When you are traveling through an area in an RV and just need to find a place for a quick overnight stop, Cracker Barrel might just be the place. They welcome RVers to stay overnight in their parking lot for one night in exchange for coming in to their restaurant. In our travels we have only done it a couple times. We pulled in late at night in the dark. In the morning we got up and went in for breakfast before heading on our way.
Most people think about Cracker Barrel as a restaurant and they enjoy the great gift shop. But did you know that it is actually the world’s best music store? Okay, not really, but it is the best place to buy a decent-quality, low-cost harmonica.
Over the years we have had many harmonicas. Some were Hohners from Cracker Barrel, some were the exact same Hohners from a music store for twice the price and some were cheap imposters that couldn’t really play a tune. There are, of course, high quality, expensive ones you can buy from a music store. Those ones are for great if you actually know how to play. For beginners and children, the Hohner Bluesband in C are perfect. Find one on Amazon via one of our affiliate links here> https://amzn.to/3OKXxY6
Why a harmonica? Because they are easy to learn and play. The youngest children can make up their own tune just by blowing or sucking air through it. Once kids can read the numbers on it, they can play an easy tune, and as they get better they could learn the notes and could play anything.
Our skill level stopped at learning the numbers and whether you need to inhale or exhale. But that’s really all you need to learn to play. With a quick google search you could be playing hundreds of songs quickly. Each hole in a harmonica plays two notes. Inhale and it plays one, exhale and you get the other. I can play many songs, but I don’t read music, nor do I know which notes the harmonica has. I just follow the numbers. It’s like a count by number painting for music. It’s so simple.
In an RV with limited space a harmonica is perfect because it can fit in your pocket. They are so small and portable for traveling and they are nearly indestructible. Most instruments are fragile, but not this one.
So next time you pass by a Cracker Barrel stop in with a couple bucks and pick up a harmonica. You’ll be making music in no time. Click the pic for one on Amazon!
