The hometown of Andy Griffith, Mount Airy retains its quaint, small town atmosphere while offering fine dining, downtown shopping, and museums to explore.  The Visitors Center is located on Main Street at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce Office.  Visitors can pick up maps and brochures from the friendly, helpful staff.  Yearly festivals include Mayberry Days, Autumn Leaves Festival, and Bluegrass & Fiddler’s Convention.  Enjoy Carolina Beach music at the Blackmon amphitheatre on the weekend.  The largest collection of Andy Griffith Memorabilia is located at the Andy Griffith Playhouse, home of the Surry Arts Council.  The Mount Airy Museum of Regional History offers a look at culture and history unique to Mount Airy and the surrounding area.

Pilot Mountain is home to Pilot Mountain State Park.  For outdoor enthusiasts, the park offers hiking trails, picnic and camping areas, canoeing, fishing, rock climbing and an opportunity to explore nature.  Geologically, Pilot Mountain is a quartzite monadnock, which began forming nearly a billion years ago.  The Edward Armfield Civic and Recreation Center is a state of the art facility that offers an indoor walking track, pool and fitness center.  Yearly festivals include Mayfest, PilotFest and the popular Hot Car Cruise-Ins.

Dobson is the county seat of Surry County and is the location for county and state governmental offices.  Dobson is also the home of Surry Community College.  A visit to Dobson is not complete without a visit to Shelton Vineyards which is the largest family-owned estate winery in North Carolina.  The winery offers tours and during the summer months, a summer concert series.