An easygoing escape with plenty of small-town soul.
Mount Airy may be best known for being the real-life inspiration for Mayberry, but the foothills town has plenty of character beyond The Andy Griffith Show. Local breweries, cocktail bars and live music lend a modern touch to the squad car tours, nostalgic storefronts and old-school lunch counters that dot downtown’s devotion to its proud TV history.
The natural setting sweetens the deal. Pilot Mountain rises above the rolling countryside just beyond town, toting scenic trails, fresh air and views for days. Add in the vineyards of the surrounding Yadkin Valley, and it becomes an easygoing escape where small-town nostalgia meets mountain adventure—with a glass of local wine waiting for you at the end of the day. So whether you’re hitting the foothills for the all-the-rage Mayberry Days Fest (Sept. 21–27) or just Granite City-curious, it’s an adventure worth taking.
DO
Courtesy of NC State Parks, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Pilot Mountain State Park Rising 1,400 feet above the surrounding countryside, this natural landmark takes any Mount Airy getaway to new heights. Spot its signature Big Pinnacle long before arriving, but the views from the top are even better. Hit the trails for a closer look at the mountain’s rocky terrain, or head to the summit area for sweeping panoramas of the Piedmont, Sauratown and Blue Ridge Mountains. ncparks.gov
Squad Car Tours The novelty here is obvious, but the ride offers more than a photo op. Climb into a vintage Mayberry squad car at Wally’s Service Station and cruise past film-inspired landmarks, Andy Griffith’s childhood home and other pieces of local lore. Along the way, guides connect the fictional town to the real one, making this one of the most entertaining ways to understand how Mayberry became part of Mount Airy’s identity. tourmayberry.com
Blackmon Amphitheatre Spread out a blanket on the lawn, grab a drink and settle in for an evening of Carolina beach music, Motown, soul and classic rock beneath the open sky. With more than 50 concerts running through the fall, the amphitheater serves up proof there’s more to Mount Airy than Mayberry—laid-back, local and always encouraging a dance floor moment, especially after a day of exploring. surryarts.org
EAT
Snappy’s Lunch Counter
Snappy’s Lunch Counter The longtime lunch counter keeps things simple in the best possible way. No frills, no fuss, just a local institution built around one very famous bite, Snappy’s is home to the world-famous pork chop sandwich. The move is the signature sando—fried crisp, gloriously messy and best tackled with a handful of napkins—but breakfast specials and classic diner staples make it worth a stop earlier in the day too. thesnappylunch.com
Angry Troll Brewing Right on North Main Street, Angry Troll is the easy dinner move when you want something casual but still craveworthy. The menu leans classic comfort-food—wood-fired pizzas, wings, burgers and loaded pub fare—making it a solid landing spot after a day spent bouncing between downtown shops and scenic stops. Fresh beer brewed in-house is a bonus, but the real draw is that it feels like the kind of place where everyone at the table can find their order fast. angrytrollbrewing.com
13 Bones Built for post-adventure appetites, 13 Bones offers the ultimate trifecta, with primo booth seat, a cold drink and a plate never leaving much room for pretending you “just want something light.” Known for its ribs but broad enough for the steak-and-seafood crowd, the restaurant leans hearty, Southern and satisfyingly easygoing. Come after a hike, a winery stop or a long day downtown and let the sauce, sides and full-table energy do their thing. eat13bones.com
DRINK
Thirsty Souls Community Brewing
Thirsty Souls Community Brewing A Market Street brewery that brings a little Euro soul to the foothills without overcomplicating the assignment, the spot pours small-batch beers with a sense of story behind them, plus a wine list that makes room for the non-beer crowd. Pair a pint with artisan pizza and let Thirsty Souls be your slower, warmer answer to the standard brewery stop. thirstysoulsbrewing.com
Kate’s Cocktail LOUNGE When the day calls for something with a little polish, slip into this cocktail lounge in the Market Street Arts & Entertainment District. The space leans stylish without feeling stiff—think pink and green accents and a long bar made for lingering. Order a classic or try something with a twist and enjoy the rare small-town bar that understands the drama of a good cocktail. @katescocktaillounge
