Day Trip Travel Guide: Albemarle, NC

I'm back with another regional guide! Today we're visiting Albemarle, just one hour East of Charlotte.

Stanly County, North Carolina, is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream. As the home to Morrow Mountain State Park, Lake Tillery, and Uwharrie National Forest, this region offers so many different ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Locals know this and frequently make day trips to the area to enjoy all this unspoiled nature.

But what many may not realize is that there is a charming city right in the middle of it all, with an ultra-walkable downtown, a delightful number of unique small businesses, friendly locals, and, of course, great food:

Albemarle.

Portions of our visit were generously hosted by the City of Albemarle and its destination partners, but as always, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

This former textile town – a common theme among towns in the region – was incorporated in 1857 and named after George Monck, the Duke of Albemarle (one of eight Lords Proprietors granted the province of Carolina in 1663 by King Charles II).

Today’s Albemarle boasts a much more diverse economy and an increasingly modern take on what a Main Street should look like in this decade. Combining a visit to the city with a day out enjoying any of the Piedmont’s natural wonders is a cinch (and besides, you have to eat, right?).

Looking for more day trip guides? Check out my list of Essential Day Trips from Charlotte

To make things even easier, I’ve planned out the perfect day in Albemarle, North Carolina. A day of art, hiking, coffee, food, beer,… and axes (yes, axes):

MORNING

First Things First: Breakfast

GloryBeans CoffeeHouse | 134 W Main St, Albemarle, NC 28001

Exterior of GloryBeans CoffeeHouse in Albemarle, NC — GloryBeans CoffeeHouse

left, grits bowl and biscuit | right, a crepe with steak peeking out — *left* Loaded Grits Bowl and Biscuit | *right* Moose Steak Crepe

After arriving in Albemarle, your first order of business is breakfast (along with coffee, of course!). At GloryBeans CoffeeHouse, Connie and her team have been serving a freshly prepared food and drink menu to the town and its visitors since 2009. Weekday patrons will find a counter-service establishment, but on the weekends, you’ll find a full-service restaurant.

That’s a good thing because this area-favorite restaurant can get packed. And although there was a point during our visit when no free tables were remaining, I appreciated that the staff wasn’t trying to rush diners. The restaurant is pretty well known for its crepes (Michael ordered one in fact – and it was quite good), but the grits bowl is a very quintessential Southern Breakfast that can’t be missed. And while you might be thinking “grits are grits,” that is absolutely incorrect. The gouda grits were smoky, creamy, and by far the best of any I’ve had in recent memory. The coffee is excellent as well, and while you may be tempted to grab a refill ($0.80) and linger in the sweetly decorated space, it’s time to get out and explore.

—

Explore Downtown Albemarle

Greetings from Stanly County Mural | 352 N 2nd St, Albemarle, NC 28001
Courthouse Square Park | 100 N 2nd St, Albemarle, NC 28001
Snuggs House | 112 N 3rd St, Albemarle, NC 28001

Alyssa stands in front of a mural that reads "Greetings from Stanly County" — Greetings from Stanly County Mural

Collage of four pieces of public artwork in Albemarle — Public art in Albemarle

A view of the front of the Snuggs House in Albemarle — Snuggs House

Alyssa leans against the fountain in Courthouse Square Park in Albemarle — Courthouse Square Park

After breakfast and before the local shops open is the perfect time to stroll the streets of Albemarle. The city is quiet in the mornings, a far cry from the bumper-to-bumper A.M. traffic I’ve grown accustomed to in Charlotte, and it’s nice just to wander a bit.

But if you’re the kind of person who needs a destination for your walk, I’ll give you three:

The “Greetings from Stanly County” mural (adjacent to the Stanly Arts Guild building). It makes a great backdrop for an Instagram photo, sure, but don’t just snap a picture and leave! Be sure to take a walk around the building to see some of the other public artwork.
Courthouse Square Park. This charming pocket park with a fountain and unique clock (and a shoutout to Albemarle’s own Kellie Pickler) is a great spot to sit and read the morning paper or review your agenda for the rest of your day.
The I.W. Snuggs House. The oldest dwelling still standing on its original site in Albemarle was built in 1852 and remodeled in the ensuing decades. To book a tour, contact the Stanly County Museum ahead of your visit (and let us know how it is!).

