Tennessee travelers choose from 49 Best Western hotels.

Smoky Mountains National Park

Nashville, Tennessee’s Capital city heats up in summer, and it’s not just the weather. The season is here for the CMA Music Festival and events like the Music City Brewer’s Festival and the Music City Festival and BBQ Championship. Kids in the family? Go no further than Nashville's Wave Country; the only wave-action pool in the Nashville region opens Memorial Day weekend for summer. Ride the waves, slide down three water flumes and two speed slides, special kiddie pools and a children’s playground keep the little ones entertained. Enjoy Wave Country daily through August 4th and weekends through Labor Day.

Welcome back Opry Mills Mall! Spring 2012 brings the reopening of the Nashville Mall, along with April's Grand Reopening Super Sale, and the official Grand Reopening Celebration Weekend, May 4th and 5th, culminating with the Southern Nights Celebration, featuring Josh Turner in concert. Shopping fans are in luck with more stores than ever at Nashville’s largest mall.

There is a reason Nashville is called Music City USA and the 2012 Country Music Awards Music Festival, shows why. Called the ultimate country music fan experience, Nashville hosts the festival June 7th through the10th marking the 41st annual event.

A four-day ticket takes fans to daily concerts at Nashville’s Riverfront Park, nightly concerts at LP Field and events at Nashville Convention Center and more. Gotta see your favorites? Check out Fan Fair Hall and Fan Alley. Watch the stars battle it out for charity at the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge. The 2012 lineup includes top names like Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley and Faith Hill, among the many. Nashville’s CMA Music Festival promises to be the ultimate for country music fans.

The 11th Annual Music City Brewer’s Festival hits Nashville July 28, 2012. With two sessions in Music City Walk of Fame Park, visitors sample brews from local, regional and national breweries. Hosted by MafiaoZA’s Pizzeria, enjoy the craft brews, popular local restaurant fare and live music on stage.

Nashville’s Riverfront Park hosts the 2012 Music City Festival and BBQ Championship, August 24th and 25th. The 4th annual event, features live Music and a Tennessee State BBQ championship. Festivities are held on the banks of the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville at 1st Avenue and HonkyTonk Broadway. A popular Nashville event, three stages of live performances entertain crowds as over 100 BBQ teams vie for top honors and the Grand Ol’ Porker Award.

For a family night out at the ballpark, don’t miss the Nashville Sounds at Greer Stadium. Located at the intersection of Interstate 40 and Interstate 65, Herschel Greer Stadium is at the southern edge of Fort Negley Park. The Sounds 2012 season runs through Labor Day weekend – don’t miss Taco Bell Thursday with the players in retro uniforms and discounted concessions.

Smoky Mountains National Park

Take to Tennessee’s back roads and byways from Knoxville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg in the east through Chattanooga in Tennessee’s south, to Memphis in the west. Check out  White Lightning Trail for a look at  Knoxville area heritage and culture. Travel the Pie in the Sky to Mountain Highs Trail around Chattanooga and be sure to sample the original moonpie. The Great River Road and National Scenic Byway in western Tennessee follow the mighty Mississippi through the beauty of the Memphis area. Enjoy Tennessee’s music, food, and festivals along your travels. This is the season for a Tennessee road trip.

Hurricane Mills, east of Nashville and north of Interstate 40, is home of Loretta Lynn’s Ranch. The community celebrates the country music legend at summer events. 2012 sees the inaugural Loretta Lynn Rodeo at the ranch. A SPRA sanctioned event, join the cowboy and cowgirls competing for prize money, June 1st and 2nd. Produced by Pigeon Forge’s Outlaw Rodeo Company, guests enjoy six major rodeo events each night.

Loretta Lynn Ranch is a premier US motocross facility. July 29th through August 4th, the ranch hosts the 2012 AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship with race events beginning on Tuesday morning. The 2012 ATVA Motocross final North and South Challenge round 11 takes place at Loretta Lynn Ranch August 13th and 14th. Take you pick of action on the motocross track in Hurricane Mills this summer.

Tennessee visitors celebrate the Fourth of July at festivals and events across the state. The city of Gatlinburg hosts the nation's first holiday parade with the 2012 Fourth of July Midnight Parade. When the clock strikes midnight, Gatlinburg begins celebrating Independence Day as the parade works its way through downtown.

The fun continues on the fourth with the Gatlinburg River Raft Regatta starting at noon. The annual tradition on the Little Pigeon River in downtown Gatlinburg is unmanned, with a variety of prizes for the most creative. Finish off the day at 10 with Gatlinburg’s ‘Stand Here’ Fireworks Finale, as spectacular pyrotechnics light up the skyline.

Visitors in Chattanooga enjoy the patriotic 2012 Pops on the River on July 3rd; Pigeon Forge marks its 22nd Annual Patriot Festival with a day and evening of food, games and entertainment in Patriot Park; or join the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for the 28th Annual Pilot Independence Day Concert, headlining the City of Knoxville’s Fourth of July celebration at World’s Fair Park. No matter your Tennessee destination, enjoy the 4th of July festivities.

Wind down your summer in Memphis at the 2012 Memphis Music and Heritage Festival. The Center for Southern Folklore hosts Labor Day weekend events, September 3rd through the 4th at Peabody Place. With multiple stages of live music and performances, enjoy two full days of entertainment in downtown Memphis. Browse arts and crafts, food and activities along with Memphis’ famous live music.