The NC Main to Main Trail is a unique way to experience the Salisbury, community. Since 1980, the State of North Carolina has been selecting cities and towns of all sizes to carry the distinction as designated North Carolina Main Street communities. As one of the first designated NC Main Street Community, Downtown Salisbury actively engages in the Main Street America network and follows the Main Street Approach™ to revitalize our downtown district.
Main Street communities are destinations from the Great Smokies and the Blue Ridge Mountains, the urban growth of Piedmont, to the eastern inner banks to the coastal plains. Our downtown district (Southwest Region) features architectural treasures from typical commercial buildings, governmental icons, and cultural attractions. Locally owned shops, restaurants, and spirits offer the community many unique options. Stroll our downtown tree-lined streets to take in the district’s flavor and understand why the locals call Salisbury home.
To learn more about the NC Main to Main Trail and our Southwest region, which has it all, click on the buttons below.
Main to Main Itinerary
Plan your day and get a glimpse of the beautiful and historic Downtown Salisbury, by looking at our Food & Flavor and Arts and Culture itineraries! These itineraries highlight just a few of our unique restaurants, shops, outdoor experiences, and entertainment and attractions.
The smell of coffee roasting will be just the thing you need to wake up in Downtown Salisbury. Roasted in-house, the Koco Java owners & staff make sure only the best coffee beans go into their drinks. Try one of their specials, or go with a class Salisbury Blend brewed coffee for maximum caffeine. Not a coffee drinker? They have the freshest-tasting smoothies, and a case full of baked goods to start your day.
After getting some shopping in as you meander down Main Street, you may need a quick snack break for some ice cream or popcorn or maybe some Cheerwine, in a glass bottle so it tastes even sweeter. Fuller’s Market has an old-school soda shop feel & will get you ready for more exploring in Downtown with their selection of Carolina-themed clothes & gifts.
A true Salisbury Classic, stop by Hap’s for a hot dog or hamburger that is recognized statewide for its delicious simplicity. Get it plain, or with the works (chili and more) and you can’t go wrong. The line is worth it every time, and there will be a line! But Hap’s staff works quickly to make sure no one stands with the tantalizing smell for too long. Eat in Hap’s for a standing room-only experience or take it up the street to Bell Tower Green for a picnic in the park.
Get an afternoon pick-me-up with some homemade gelato, freshly made pies, and coffee to get you through the afternoon. Tita herself makes the lemon pie, and she won’t share the secret ingredients, but she’ll share a slice! Roasted in-house, the Koco Java owners and staff make sure only the best coffee beans go into their drinks. Try one of their specials or go with a classic Salisbury Blend brewed coffee for maximum caffeine.
After a full day of eating, you probably need a walk to end the evening. Enjoy the Downtown Salisbury Social District for a chance to finish your shopping or to hop from place to place. Check out New Sarum, Shug’s, Wonderland Barcade, The STL Club, Fish Bowl, Sgt. Pepper’s, Carpe Vinum, or any of Downtown Salisbury’s lively nightlife options, featuring live music and vintage arcade games. Or check out the events!
Each year, more than a dozen new sculptures get selected by the Public Arts Commission to be displayed around the City at some of our most popular sites. Schools, churches, government buildings, historic sites, and local businesses all offer to have new artwork annually. Pick up a brochure at the Salisbury Visitors Center and get an audio tour through the free app OtoCast, which provides an interactive map and sound clips from artists.
Tour the ever-changing indoor and outdoor galleries, often featuring local artists alongside nationally acclaimed pieces. Be sure to stop at the gift shop or check out the list of classes and workshops to create your own art! Whether kids are making ceramics, artists are honing oil painting skills, or grown-ups are enjoying a craft class, there is art for everyone.
With creative new specials coming out of the Sweet Meadows kitchen that will combine all your favorite tastes, this funky, eclectic, farm-to-fork bistro will make you feel like you have eaten a work of art! THEN, finish your meal with a scrumptious cupcake or macaroon. YUM!
Slow it down after lunch and stroll the streets of Downtown Salisbury to explore the galleries and stores that feature local, regional, and national artisans in a variety of mediums. Take a little piece of Salisbury home with you from Pottery 101, Hive, Fine Frame Gallery, Griffin’s Guitars, Off Main Gallery, East Square Art Works, Rail Walk Gallery, Old Sarum Gallery, or Glass Ingenuity.
Enjoy dinner at one of the many fine downtown Salisbury restaurants, and then catch a live show at either the Lee Street Theatre, a black box venue, or the Piedmont Players Meroney Theater, an iconic traditional theater venue. With casts starring local and regional talent, they feature shows for people of all ages and theatrical tastes!