It’s not every day that the setting of a beloved television classic comes to life before your eyes. Mount Airy, North Carolina–affectionately known as Mayberry–was Andy Griffith’s hometown and the inspiration for the setting of The Andy Griffith Show. Today, the town pays homage to its television counterpart in many ways, but it is way more than just the Mayberry of the past.
This charming town with just over 10,000 residents only 40 minutes from Winston-Salem offers good food, outdoor excitement, and unexpected history lessons, with a bit of moonshine thrown in for good measure. We first visited several years ago and just can’t seem to stay away.
Here’s a look at what to expect on a visit.
Is this Mayberry?
Yes and no. Andy Griffith’s formative years were spent in Mount Airy, which he called home until he went away to college. The welcoming little town formed the basis for Mayberry in the The Andy Griffith Show that ran for eight years in the 1960s. Today, the fictional town is honored in everything from the annual Mayberry Days celebration each September to the names of businesses that line Main Street.
The television show was actually filmed at studios in California.
Things to do in Mount Airy
The town is filled with food and wine, music, and museums, among other attractions. These are some of our favorite things to do.
Enjoy nature at Pilot Mountain State Park
We love Pilot Mountain State Park for its picturesque Big Pinnacle peak that can be seen for miles around. In addition to its natural beauty, which we particularly enjoyed during an early fall visit, the park is a year-round recreation hub for bird watching, camping, and canoeing. Enjoy the hiking trails, or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, go rappelling on portions of the park’s steep cliffs that have great views of the nearby Sauratown Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains.
Wondering where to stay in Mt. Airy?
Classic comfort: Hampton Inn
Delightful bed & breakfast: Bee’s B&B
Close to everything: Comfort Inn
You’ll find more details about where to stay at the end of this article.
Take a squad car tour
A squad car tour—in a car like the one Barney drove, of course—lets you visit Andy Griffith’s homeplace and the important Main Street sites like Floyd’s Barber Shop and Snappy Lunch all while learning about Mount Airy and The Andy Griffith Show. You can even see the Old Jail, complete with jail cells and the sheriff’s desk. It’s a must for any die-hard Mayberry fan and provides a fun overview of the area.
Sample brews at the White Elephant Beer Company
White Elephant Beer Company is the perfect place to hang out in town. They sell excellent beers and ciders—both at the bar and to take home—from around the world and across North Carolina. They also brew a selection of their own IPAs, stouts, and other craft beers.
What really sets the White Elephant Beer Company apart, though, is its fun and welcoming atmosphere. Within five minutes of sitting down at the bar, three locals were chatting with us, offering recommendations, and singing the praises of their town. We missed out on the weekly Trivia Night but got to listen to some live music. Make sure it’s on your list when you visit Mount Airy.
See the Andy Griffith boyhood home
Andy Griffith lived in a two-bedroom home with his parents from the time he was six years old until he moved away for college, and many things in the home still look much the way they did decades ago. The homeplace is one of the most popular photo stops in town, but big fans can take it a step further and stay there overnight. The property rents for about $250 a night, but you’ll need to plan ahead because reservations can be hard to come by.
Make a stop on the sonker trail
If you’re in town, you have to try a sonker. Don’t know what a sonker is? We didn’t either.
Sonkers are a cross between pie and cobbler but can take many different forms with many different fruits, depending on where you have the good fortune to stop. The Sonker Trail has seven participants, and the desserts at each shop are likely to be very different and delicious. No matter what you do, don’t miss the versions at Miss Angels Heavenly Pies that are topped with a glaze made from local moonshine. They’re our favorites.
Visit the Andy Griffith Museum
A treasure-trove of keepsakes, the Andy Griffith Museum features hundreds of items from the star’s movies, television shows, and musical efforts. There are costumes, photos, records, and props donated by Andy himself from The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock, along with items donated by fellow cast members.
Stroll down Main Street
Downtown is home to a vibrant Main Street. There are dozens of shops, restaurants, and Mayberry-related sites to visit. Pop into one of the antique stores, stop by the soda fountain, or spend time browsing in a music shop. There are plenty of souvenir stores to visit, and you can even go wine tasting or catch a live concert.
See a show at the Earle Theater
The iconic Earle Theater is a museum, movie theater, music venue, and must-see attraction for music lovers. It is home to the Old-Time Music Heritage Hall, which features artifacts and exhibits related to Surry County’s old-time musicians.
