Six of the hottest months of the year. Five of the hottest music festivals in the United States. Dozens of today’s hottest country music acts. Thousands of miles of highways, byways, backroads, dirt paths and things to see along the way. For the adventurous country music fan, all of this could add up to one epic road trip route from sea to shining sea.

Country music celebrates the freedom of rolling down your windows, cranking your favorite tunes and enjoying the wind on your face as you enjoy the great outdoors. So, it’s only natural that Mickey Thompson Tires & Wheels is ready to help bring country music to the masses at five multi-day celebrations that span from the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to the rugged mountains of Colorado and Washington.

True road-trip aficionados know that it’s not just about the destination; it’s about the memories you make while you’re counting lines on the highway. That’s where we come in. We’re plotting routes between the festivals, lifting up must-see sites and must-have experiences along the way. This is The Great American Country Music Road Trip, part one of five.

Our journey starts in sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, at Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Music Festival, April 12-14. Fun fact: Buying a pass to this festival doesn’t just fill your ears with great music. A portion of the proceeds supports ocean conservation. In fact, the festival has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2013 to benefit ocean charities.

Before you join mega-stars like Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Maren Morris for their sets on the beach (See what we did there?), you’re going to want to take in the splendor of the surrounding areas. And speaking of the beach, you’ll want to make sure your tires can handle the sand.

We could list literally hundreds of spots, but we’re going to keep it to three. Veteran road trippers know: It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Everglades National Park The Everglades feature one-and-a-half million acres of untouched wetland wilderness and are home to thousands of plant and animal species, including panthers, alligators, crocodiles, leatherback turtles and manatees. Get off the beaten path and apply for your backcountry camping permit. According to the park’s official site, camping is best during the winter season (mid-November through mid-April), so you’re hitting the tail end of the sweet spot just before Tortuga. If you’re not familiar with the park, make sure to check out their Wilderness Trip Planner to ensure your camping trip is a great one. We hear the mud can get pretty extreme out there, so better make sure your ride is up to the challenge.

Take a canal cruise They call Ft. Lauderdale the Venice of America, and with good reason. The city and its surrounding areas feature hundreds of miles of canals. You’ll want to book a riverboat, gondola ride or taxi to spend some time out on the water (both day and moonlight cruises are plentiful). On many of the tours, you can learn about the city’s rich history—or get a glimpse of some of its rich inhabitants: you’ll see mansions and yachts along a stretch called Millionaire’s Row. Some of the cruises also feature food, like real Southern barbecue.

Be a City Slicker for the Day One of the best ways to experience Ft. Lauderdale is to take a stroll along “The Strip,” a promenade sandwiched between the beach and the city. Upscale shops, restaurants, hotels and beach bars line the strip, so there’s plenty to see and do (and drink). If you wear yourself out, or overdo it on margaritas, you can hop a trolley or grab a Segway and explore some more.

That’s all for now, but keep an eye out for the next installment of our journey, which takes us from Ft. Lauderdale to Chicago (and everywhere in between) for the Country Lake Shake music festival.

See you on the road.