You know The Andy Griffith Show? It’s set in the fictional town of Mayberry, but it’s based on Mount Airy, North Carolina, Andy Griffith’s actual hometown. The whole town leans into it—there’s a statue of Andy and Opie, a museum, and people who walk around like they’re extras from a 1960s sitcom. It’s charming, slightly surreal, and the most wholesome thing you’ll do all year.
Meanwhile, High Point calls itself the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World.” I know, that sounds like a joke, but it’s true. They have the world’s largest furniture market, and you can buy a couch that costs as much as a used car. It’s not a place to go if you’re broke, but it’s hilarious to walk through showrooms pretending you’re a millionaire, sitting on $10,000 sofas and saying, “Hmm, this leather is acceptable.”
