8 Prettiest Main Streetscapes In North Carolina
Walk Front Street in Beaufort and the storefronts run right to the waterfront. Marinas on one side, an 1829 jail and an old candy-and-souvenir general store on the other. The prettiest main streets in North Carolina work like that. In Hendersonville, the street curves in an S, so traffic slows and there is room for benches and flower beds. In New Bern, Georgian and Federal facades line the blocks around the shop where the first Pepsi got mixed in 1898. Each of these eight downtowns stays small enough to cover on foot, and the walk is the point.
Duck
An idyllic beach community on the Outer Banks, Duck provides a pretty, walkable town center in the heart of this sandy summer destination. Duck is north of the Wright Memorial Bridge, the centralized access point between mainland North Carolina and the barrier island. Ocean beach access in Duck is limited to private gates in community associations, but the Currituck Sound along the west side can be accessed by Duck Town Park Boardwalk. With 11 acres including a willow swamp, water views, and hiking trails, the park highlights the town's natural beauty. And this west-facing park is perfect for sunsets. The boardwalk follows the sound along the water's edge connecting Duck's commercial main street, North Carolina Highway 12, with cottages and other amenities like a playground, gazebo, and picnic areas. Across from the main park entrance, you will find Kellogg Supply Company. The store is the perfect place to pick up any last minute items you might have forgotten for the beach, or if you need hardware supplies for an unexpected minute repair. The general store sells home goods, hardware, lamps, decor, and even something for the kids. Eating doughnuts has become a recent tradition on the outer banks, and there are several shops along the main street in Duck. Duck Donuts launched the trend in 2007. Lines form early in the morning with customers lining up for flavors like key lime pie, banana cream pie, and peanut butter pie. If you rather not have sticky fingers, Donutz On A Stick has made-to-order donuts served on a helpful stick.
Plymouth
Heading inland, Plymouth sits along the Roanoke River. The waterfront runs along Plymouth's main commercial street, North Water Street, and plays a major role in the town's culture. In its early history, the river helped make it a major hub for commerce with a federal customs house. Today, that rich maritime history is an essential part of Plymouth's pretty main street. The Roanoke River Maritime Museum includes a replica of the Roanoke River Lighthouse, completed in 2003 for visitors to tour and experience. The original 1866 lighthouse sat on the Albemarle Sound near the mouth of the river. The museum also highlights Plymouth's role at the center of the state's Underground Railroad, a network of people and infrastructure that helped escaped slaves arrive in the North where slavery was illegal. Just down the street is Bear-Ology, a museum dedicated to Black Bears. The museum's founder, Tom Harrison, also runs the annual Black Bear Festival celebrating the animals with live music, family activities, and wildlife tours. Part of what makes this main street so pretty is the historic district protecting structures built primarily from 1880 to 1930 in Colonial Revival, Craftsman, and Late Victorian style architecture. In these buildings you will find a mix of shops, restaurants and cafes, like Stella's Cafe. The cafe combines traditional southern foods with modern innovations. For dinner, head next door to Bistro 116 offering a French-influenced menu and a dining room with river views. Plymouth's main commercial street has plenty to do in a pretty, historic downtown setting.
Beaufort
Heading south, Beaufort sits on the banks of Taylor Creek in a protected cove near the opening to Onslow Bay. This downtown commercial district overlooks the waterfront, marinas, and harbor. Catch a glimpse of the marine traffic along the docks and pocket parks along Front Street, the main commercial street in Beaufort. The historic district encompasses a 12-block area along this street with many of the buildings dating back to the early 1700s when the town was founded. The Beaufort Historical Association operates the Beaufort Historic Site, a collection of restored buildings that depict the coastal Carolina town of the 1700s and 1800s. These historic buildings include an apothecary and doctor's office from about 1859, the old jail from 1829, and private residences from the period. Guided tours are available year round. The North Carolina Maritime Museum at Beaufort is just across the street. The museum celebrates coastal life, lighthouses, seafood, and marine life with artifacts from Blackbeard's wrecked flagship. Further along Front street are plenty of shops, like The General Store. This old-fashioned shop has all your favorite general merchandise items including candy, ice cream, toys, souvenirs, and apparel. Down the street, Clawson's 1905 Restaurant and Pub serves up local favorites like crab cakes, shrimp and grits, and pimento cheese on sandwiches, burgers, and as cheese dip.
New Bern
Further inland on the Neuse River, the Colonial-era town of New Bern sits along the waterfront at the meeting point of the Trent River. The main commercial district in New Bern extends out from Middle Street and Front Street. Many of the beautiful historic buildings in town are built in the Greek Revival, Federal, Georgian and Victorian styles. Most of these homes were built during the 18th and 19th centuries. New Bern is also home to the Birthplace of Pepsi, a store and museum celebrating the renowned cola. Caleb Bradham invented the formula in 1898 for his pharmacy customers before the drink took off as a global brand. If you are interested in a more formal historical experience, the North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace is just around the corner. The museum features exhibits on Americana, North Carolina history, and Tryon Palace itself, the original capitol of the colony. If you rather simply walk around the pretty downtown, there are plenty of shops to visit, like Blue Magnolia, an independent shop with an array of decor, apparel, and gifts. For something a bit more local, try Made in NC, a store that as the name implies, is filled with products made in the state. Here you can find local barbecue sauces, peach candies, and products made with peanuts and pecans. And finally, you can simply relax on a beach at Union Point Park to watch the river traffic from the park's gazebo.