—

Shopping in Downtown Albemarle

Whiskey Eunoia | 103 N 1st St Suite A, Albemarle, NC 28001
Leo's Little Clothing Co | now closed
Baby Bump Maternity Boutique | now closed
Uwharrie Soap Co | 114 E Main St, Albemarle, NC 28001
Make It Personal | 127 S 1st St, Albemarle, NC 28001

Exterior of a white building containing three businesses — *left to right* Whiskey Eunoia | Leo’s Little Clothing Co. | Baby Bump Maternity Boutique

Racks of vintage and boutique clothing inside Whiskey Eunoia — Whiskey Eunoia

Exterior of Uwharrie Soap Co — Uwharrie Soap Co.

Shelves of soaps and other goods at Uwharrie Soap Co — Uwharrie Soap Co.

Collage of images inside and outside of Make it Personal — Make it Personal

I love visiting the Main Street shops of classic downtown areas, and Albemarle has quite a few cute ones!

Visitors can shop for all the generations and stages of life in one fell swoop at the address of 103 N. 1st St.: Baby Bump Maternity Boutique (now closed) is the place to shop for those who are expecting. Leo’s Little Clothing Co. (now closed) carries a variety of on-trend clothing for children. Since we don’t have any littles in our home, Whiskey Eunoia was the shop for me. With a great selection of vintage and secondhand finds – some are on consignment, and some are curated by the shop owner – it spoke directly to my sustainable fashion heart. But there’s also a line of boutique clothing if you’re looking for something produced this decade.

Just a few blocks away is Uwharrie Soap Co. I sometimes feel a little wary entering soap stores (thank you for scarring me, Bath and Body Works), but Uwharrie Soap Co. uses natural ingredients and the scent of the shop was so light and pleasant. And you’ll find so much more than just soap (although there’s certainly a lot of soap!); there are all sorts of handcrafted salves, balms, grooming products, health aids, gift baskets, and more.

Make it Personal was transitioning their shop for their new lines during our visit, but in general, it’s Albemarle’s go-to spot for anything personalized. A fun travel souvenir could be an item from the T-shirt bar, where customizations are added while you wait!

AFTERNOON

Let it Go

The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop | 130 S 2nd St, Albemarle, NC 28001

Exterior of The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop in downtown Albemarle — The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop

Collage of Alyssa and Michael throwing axes and shovels at The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop — Axes aren’t the only thing on the throwing menu

The throwing lanes at The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop — Each lane at The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop is fully separated by a metal fence for safety

Remember when I said there would be axes?

The Tomahawk Throwing Range & Blade Shop is Albemarle’s first axe-throwing range (and coincidentally, also my first axe-throwing range!). My nerves were shaking a bit at the thought of purposely slinging sharp objects, but owner Garrett quickly put us at ease.

After showing us the staggering number of safety precautions put in place to keep throwers safe (a barrier between every lane, strict rules about handling the axes, and a thorough demonstration, to name a few), Garrett helped us each throw our first axes. Unsurprisingly, we both missed on our first tries. But patiently, he stayed with us, giving us tips to improve our throws; before long, we were landing them on target.

Eventually, we moved on to throwing stars (which surprised me a bit, as I found them much more difficult to throw!), and watched as Garrett expertly landed other sharp objects like knives and sharpened shovels right in the bullseye (I confess I declined to throw either of these objects, friends).

This would be such a fun place to host a private event – they’ve hosted celebrations ranging from bachelorette parties to a divorce party – but it’s also a fun spot to spend an hour with your travel companions. Staff members are incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, observant, and willing to assist – just keep in mind everyone needs to be ages twelve or older to participate.

—

A Double-Dose of Sweetness

Second Street Sundries | 221 N 2nd St, Albemarle, NC 28001
Albemarle Sweet Shop | now at 310 S 2nd St, Albemarle, NC 28001

Collage of images of the interior and exterior of Second Street Sundries, as well as two menu items (a chicken salad sandwich and a wrap) — *clockwise, top left* Second Street Sundries exterior | Tuscan Chicken Panini | Second Street Sundries counter | Chicken Salad Croissant

The Market at Sundries with shelves of local food and art items — The Market at Sundries

Collage of images of Albemarle Sweet Shop showing the exterior and the kitchen — Behind the scenes at Albemarle Sweet Shop

Collage of baked goods at Albemarle Sweet Shop — *clockwise, top left* Large Clown Cookies | a Pupcake | Small Clown Cookies | Homemade Pies

By now you’ve probably worked up an appetite again, so it’s time to head to Second Street Sundries. Not only will you find a solid cafe lunch menu, but you’re supporting a restaurant with an important mission. Second Street Sundries operates under the umbrella of GHA Autism Supports to provide employment opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum.

