Worth the drive

Less than two hours

Carson Center, Paducah, Ky.

The Carson Center will host a performance by country music star Vince Gill at 7 p.m. Saturday to benefit the charity Terra's Angels.

Gill has a long relationship with the Terra's Angels charity, which supports families with children who have life-threatening cancer. Gill met Terra Murrell, who the charity is named for, at a Tennessee children's hospital in 1998, and now he plays a benefit for the charity every year. Tickets range from $30 to $150 for VIP seating (including a meet-and-greet with Gill).

For information call the Carson Center at 270-450-4444.

Fox Theatre, St. Louis

The Fox Theatre offers something for teens and preteens (and their parents) when the stage musical based on the Disney Channel movie "High School Musical" hits the Fox stage starting Tuesday.

The tour is expected to travel to more than 60 cities in the U.S. and Canada and features a live orchestra and 34 performers. The musical follows the same story as the Disney movie -- a musical comedy about a popular high school basketball star and a shy, nerdy girl who both discover they love singing, and their friendship endangers the status quo.

Tickets range from $20 to $62. For more information go to www.highschoolmusicalontour.com. For tickets call 314-534-1111 or go to www.metrotix.com.

Hidden Valley Ski Area, Wildwood, Mo.

You'll be hard-pressed to find much authentic skiing within a short drive of Southeast Missouri. But if you don't mind artificial snow, Hidden Valley Ski Area near St. Louis is always an option, now open for the winter season. The area makes its own snow with tower guns and pumping machines, snow that's more dense than the natural stuff. The terrain includes multiple runs for all levels of skill. Snowboarders are welcome.

For more information go to www.hiddenvalleyski.com or call 636-938-5373.