A writing duo shares the sights that have a place in our music history, from museums and festivals to lesser-known locales to make the heart sing. And opera expert and self-described "pleasure activist" Fred Plotkin shows us how to open our senses and plug into the excitement at some of his favorite opera venues in Europe.

• Josephine Matyas and Craig Jones, authors of "The Music Lover's Guide to North America" (Backbeat Books)
• Italophile and opera expert Fred Plotkin, author of "Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera" (Grand Central)

• Josephine Matyas and Craig Jones are the authors of "The Music Lover's Guide to North America."
• Historically-significant music places mentioned in today's interview include the National Jazz Museum in New Orleans, The Stax Records Museum, Sun Studios and Elvis Presley's Graceland in Memphis, The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, and the recently renovated Motown Museum in Detroit.
• Smaller music sites worth a visit include the Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan Centers in Tulsa, the Martin Guitar Factory in Nazareth, Penna., the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum in Brady, weekend breakfasts with live blues at the Blueberry Café in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and the Celtic Music Interpretive Centre in Judique, Nova Scotia.
• Sites along the Crooked Road Music Trail in Southwest Virginia that offer live music and dancing include the Carter Family Fold, the Floyd Country Store's Friday night jamboree, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol TN/VA, and the Southwest Virginia Cultural Center and Marketplace in Galax.
• The Sigal Music Museum in Greenville, South Carolina, features historically-important musical instruments.
• Fred Plotkin is the author of "Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera" and "Classical Music 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Classical Music." He updated his classic but out-of-print "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler" in a collaboration with Rick, called "Italy for Food Lovers."
• Fred often hosts pre-opera screening lectures at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and recommends the Operissimo.com website to locate opera venues and performances in multiple countries.