Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina is a tourist destination.
Mount Airy is Mayberry, in the popular Mayberry RFD TV show staring
Andy Griffith. Andy was born in Mount Airy, and each year there
is a reunion of the cast celebrated as Mayberry Days.
The town and the surrounding
region are the location of several popular sites. Surry County
is North Carolina’s answer to Napa Valley—for here
is a growing wine producing region. Just follow the Blue Ridge
Parkway.
In the fall, we celebrate
“Autumn Leaves” festival. North Carolina is the birthplace
of clogging—the mixture of tap dancing with the Highland
Jig of Scotland and the River Dance of Ireland. It is also the
home of good old mountain music—bluegrass can be heard at
virtually any hour of the day.
Simple Living had its
birth here too. The popular life-style movement is headquartered
here, and you can not only learn about Simple Living, but you
can practice here too. Not into that?, then how about the birthplace
of NASCAR. Stop by for the Coke 600.
We have many Bed &
Breakfast establishments, some dating back over 100 years. You
can visit the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, stop by the
Visitor’s Center and pick up a bus tour which, of course,
includes the famous Mount Airy White granite quarry—the
largest open faced quarry in the world. Stop by Floyd’s
Barber Shop for a haircut, or the Snappy Lunch for a pork chop
sandwich—southern style.
When you are tired
of sightseeing, park your body in a seat at the Andy Griffith
Playhouse and enjoy entertainment ranging from local talent to
Hollywood. If you want a little more nostalgia, stop by the local
movie house, ala 1950 or drive over to one of the few remaining
old time drive in movie shows. It is in operation every night
of the year. It is a fun place to visit for the whole family.
If you don’t
know about North Carolina golf courses, you must not be a golfer.