Round Peak Vineyards Winery meets cidery at Round Peak. Just a few miles outside town, the foothills destination trades downtown bustle for vineyard rows, Blue Ridge views and a glass that rewards taking your time. Come for French and Italian varietals made on-site, stay for the covered patio seating, occasional live music and a 9-hole disc golf course. roundpeak.com
STAY
The Lodge at Primland
Pilot Mountain Glamping Resort Outdoorsy without being overly earnest, Pilot Mountain’s glamping retreat is ideal for travelers who like the idea of sleeping near nature but not necessarily wrestling with tent poles. Nailing the balance just right, the modern geodesic domes come with comfort—plush beds, en-suite bathrooms and private decks—while still keeping Pilot Mountain in full view. pilotmountainglamping.com
The Balladeer Hotel Check in here when you want your hotel to feel like part of the story, not just where you left your suitcase. Set inside the restored historic Spencer’s Mill Building, the boutique stay feels made for a getaway that wants downtown access without sacrificing design. Rooms nod to music and the mountains, while an on-site restaurant and tap wall give the property more personality than a standard crash pad. balladeerhotel.com
The Lodge at Primland For the splurge stay, cross into Virginia’s Blue Ridge for a resort that goes full mountain-luxe. Primland pairs serious scenery with polished comforts—see: golf, horseback riding, fly fishing, spa time and tree house-style stays. It’s not the quick-and-casual option, but for a getaway built around fresh air with a high-thread-count finish, call it the grand finale. auberge.com
Can Evan Reid kick-start a new era for Glenwood South?
Glenwood South has no shortage of places to drink, dine and dance until last call. But when it comes to places to shop? That’s a different story. Until now.
Raleigh-based furniture purveyor Evan Reid is planting a sizable retail flag—read: a 4,200-square-foot gallery—at the mouth of the city’s biggest entertainment district, bringing vintage furniture, custom upholstery, original art and interior design “unlike anything that you can find within 100 miles,” says founder Evan Bush.
But the move is bigger than sofas and fabric swatches. Evan Reid is betting Glenwood South is finally ready for something it has long lacked: destination retail.
A collaboration among multiple creatives, Bush will showcase his collection of restored midcentury and postmodern furniture alongside Raleigh interior designer Kate Anlyan’s Yasu Home studio, which she will operate from the space, and California designer Kim Salmela’s custom upholstery—making its first East Coast retail appearance.
Adding a full-circle twist, Evan Reid is setting up shop in a building that once housed National Art Interiors, a furniture and interiors business operated by Anlyan’s family. Furniture, it seems, has found its way home.
Evan Reid
While the building’s history didn’t drive the decision, it certainly made the space feel tailor-made. The stand-alone site came with corner visibility, windows on two sides, separate gallery areas and an existing office for Anlyan’s studio—plus two bathrooms and a kitchen, which saved ~$100K in buildout costs, says Bush.
The location’s larger potential came into focus once Bush started studying the surroundings—the adjacent AC Hotel, The Casso just down the street and nearby offices that keep the sidewalks moving well before Glenwood South’s nighttime crowd clocks in.
“The foot traffic is great during the day,” says Bush, pointing to the throngs of people who work along the corridor.
That daytime energy is easy to overlook beneath Glenwood South’s louder after-dark reputation. But with apartments, hotels and work-stay-play destinations steadily bringing people in, this is no longer a district Raleigh simply commutes to, dines in or barhops through. Increasingly, it’s a place people call home.
“Downtown living is very much becoming a thing,” says Bush. “I just see a hole in the market still.” And that’s the opportunity Evan Reid hopes to seize—giving nearby residents somewhere to furnish those new digs, office workers a reason to linger after 5 o’clock, and weekend wanderers something to browse before the first espresso martini hits the table.
While one showroom won’t transform Glenwood South into a shopping district overnight, it could give the next retailer something Downtown has long lacked: proof opening here is worth the gamble.
