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foothill towns
Anderson, SC
Chimney
Rock, NC
Clemson, SC
Columbus, NC
Gaffney, SC
Greenville,
SC
Hickory, NC
Lake Lure &
Rutherford County, NC
Morganton, NC
Mount
Airy, NC
Saluda, NC
Seneca, SC
Spartanburg, SC
Tryon, NC
Books About The
Carolinas
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Mount Airy, NC
FIRST-CLASS DESTINATION |
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n our modern, fast-paced world, one often longs for the quiet simplicity of bygone days, faint memories played over and over in the black and white reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show.” However, a growing contingent of fortunate Americans are realizing that Mayberry, the quintessential small town of Andy Griffith’s imagination, continues to thrive today in Mount Airy, N.C. – the birthplace of Mr. Griffith and the inspiration for his beloved Mayberry.
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and minutes from the Virginia border, this picturesque community seems a world away from hectic urban life, yet is actually only a short drive from the conveniences of Winston-Salem and Charlotte. One step onto Main Street in downtown Mount Airy and you will feel as though you are in the company of old friends, visiting familiar places.
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erhaps much of this is due to the easily-recognizable hangouts, including Floyd’s City Barber Shop, the Old City Jail, Snappy Lunch and Wally’s Service Station. For a greater fix of your favorite old sitcom, you can spend the night in Mr. Griffith’s boyhood home, cruise town in a vintage 1962 squad car replica, take in a show at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, or peruse the largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia at the Mount Airy Visitors Center. Be sure to schedule a visit during the last week of September when Mount Airy rolls out the red carpet for their annual Mayberry Days festival.
But Mr. Griffith is not the only celebrity to emerge from Mount Airy. The mountain town was also home to the late fiddle-strumming legend Tommy Jarrell and country music singer Donna Fargo. This musical heritage is celebrated weekly with bluegrass and Old-Time music jam sessions and live radio shows, including the country’s third longest running live bluegrass radio show, Merry-Go-Round, and in an annual fiddlers’ convention each June.
And what goes better with listening to good music than a glass of wine? Mount Airy and the surrounding countryside of Surry County sits on the northern edge of the fertile Yadkin Valley, home to a booming winery industry with eighteen acclaimed vineyards. On Main Street in downtown Mount Airy, The Old North State Winery serves award-winning wines to visitors over a polished mahogany tasting bar, and one of the Southeast’s largest vineyard estates, Shelton Vineyards, is only a 15-minute drive from downtown.
This is fortunate, because after spending an afternoon in downtown Mount Airy, you may never want to leave. Quaint shops and boutiques, selling stylish clothing, antiques, home décor and collectibles, line the streets, along with several galleries and a day spa. When shopping harbors your appetite, locally owned restaurants offer warm welcomes, great food, and even entertainment, (the locals will invite you to stop by the Good Life Café on Thursday evenings for live music). For more upscale dining, the bistro-style Harvest Grill at Shelton Vineyards serves fine food and wine both indoors and out. If an after-dinner stroll beckons you to spend just one more night in this endearing American town, you can choose from a variety of hotels, including the charming, English-style Sobotta Manor, (located downtown, this bed and breakfast welcomes each new day with a scrumptious, three-course breakfast).
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Mountains, Music, Mayberry
and More!Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the natural backdrop to Mount Airy is nothing less than spectacular. Imagine mountainsides bathed in warm reds, oranges and gold in autumn, and lush, bright greens each spring. The scenery is truly a photographer’s dream.
In Pilot Mountain State Park, (one of three state parks in the area) towering Pilot Mountain draws one in as a beacon in the night, just as it did centuries ago when American Indians and early European hunters navigated their travels by the bare rock face of the mountain’s highest pinnacle. What better way to appreciate the view than by hiking, camping or mountain biking in the park. Nearby, canoeing down the Yadkin River offers meandering views of the terrain, as well as its thriving wildlife. Mount Airy’s surrounding habitat can surely appease even the most passionate outdoor enthusiast, but if you are less adventurous, a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway makes any day memorable.
From brilliant landscapes and toe-tapping music to colorful festivals and sophisticated wineries, this quintessential small town offers a diverse sampling of entertainment and invigorating pursuits far beyond Mayberry memorabilia. It’s no wonder that everyone is singing Mount Airy’s praises, from the
Washington Post and
National Geographic to the
Wall Street Journal, (which named Mount Airy as one of the country’s best places to retire).
However, to the residents of Mount Airy, who have treasured their picturesque town since before Andy Griffith made it famous, the highest compliment that one can bestow is deciding to call Mount Airy “Home Sweet Home.”
By Gerald Sweitzer
When you think of small towns, Mount Airy is one that often comes to mind as a symbol of the friendly,
simple life we remember from the 1950s. It's the hometown of actor Andy Griffith, and
was the inspiration for his long-running TV series.
You can step back in time and visit
the famous landmarks mentioned on the show, order a pork chop sandwich from Snappy Lunch
on North Main, or stop by Floyd's Barbershop next door to get a haircut and catch the latest
local news.
Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you will find mild winters,
ideal growing conditions for the 24 wineries in the area, and bluegrass and jam sessions every Saturday morning
in the downtown area.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is only about 20 minutes to the west. There are several local
cycling events, andsnow skiing is popular in nearby mountain ski resorts.
Festivals abound in Mount Airy, with several connected to the Mayberry and Andy Griffith TV series theme.
The Mayberry Days festival takes place from Sept. 27-27, 2009, and includes music, a prade, a pie and pork
chop eating contest, and celebrity impersonators and stars (now children of the cast) from the Andy Griffith Show.
Mount Airy is attracting boomers who are looking ahead for low cost retirment in a small town in the Carolinas.
With Winston-Salem N.C only 40 miles south, a modern hospital, medical school, university, and shopping are all
easily accessible.
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About the Author
Kristen
F. Anthony
has worked in magazines, newspapers, marketing and corporate communications. She has contributed to a variety of projects, from an award-winning newspaper special section on veterans to the 2006
Southern Living-Progressive Farmer
Idea House. Kristen earned her BA in Communications Studies from Furman University in Greenville, S.C.,
and now calls Columbia,
S.C., home. |
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