USA TODAY says Mount Airy's friendly and fun Main Street is the top attraction in North Carolina.
The media conglomerate commissioned a group of travel experts to select the 20 best attractions in the Tar Heel State, then readers voted on the top 10. The result: Main Street in Mount Airy, aka Mayberry, topped the statewide list.
Here's what USA TODAY said when making the announcement: "The charming town of Mount Airy was Andy Griffith's childhood home and the inspiration behind the town of Mayberry in his 1960s classic The Andy Griffith Show. The town's historic Main Street looks much like its fictional counterpart, complete with vintage squad cars and a replica of the jail and courthouse from the show."
Mount Airy emerged from an impressive list that included the Biltmore Estate, Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mountain, Battleship North Carolina and the International Civil Rights Center & Museum.
Visitors to Mount Airy have come to love Main Street for its nostalgic feeling and ample supply of things to do. It is easy to spend a day (or two) along Main Street checking out such places as the Mayberry Squad Car Tours, Floyd's City Barbershop, Historic Earle Theatre, Opie's Candy Store, Snappy Lunch, Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, Old North State Winery and several Mayberry-themed shops.
Just two blocks off Main Street are the Andy Griffith Museum and Andy Griffith Playhouse. A complete resource of all Mayberry attractions available in Mount Airy is available by clicking here.
"We are very proud to be named No. 1 in North Carolina, and this media exposure will be wonderful for the City of Mount Airy and Surry County," says Mount Airy tourism director Jessica Roberts.
Here is the list of the USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice selections for North Carolina:
- Mount Airy Main Street
- Battleship North Carolina
- Biltmore Estate
- Sarah P. Duke Gardens
- Grandfather Mountain
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- International Civil Rights Center & Museum
- Cape Lookout National Seashore
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Wild Horses in Corolla
Related News
-
Jul 26, 2017Stroll Down Memory Lane in Revamped Griffith Museum
The Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy has reopened following a 2017 renovation of more than half a million dollars that touched on every aspect of the popular attraction. -
Mar 14, 2024Local Writer's Top 25 Things to Do in Mount Airy
Lots of writers visit Mt. Airy to experience the uniqueness of "America's Hometown." For a different take, this post covers the top things to see through the eyes of a local writer, Anna Cook. -
Dec 1, 2023Enjoy Holiday Light Displays In and Around Mayberry
Come see holidays lights in Mayberry and the Yadkin Valley. Plus, plenty of cozy lodging options are available in Mount Airy and throughout Surry County, from hotels and bed-and-breakfast inns to rental cabins and vacation homes. -
Oct 11, 2014Vintage squad cars take riders to Mayberry
The best way to tour the hometown of Andy Griffith is in a replica Mayberry squad car – a 1963 Ford Galaxie—driven by knowledgeable and friendly guides.