“I definitely hope it could,” says Bush. “It wouldn’t hurt my feelings.” A little more shopping wouldn’t hurt DTR, either.
Raleigh’s boutique fitness boom flexes its community muscle.
At some point, Raleigh entered its grip sock era—and it’s yet to show signs of slowing down.
A plethora of Pilates studios, strength concepts, yoga rooms and recovery-minded wellness spaces have been popping up across the city at the absurd frequency (and scale) of McDonald’s in its heyday. The result is a fitness scene that feels less like a collection of gyms and more like a lifestyle category of its own—one with founding memberships, dedicated waitlists, branded merch and very strong opinions.
The numbers back up the sweat. Downtown boasts around 23 fitness-related businesses, 15 of which have opened postpandemic, per Downtown Raleigh Alliance—while, nationally, service-oriented tenants like fitness studios, salons and spas leased more retail space than traditional retailers for the first time last year. Case in point: Across Kane Realty’s North Hills and DTR properties alone, five fitness concepts have opened or are under construction in the past two years.
But Raleigh’s boutique fitness boom isn’t just a retail stat. It’s a community in workout clothes. “People have very much vocalized they need more than just a workout,” says Jaye Johnston, owner of the forthcoming BODYBAR Pilates North Raleigh. “They want it to be their home.”
BODYBAR
For Johnston, opening in North Raleigh was personal. It’s where she and her family are rooted, and where she saw room for a reformer-based studio centered on movement, inclusivity and connection. Though not opening until later this summer, Johnston says BODYBAR’s founding members already span all ages, genders and fitness levels—a sign, she says, people are looking for something approachable and lasting.
That tracks with what Kane is seeing across its properties. “Fitness and wellness concepts naturally complement mixed-use environments because they support the way people want to live today—more connected, convenient and experience-driven,” says Kane Senior Marketing Manager Hannah Smith. To wit, she says North Hills’ Wellness Wednesdays series “has grown tremendously over the past two years and now sells out almost every week”—reflecting demand for wellness that feels social and accessible.
With JETSET Pilates locations in DTR, North Hills, Holly Springs and RTP (with a Durham location also on deck), owners Katie Meyers and Renee Aquilino see a similar pattern across the Triangle. Clients come for the reformer, they say, but “the workout is almost never the whole story.” Fitness fiends stay for the rhythm of it: the familiar instructor, the 6am regular, the class that fits into a packed life without feeling punishing.
That may be the real reason boutique fitness is finding such solid footing here. Raleigh is growing fast, and in a city full of new faces, new routines and new neighborhoods, people are looking for smaller places to feel known. These studios offer movement, but also ritual, recognition and a reason to show up.
As it turns out, the city’s newest third place might come with a reformer.
Like an open-air farmers market for indie makers, Bull City’s longest-running art market (circa 2006) gathers a rotating lineup of local artisans at Durham Central Park stocked with ceramics, jewelry, prints, textiles, woodwork and other beautifully crafted finds you won’t spot anywhere else—all made by the people standing behind the tables. The result is community-minded, creatively charged and full of distinct pieces that give a Saturday outing a little more soul and whimsy—and plenty of reasons to return. durhamcraftmarket.com
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Arrow Tree Boutique | Wake Forest
Your Pinterest boards, realized. Built on an MO of helping women feel confident in their own skin, this striking boutique blends new finds, sourced vintage and plenty of style inspo. Think racks of playful prints, easy statement pieces and one-of-a-kind finds fit for the office, a night out, your next vacay and everything in between, while accessories—jewelry, bags, shoes—round out the racks, alongside candles and giftable extras. So no matter your style, you’re bound to find something that screams “you.” Go on, treat yo’self. arrowtreeboutique.com
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The Noodle Smith | Cary
