Hanging Rock Scenic Byway
Mount Airy, NC

Step back to a simpler time when you visit Mount Airy. Actor Andy Griffith grew up here, and it’s no coincidence that a stroll down Main Street in the “Friendly City” reminds people of the town of Mayberry on the endearing and enduringly popular ‘60s hit TV series.

Fans of The Andy Griffith Show can visit Floyd’s City Barber Shop, the Old Mayberry Jail, Snappy Lunch, the Andy Griffith Playhouse and even Andy’s childhood home. Open seven days a week, the Mount Airy Visitors Center houses the world’s largest collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, on loan from childhood friend Emmett Forrest.

Surry County, N.C., offers something for everyone. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy riding down the breathtaking Blue Ridge Parkway, which is located just 14 miles north of Mount Airy in Carroll County, Va. Three state parks are nearby Mount Airy, which provide adventurers with hiking, canoeing and rockclimbing expeditions.

History buffs can delve into the area’s colorful past at the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History and by visiting the county’s myriad of historic sites, such as the Victorian-style Gertrude Smith House and the antebellum William Alfred Moore House.