Although there’s plenty of room to dine in as we did, it’s clearly a popular takeout spot for locals – every time I turned around, the door was opening for another pickup order from their menu of cafe classics. Whether you choose to dine in or take it to-go, make sure you pop next door into The Market at Sundries before you leave. You’ll find a delicious range of tasty local snacks and handmade art at reasonable prices.

And once you’ve finished your meal, head to Albemarle Sweet Shop for a sweet slice of history. This local bakery has been satiating Stanly County’s sweet tooth for the past century.

We were treated to a behind-the-scenes trip to the kitchen, where owner Shawn and his team crank out trays and trays of cookies, pastries, cakes, and more using the same oven originally installed in the building in 1959. If you’ve never been in a commercial kitchen, everything looks a little like the equipment you use at home – except the size is astounding. It has to be, to crank out all the sweets you see out in the display case.

And of course, you’re going to want one of everything. Albemarle’s residents all have their usuals, but as a newcomer, the selection is somewhat overwhelming. A good place to start is the bakery’s signature Clown Cookie, which is still rolled, cut, and decorated by hand. The decorations change based on the season and the decorator’s whims, but at its core, the Clown Cookie is always a person-shaped sugar cookie topped with sweet icing and a sweeter smile. Among the other standouts from our visit were the fruit bar, cream horn, and apple pie.

Visit their King Avenue location while you can – they’ll soon be moving to a new location (to serve up their sweets for the next 100 years!). Update: Albemarle Sweet Shop is now located at 310 S 2nd St.

—

Take a Hike

Morrow Mountain State Park | 49104 Morrow Mountain Rd, Albemarle, NC 28001

Collage of images of the view from Morrow Mountain State Park's Mountain Loop Trail — Mountain Loop Trail at Morrow Mountain State Park

Light pours through the trees at Morrow Mountain State Park — Winter sunlight at Morrow Mountain State Park

Collage of trees, branches, and roots at Morrow Mountain State Park — Scenes from a hike at Morrow Mountain State Park

Alyssa walks on the trail at Morrow Mountain State Park — Be sure to bring safe and comfortable footwear, even for an easy hike

Rather than sinking into a sugar coma, let’s get you out and moving again. From downtown Albemarle, Morrow Mountain State Park is just a twenty-minute drive away. The park is free to enter, and it’s incredibly popular with hikers, swimmers, fishers, kayakers, campers, and horseback riders (some activities require a separate fee).

The water didn’t beckon to us on a chilly winter day, but a sunny hike sure did. There are miles and miles of trails, but for the quickest reward, head up to the Mountain Loop Trailhead. The overlook is fully accessible by vehicle, so if you aren’t able to make the hike or left your boots at home, you can still drink in the view. If you’re up for a pint-sized journey, strap on your boots and make the 0.8-mile lap around Morrow Mountain. It’s rated as an Easy hike, but the fallen leaves were deceptively slippery underfoot (a good reminder to always be cautious). Once you’ve rounded back to your vehicle, you can decide if you’re up for another go on a different trail, or head back to town (that’s what we did!).

note: some amenities are currently closed; check the state park's website for up-to-date availability.

EVENING

Enjoy a Post-Hike Reward

Badin Brews | 124 S 1st St, Albemarle, NC 28001

Exterior and Interior of Badin Brews — Badin Brews

Badin Brews is not a brewery, as one (*raises hand*) might assume at first – although a brewery is slated to open in the city sometime soon.

Instead, Badin Brews is a craft beer bar and fully outfitted bottle shop that would be at home in any major city – but lucky for all of us, it’s located in downtown Albemarle.

