We checked out of our log cabin around 8 a.m. and headed to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. From there, it was a short drive to Tamarack Marketplace in Beckley, West Virginia.
Tamarack Marketplace showcases West Virginia artisans and their work, including items made from wood, glass, textiles, pottery, and metal, along with jewelry, food, art, books, and recordings.
Below is a pic of the Tamarac Marketplace.
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After spending some time—and some money—at Tamarack Marketplace, we drove north to the Charleston airport to drop April off for her flight back home. It was fun having her join us for a couple of days and revisit some of the places she remembered from years ago.
We then pointed the Bronco Sport south toward our next destination—Mount Airy, North Carolina.
Mount Airy is the hometown of actor Andy Griffith and is widely associated with the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show.
Mount Airy promotes its Mayberry connection, so we were excited to see some familiar names and places from the show, including Floyd’s Barbershop, Wally’s Service Station, the courthouse, and other iconic symbols of Mayberry.
I must be honest—we were disappointed.
None of what we saw in Mount Airy really looked like the Mayberry we remembered from the television show. It was still interesting, though, and several stores along Main Street had plenty of Mayberry souvenirs featuring Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee, Opie, and the other familiar characters.
Below are some pics of the Mayberry scene and a nice mural of Andy Griffith.
Would I go far out of my way to visit Mount Airy just to see Mayberry? Probably not. But if you’re already in the area, it’s still an interesting place to visit—especially if you’re a fan of The Andy Griffith Show.
Below are some pictures from yesterday’s travels. I’m also including two pictures I missed posting the day before—some deer we spotted near our cabin.
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