Salisbury
Heading west, Salisbury is home to North Carolina's other, less famous soda, Cheerwine. Invented in 1917, the cherry-flavored soft drink may not have the global name recognition of a Pepsi, but each spring, Salisbury hosts an annual Cheerwine Festival with food, music, and of course plenty of Cheerwine. The festival is a multi-block party spanning Main Street. For a special treat, stop by Spanky's Homemade Ice Cream and Deli for a cone or sundae. The artisanal ice cream maker invented a Cheerwine-flavored ice cream. There's more to this town than just Cheerwine though. The Piedmont Players Theater, right on Main Street, is a non-profit organization committed to making theater accessible. The organization operates out of the restored Meroney Theater, and has all-youth productions at the Norvell Theater just around the corner. The two theaters keep Salisbury entertained with musicals, kid-friendly family productions, and films for all ages. Main Street has plenty of great shops too, like the South Main Book Company. The independent bookstore has new fiction, nonfiction, and children's books. The bookstore is one of many local shops in the thriving Main Street business district.
Mount Airy
Directly north, Mount Airy sits at the northern edge of the state on the Virginia border in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is just 14 miles from the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. Mount Airy is also known as the hometown of Andy Griffith, an actor and comedian. His 1960s television series, The Andy Griffith Show, was set in the fictional town of Mayberry, modeled on Mount Airy. Griffith's legacy remains a big part of the town. The Andy Griffith Museum is just off Main Street. It celebrates his life and is the single, largest collection of memorabilia of the actor. You can also catch a glimpse of him on the mural painted in his honor, a block off Main on Moore Ave. But there is plenty more to do on this pretty Main Street. Antiquing can keep you busy all day with all the shops like the Mayberry Antique Mall. This store is a treasure trove of collectibles including Coca-Cola memorabilia, lamps, and Funko Pop figures. If you rather just grab a drink, check out one of the many breweries like Thirsty Souls Community Brewing, White Elephant Beer Company, or Angry Troll Brewing. Thirsty Souls was founded by Jan and Maria Kriska, Slovakian immigrants who wanted to build a community around craft beer. They also serve pizza, just in case you get hungry.
Blowing Rock
Continuing deeper into the Blue Ridge Mountains, Blowing Rock earned its name from one of the state's oldest attractions. At 4,000 feet above sea level and overhanging the Johns River Gorge, a current of air continually flows upward, giving this unique geological feature its name. The quaint Main Street has plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes to keep you amused. At the north end of Main Street, the Speckled Trout has both a restaurant and an apparel shop. Whether you want a fresh mountain trout po' boy or a pair of waders so you can catch your own fish on a fly fishing adventure, Speckled Trout has you covered. There is plenty for kids here too. At Memorial Park on Main Street, a massive playground will keep them busy while you sip on a coffee from Bald Guy Brew on the corner. Besides the enormous tunnel slide and log-themed climbing equipment, the park also has tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts. And finally at the south end of Main Street, the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum offers free admission to rotating exhibits on textiles, photography from artists like Ansel Adams, and collaborative projects between artists and poets.
Hendersonville
Heading southwest toward the South Carolina border, Hendersonville is just 30 minutes south of Asheville in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Hendersonville's beautiful downtown has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. Main Street's notable feature is a serpentine street layout, slowing traffic and providing space for flowers, benches, and trees. This Main Street is a great place for antique loves to find their latest treasure. The Emporium on Main has a wide selection of art sculptures made from found objects. These oddities mix and match pop culture and antique mechanical pieces to form miniature figures. If all that shopping works up an appetite, check out Shine, an all-day eatery with brunch, snacks, and dinner menu. The rooftop dining area is a great way to take in the pretty main street shopping district. If you are looking to entertain younger family members, the Hands On! Children's Museum is just down the street. The interactive exhibit space is designed for kids with water and sensory play, stations for pretend play like a model Publix and Kilwins, and other activity stations to keep kids amused. Or if you are looking for something that appeals to kids and the kids at heart, just off Main Street, the Historic Railroad Depot houses a huge miniature model train layout. The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club operates from the historic 1902 depot with an indoor layout and a large, all-weather G Scale train behind the building.
Main Streets Are Where Life Happens
These main streets are more than just pretty buildings. They are filled with the things that make our lives more enjoyable, whether that means spending time with your children at a big playground, or searching for antiques. These main streetscapes are filled with history, and not just architectural history, but the history of shared experiences, something as simple as drinking a cherry flavored soda can bring back memories, or finding a long-forgotten candy at a general store. North Carolina's pretty main streetscapes are more than just a postcard-ready picture; they are the memories to look back on for years to come.