Slurp happens. Noodles are, naturally, the draw here—the scratchmade strands starring in a host of flavor-packed ramens, from a light, slowly simmered sea bream to the best-selling black garlic chicken and chicken paitan. Rich in flavor and short on subtlety, the brothy bowls arrive topped with high-reward additions like slow-braised pork chashu, Japanese fish cakes and perfectly jammy marinated eggs, while apps—gyoza, spring rolls, and salt-and-pepper wings—round out the menu. After a bowl here, Cup Noodles doesn’t stand a chance. thenoodlesmith.com
Photo by Ryan Lin
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Thanks a Latte | Holly Springs
A ~latte~ to love—and then some. Part coffee run, part little treat ritual, the come-as-you-are cafe pairs smoothies, pastries, teas, coffee, and house lattes like the Honey Bee and Breakfast in Bed with shelves of candles, mugs, jewelry and polished extras—making “just grabbing coffee” rarely the only thing on the receipt. Bright, friendly and easy to settle into, it’s just as suited for catching up with a friend as it is for knocking out some work or a bit of low-stakes browsing. Blending a pick-me-up with a personality purchase, it’s the kind of place that sends you out with a seasonal bev in one hand and a one-of-a-kind gift in the other. thanksalattegiftsnc.com
Photo by Willow Tree Memories
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Eve | Durham
Give into temptation at downtown Bull City’s newest afternoon-to-evening ritual. A respite on Parrish Street, the woman-owned lounge reads like a velvet-lined greenhouse with a nightlife habit—moody, sultry and humming with just the right kind of mischief. Leaves spill, music pulses and every corner feels built for lingering. Behind the bar, drinks pull from the same mood board—florals, herbs, bitter edges and inventive twists—while zero-proof options keep the nonboozers in on the fun. Earlier hours welcome reading respites, laptops and low-key hangs; later, the room loosens up with pop-ups, listening parties, book clubs and other stylish acts of socializing. Think less a bar stop, more a beautifully lit descent into a botanical reverie. evedurham.com
Raleigh’s appetite for brunch is only getting bigger.
Brunch ishaving a moment—and Raleigh is eating it up… literally. What was once a sleepy weekend fallback has evolved into a full-on social sport, with new menus popping up across the city—giving all the more reason to linger over that second mimosa. “Raleigh loves to brunch,” emphasizes Amber Moshakos, president of LM Restaurants. On the heels of our Best Brunch feature, four more spots have pulled up—proof positive that the city’s appetite for the weekend ritual isn’t slowing anytime soon. Time to dig in.
Photo by Richard Barlow
Vidrio | GLENWOOD SOUTH One of Downtown’s most visually striking dining rooms has entered its brunch era—and there’s no shortage of flair. Beneath its canopy of colorful glass orbs, Vidrio’s new spread brings Mediterranean panache with dishes like pistachio baklava French toast, shakshuka, and lamb hash. The real scene-stealer, though, may be the tableside brunch punch, which turns the meal into more of an occasion than a reservation. @vidrioraleigh
Photo by FYX Media
High Rail | SEABOARD STATION Now serving that brekky-lunch hybrid with rooftop refinement, High Rail’s brunch is built for the crowd that likes its late mornings with skyline vistas. Elevated, light-filled and consistently buzzy, the space pairs an extensive cocktail menu with classic brunch bites ranging breakfast tacos and Benedicts to shrimp and grits. @highrailraleigh
Photo by Kayla Enright
Sixty Vines | MIDTOWN Wine country, is that you? The wine bar urges brunchers to lean into West Coast ease and settle in for a while. With 60 wines on tap, shareable plates and globally inspired flavors, the whole experience is built for lingering. Putting a playful, elevated spin on the standard eggs-and-bacon routine, highlights run the gamut from carrot cake pancakes and maple banana French toast to a loaded brunch board made for the whole table. @sixtyvines
Photo by Molly Dubois Photo
Botanical Lounge | GLENWOOD SOUTH Brunch—but make it a party. Botanical’s new Sunday Brunch Club leans into a garden party-meets-vibey weekend outing, complete with live music, DJ sets, flowing drinks and an indulgent buffet. Polished without being pretentious, it’s made for the crowd that wants Sunday to feel like an event, with tickets covering the full spread, one mimosa and every excuse to keep the good times going before the Sunday scaries set in. @botanicalraleigh
