I wasn't sure what to expect but the lady at the visitor center said this was a MUST DO!…read more This was a house that looked like Miss Gertrude stepped of and walked outside and you snuck in. Everything is in its place and authentic to how she had it decorated. The two ladies at the back entrance were super friendly and a wealth of knowledge. We enjoyed walking through and looking at the decor and photos. Amazing art work from around the world. I loved hearing the stories and I could just feel a sense that I had met Gertrude while walking her halls. Thank you for allowing us to stop by right at closing!!

The Gertrude Smith House is located just outside of Downtown Mt. Airy. It is within walking…read moredistance or you can drive as they have a parking lot or you can park in the street. The 1903 house is on the National Register of Historic Homes. Admission is free to tour the Victorian house as that was part of Gertrude Smith's will that admission be free. Ms. Smith left her house by will to be kept as a museum and established a trust to care and maintain it. The house is kept as if it were in the early 1900s with furniture; artwork and decor. The tour begins in the back of the house and I was greeted and given some history of the house and Ms. Smith. The house is self guided so you can spend as much time inside as you'd like. The rooms have information to read about or you can just look at the contents from the antiques; photographs; artwork; furniture; etc. I highly recommend visiting this historic gem if you are in the MT. Airy area.

The rock observation deck is a viewing area for the United States largest open granite site…read more Located in mount airy North Carolina just a few miles outside of the famed Mayberry setup of the town. Rumor is on the right day and right time you can come watch some granite blasting here and it's a unique experience. On our trip we didn't really find a designated observation deck and it was rainy so not much happening. Overall it was still Interesting and unique to see so much open space with all granite. Reminded me of some of the planet surfaces you see from mass photos of other planets or a Star Wars themed set.

Darlin family farm is not an actual farm. Instead it is a homage and building facade to characters…read moreof the famed tv show the Andy Griffith show in historic downtown mount Airy North Carolina aka Mayberry. This barn and truck are simply Photo ops and sit next to other Mayberry photo ops and the gift stores inside Wally's and the Mayberry hotel. Overall a really fun photo ops and it's cool to see an homage to the whacky darlin family that was lovable reoccurring characters in the show.

Darlin family farm is not an actual farm.My buddy and I visited Mayberry over the summer. We had a…read moregreat time and it was very fun to see all the sights and scenes from the beloved TV show. This is a great addition to the tour and the town. I would recommend checking it out as it has many fun tidbits from Andy and Barney. Goober says hey! Hey to Goober.

The heading here on yelp *should* say "Carroll County Visitor & Information Center." Just a turn…read moreoff the main drag, this is a nice place to get a quick pit stop, stretch your legs, ask the nice lady some quick questions, and even check out a gift shop featuring local crafts and arts. The restrooms were clean, and there's even a small farmer's market just across the parking lot.

Tony and I saw signs on the interstate and decided to check the park out. It is located about 2…read moremiles off the exit. The park is lovely and small. The tower is 75 feet tall. The park has honor system where you pay $7 per car for entrance to park and walk around.

the tower is a pleasant diversion from the natural splendor of trail below; a 75' ascent gets a…read moreperson to the public restrooms beside a large parking and picnic tables and grills for cookery lot so if you drove here why not stick around for a while. the lot is patrolled but not actively monitored, the fees are nominal and help keep this and other virginial parks and recreational areas in good repair so just do the right thing and ante up even if no one is looking. the shot tower is so old that I feel young in comparison; I'd like to believe that I'm a bit less musty but it's still wearing it's years much better overall and has a lovely spot near the river known locally as New. the historicity of this place is obvious and well documented and the technology and processes employed here offer insight into the thinkings and ideals of the times. pretty clever they were back then, and industrious too.

Final resting place of the most famous conjoined twins, this cemetery in Mount Airy is adjacent to…read moreUS-74. The twins were born in 1811 and traveled the world. They were joined by a bridge of cartilage. Why are they here? Well, during a trip to North Carolina, they simply fell in love with the state (Who wouldn't?) and in 1843, married Adelaide and Sarah Anne Yates, sisters native to the area. The brothers ran the plantation and lived together until tensions between Adelaide and Sara Anne forced them to set up separate households in the town of White Plains. Between their two marriages, the brothers produced a staggering 21 children. They passed in 1874 and their wives were buried next to them in their final plot. Some 1500 descendants of the twins still reside in the area. The grace is easy to find behind the church. There is parking in the church parking lot. And if you're staying at the neighboring RV park, there is an unmarked path to the cemetery. [Review 14983 overall, 485 of 2021, number 2849 in North Carolina.]

This was a fascinating find for me, as I am (by marriage, albeit not by blood) related to the…read morefamous Bunker twins. My grandfather's aunt (i.e., my great-great aunt) Elizabeth "Betty" Lee-Jones married (I believe) Chang Bunker's grandson, Franklin Davis Jones, in nearby Surrey, North Carolina in 1904. (The couple moved to Idaho. He died in the early Sixties; she died in 1973.)

While in the Sparta Visitor Center on a Saturday, I witnessed how the staff assist a traveler from…read morethe Blue Ridge Parkway detour. Manah was so friendly to help find lodging, area resturants and care for their pet. Within the same day, a new resident was given information of area busineses to help with an emergency repair to their home. These are two examples of how our residents care and help one another.

Cute town based on The TV show Mayberry R.FD. Starring…read moreAndy Griffith, Don Knotts and Ron Howard. Friendly cute stores on Main Street

This was alot of fun. We were in Mayberry Courthouse for the day. My buddy and I visited Mayberry…read moreover the summer. We had a great time and it was very fun to see all the sights and scenes from the beloved TV show. This is a great addition to the tour and the town. I would recommend checking it out as it has many fun tidbits from Andy and Barney. Goober says hey! Hey to Goober.