Order a draft beer at the bar (or select a can from the cooler) to enjoy at a high-top table – or take advantage of the city’s recently launched Social District, which allows patrons of select establishments to take their drinks out onto the sidewalk to safely roam downtown.

—

And Finally: Dinner

Tiffany's At The Boardroom | now closed

A chicken sandwich with fries — Kickin’ Chicken Sandwich at Tiffany’s at the Boardroom

A burger with sweet potato tots at Tiffany's at the Boardroom — A custom Burger with Sweet Potato Tots at Tiffany’s at the Boardroom

A short walk from Badin Brews is another great establishment with plenty of great local beer (second only in quantity to the place you just departed!). Tiffany’s At The Boardroom (now closed) feels like an upscale neighborhood pub that manages to maintain its coziness.

With live music and lots of laughter coming from nearby tables, we immediately felt right at home. And although we didn’t have a chance to meet the restaurant’s namesake, the service was warm and friendly. But most important of all, the food is good.

The menu at Tiffany’s is best described as “pub grub classics with a twist.” Think hearty burgers, lots of tasty fried shareables, flatbreads, pasta dishes, and a few larger entrees. Michael and I kept asking our server for some additional time before ordering because everything coming out of the kitchen looked delicious and I wanted to see it all. In the end, we ordered a customized burger and the Kickin’ Chicken sandwich, vowing to share – and both were clear winners.

With the promise of pastries from Albemarle Sweet Shop in the car, we had to decline dessert – but dinner here, in this restaurant that feels just like a spot for locals, is still the sweetest way to end your day in Albemarle.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: ALBEMARLE

A sign that reads "Public Parking | City of Albemarle" — Parking is free in downtown Albemarle

Two signs indicating whether you are in the city's social district — Albemarle’s Social District boundaries are clearly marked (and recycling is provided!)

When I mentioned I was visiting Albemarle to some locals here in Charlotte, on multiple occasions I heard, “Why?” This sentiment was also expressed to us several times during our visit from locals in Albemarle, who were then quick to halt their surprise and begin to excitedly share about the growth of their city. In addition to this new growth, there are ample reasons to visit: Albemarle features a walkable downtown, locals who are happy to support their neighboring small businesses, free and ample parking, a way to take a break from the “big city”, and it is the perfect destination to combine with a day out in nature.

Unless you’re flying private (in which case, hiiii, can we be friends?), if you’re flying into the area, you’ll likely be landing at Charlotte-Douglas or one of our other regional airports (such as GSO). But more likely than that, you’ll be driving in from your home right here in our area (also – hi, can we be friends?), in which case, the weather, landscapes, and general visitor information are quite similar to what you should expect when visiting other destinations in our area.

What is more unique to visiting Albemarle is the city’s Social District. Rather than barricading people to enjoy a beverage indoors, visitors and locals can take their beverage to-go and continue exploring downtown (or just have a seat in the park and relax). Still, it is a town in the South, and even with progress, some things stay the same. As you’re planning your visit, your best bet is choosing any day but Sunday, when many places are closed.

WITH MORE TIME IN ALBEMARLE

Even after a full day in Albemarle, there’s still more to do! If you find yourself with time to spare, these might be some fun places to visit:

Badin Road Drive-In, for an old-school movie experience
The Courthouse Tavern and Table, for seasonal fare
Stanly Arts Guild, to check out the local art scene
Five Points Public House, because one burger is never enough
The 1891 Inn, to rest your head at a charming B&B!

OUTFIT DETAILS

Alyssa wears blue jeans and a black sweater, boots, and coat — Sweater (reviewed here) | Jeans | Coat (similar) | Coat Liner | Boots (reviewed here) [save 20% with code WAYWARDBLOG20] | Bag

An early January day called for warm, easy layers. I reached for a relaxed and breathable cotton sweater, frosty blue denim, and my go-to Chelsea boots for travel – a perfect combination for padding around downtown. To make the transition to hiking a breeze, all I needed to do was remove my wool coat (which I line with a lightweight down puffer) and switch to hiking boots. I’ve started storing mine in my trunk for any impromptu hikes – resulting in much more frequent hiking excursions!

Enjoyed this post? You may also like:

Has your hometown started instituting Social Districts? If so, how are you feeling about it? And if not, would you want it to?

More importantly – what North Carolina destination should I visit next?