makes concerts both a musical and visual treat. The seating is informal so bring a blanket or lawn chair. For information about specific concerts, visit www.blueridgemusiccenter.org  on the Internet or call the National Council for the Traditional Arts at (276) 236-5309.

NEARBY: Be sure to ask about the many cultural events that are offered in local communities. Galax's "Old Fiddlers Convention," held the second week in August, is one of the longest-running and best known music conventions anywhere, but there are countless other events and venues that will reward those in search of authentic cultural experiences.

Just four miles south on the Parkway, Cumberland Knob offers an outstanding picnic area and hiking trails. This is also the place where construction began 70 years ago on what would become America's longest and arguably most scenic rural parkway - the Blue Ridge Parkway.