If you consider yourself to be a city slicker but are interested in cowboy culture, consider taking a vacation to the Fredericksburg and Bandera areas of Texas. The area known as the Texas Hill Country is wedged in between Austin and San Antonio, and is known for not only wineries and great food, but for dude ranches as well. In Bandera, which refers to itself as the Cowboy Capital of the World, you can stay at a dude ranch and live the cowboy lifestyle. But if that isn’t enough for your city slicker ways, the entire region is covered with wineries and fine dining.

If you ever wanted to experience the cowboy life for a while by putting on your best western wear and riding horses all day without sacrificing your need for the finer things in life, be sure and check out the Texas Hill Country as a possible destination for your next vacation.

Do you and your outfit have a major hodown to attend? Perhaps you need to show that “other ranch” what class really means. There is no better way to be the talk of the town while arriving at your destination in style than to roll up in the Redneck Limousine.

Tonight is Nashville’s biggest night, and usually the night you see the best western wear out there: the 42nd annual Country Music Association Awards. The CMA has built an interactive website where you can make and share your award picks, participate in polls, check out photos from rehearsals, check out award winners of the past, and see where else the CMA is participating on the web.

The reigning CMA Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will unite to host “The 42nd Annual CMA Awards.” This is the first time that either artist will have hosted “Country Music’s Biggest NightTM.” “The 42nd Annual CMA Awards” airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 12 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“We are excited to have our reigning Male and Female Vocalist host the CMA Awards this year,” said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to their musical talent, Brad’s quick wit and Carrie’s gracefulness will serve them well in this role. CMA is happy to offer both of them their first opportunity to host a nationally televised network awards show. ”

In addition to their hosting duties, Paisley and Underwood will also perform on “The CMA Awards.” Previously announced performers include Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban, with more performers to be announced soon.

If you are a country music fan, be sure and tune in tonight. It promises to be very cowboy friendly.

If there is one accessory that a cowboy needs outside of comfortable western wear and a good cowboy hat, it’s a great saddle. For over 20 years now, Wyoming resident Steve Mecum has been making handmade saddles for cowboys all across the country. Featured on CNN.com, Mr. Mecum describes his love of saddle making and why he feels like it is so important to pass on:

Micum now dedicates December through May to crafting custom saddles, some of which demand more than 350 hours of work to finish. While a basic saddle costs roughly $4,000, a high-end job that features carved, intricate designs and extra work on the seat and fenders can cost as much as $20,000.

"I have customers who collect saddles, but there is tremendous gratification in making a saddle for someone who is going to use it every day, such as a horse trainer," says Micum, who has a two-year waiting list.

"A lot of the well-known custom cowboy-gear shops are disappearing," says Micum. "We’re trying to preserve the tradition of quality and teach it to younger people so that this type of work stays alive."

Steve also can be found teaching classes on saddle making through the Traditional Cowboy Arts Association.

There is nothing more synonymous with cowboy culture than a cowboy hat. Paired with the rest of your western wear, it is the quintessential accessory for a cowboy. But what are the origins of the cowboy hat? We all know that cowboy hats go back to almost the inception of the cowboy himself, but what does your cowboy hat say about you? Have a look at this great video that dives into the history of the cowboy hat and what your hat shaping and other decorations say about you.