On the weekends, the sounds of fiddles and banjos fill the theater from jam sessions and WPAQ’s Saturday Morning Merry-Go-Round, one of the longest-running radio shows in the country. You can see it live at the theater weekly from 11am to 1:30pm. There is also a regular list of rotating, family-friendly movies.
Go wine tasting at a Yadkin Valley winery
The Yadkin Valley—where Mount Airy is located—is home to over 30 wineries. We’ve been to about one-third of them and have enjoyed sampling everything from sweet Muscadine wine to complex European vintages like Viognier, Pinot Grigio, and Sangiovese. Check out one of the many options within a 30-minute drive. We particularly love Shelton and Raffaldini.
See live music
Bluegrass and old-time music are the heartbeat of the town. Nearly every day of the week, there is some live music available—either formal or informal. Multiple downtown bars and restaurants feature bands and some host regular open jam sessions. Look for concerts happening at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, the Earle Theater, the Blackmon Amphitheater, or one of the other venues around town.
See the Siamese twins exhibit and grave
Eng and Chang Bunker—the twins whose birth led to the term “Siamese Twins”—settled in the area after years touring the world as a sideshow attraction. North Carolina became their home.
The Bunker twins married sisters and raised their families, with 22 children in all. Their descendants (over 1500 of them) now live across the country but return for regular giant family reunions. The lower level of the Andy Griffith Playhouse is home to an exhibit about the lives of this unusual pair, and they are buried nearby at the White Plains Baptist Church.
Where to Stay
Hampton Inn: Large, comfortable, quiet rooms just 5 minutes from downtown. Friendly staff oversees the free breakfast and the wine and cheese happy hour, and they provide free cookies.
Bee’s B&B: Charming 1880s Victorian home offers personalized service and a great breakfast.
Comfort Inn: Clean, comfortable, well-located hotel offers free breakfast and an indoor pool.
Where to Eat
Harvest Grill: Serves upscale American fare on the grounds of Shelton Vineyard. We loved the brisket sliders and crab cakes, in particular.
Kazoku Sushi: Get your hibachi and sushi fix right downtown.
Little Richard’s: One of the best barbecue spots in town in a state known for its barbecue. The pulled pork, brisket, and BBQ slaw are all winners.
I was the guest of Mount Airy Tourism and The Tourism Partnership of Surry County and Visit North Carolina on my first visit, but I liked it so much I returned and brought Lance with me at our expense. All opinions of the delicious and entertaining are our own.
What would you do with a day in Mayberry?
Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.
In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.
Judy
Monday 8th of January 2024
Hello My husband and I visited Mt Airy a few times maybe 4 or 5 years ago. There was a festival in the town filling up the streets with people showing their wares. Would you know when this event might be going on in Mt Airy. I am not sure it is an annual event or not. They had music and dancing down one of the streets. It was great. We are now retired and want to plan a trip there during this event if possible. Would you know when this takes place? It is a great little town.
Laura Longwell
Monday 8th of January 2024
Impossible to say without knowing the time of year. Possibly the Autumn Leaves festival.
Colleen Lingle
Friday 21st of July 2023
Can not wait until tomorrow. We will be in Mount Airy NC for a week of camping and touring. The article was a great way to find out what to do.
Cindy Kelley
Thursday 16th of February 2023
We’re planning a long weekend in March, 10-13. I realize it’s off season. Do most things run year round?
Barbara
Monday 20th of February 2023
@Laura Longwell, yes I'd love to visit could I get a brochue on what all we can do in March
Laura Longwell
Saturday 18th of February 2023
Yes, it's very much a year-round destination.
Judy Bollar
Thursday 26th of January 2023
Enjoyed the comments but need to know the hours and days that the Andy Griffith attractions are open.
Laurie
Sunday 22nd of January 2023
I visited there in fall of 2013. The whole town was so hospitable! I love the Old North State Winery and Miss Angel’s bakery the best. I made sure to see Floyd’s Barber shop and got to meet Mr. Russell who inspired the character of Floyd. He was so sweet and posed for a picture with me. Visit the Couthouse and Wally’s and see a facade of the Darlin’s house. Close by is a great barbeque place to eat called 13 Bones.