Things to Do in Winston Salem, NC
North Carolina has a wide range of tourism spots. Even though every different city provides the people from all around the world with a unique place to discover. But if you are looking for charm and attraction, you should visit Winston Salem. The people residing within are welcoming enough to make you feel at home. Moreover, you will find plenty of things to do in Winston Salem NC, confusing you about which ones to prioritize. If you are wondering what kind of places you can explore, this place assures you with all-in-one packages.
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Whether you are a foodie, more into nature, looking forward to adventure, or up to exploring the history, everything works perfectly fine. Winston Salem ensures combining the taste of history, creative innovations, and attraction to provide everything in one place. Nonetheless, if you are visiting this place for the first time, you might be in trouble. The trouble of exploring numerous places in limited time can be overwhelming, but you do not need to worry. The following content will make your situation less worrisome. Consequently, by the end, you’ll have every place that you should visit at your fingertips, saving you time with smart management.
Top Winston Salem Attractions You Can’t Miss
Visiting North Carolina means discovering myriad Winston Salem attractions that you cannot miss. From exploring the historic places to discovering splendid art by the locals and taking a walk in serene parks, you have got a long list of things to do in Winston Salem NC. Besides, visiting alone or with your friends and family does not matter. There will always be countless fun things to do in Winston Salem. For instance, taking a bike ride around the city and visiting the Salem Lake Road. Apart from the gardens and other beautiful landscapes, you must also go to explore the art.
Coming to art and creativity, this city is a gift for the tourists. As the residents indulge themselves in different kinds of creativity, you can discover shops with masterpieces. The local art would fascinate you to a level where you would like to try it too. Thus, if you look for the top attractions in Winston Salem, you must visit Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Furthermore, learning the local history at Historic Bethabara Park can help you understand Winston Salem and its people better. After a busy day exploring, you can have the best seafood to satisfy your appetite as well.
Step Back in Time at Old Salem Museums & Gardens
The Old Salem Museums and Gardens is all about the old buildings and some gardens. If you like to explore ancient architecture and sites, you must walk around this place. Even though this site is inaccessible in the month of January, you can visit it during the other months. Moreover, sightseeing every other building within the boundaries of this place requires purchasing tickets. For the assurance, purchasing tickets would be worth it. As you visit this place, you can gain insights into the ancient church, a boys’ school, and Heritage Bridge. Additionally, you can discover the galleries in the Frank L. Horton Museum Center. It encompasses the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts to provide the visitors with vast information for research.
Furthermore, diving into the history, Moravians, also known as the Czech Republic of today’s date, built this place in 1766. So, you can discover a Germanic and American style of ancient architecture ideas there. However, the gardens remain the prime feature of this place. The authorities and caretakers have maintained the gardens to date by giving them a historic touch. Thus, you cannot say it’s all about the ancient buildings, as it is inclusive of historical aspects.
Discover Art and Elegance at Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Visiting Winston Salem without exploring the art and elegance at Reynolda House Museum makes the trip feel incomplete. If you are wondering about what things make it special enough to visit, you will get to know soon.
The construction of this place took place between 1912 and 1917. The house was built for the founder of a tobacco company, R.J. Reynolds, and his wife. With its originality as a model farm with gardens and formal landscaping, it became a museum in 1967. Thus, if you visit this place, you will discover the reflection of an estate life back in the twentieth century.
Exploring further, you can catch sight of a beautiful American art collection, including the paintings, photography, sculptures, etc. This art collection is distinctive for being an exertion by featured artists, such as Jacob Lawrence, Edwin Church, and others. Moreover, you can roam around the Babcock Wing to see the presentations curated twice a year. Although the place is filled with creativities all around, some rooms in the house are preserved. It ensures providing the visitors with the sight of how R.J. Reynolds and his family spent their lives in those spaces. Nevertheless, don’t worry about the snacks to keep your energy boosted. You will find restaurants and shops functioning in original estate buildings to complete the essence of this place.
Explore Local History at Historic Bethabara Park
To know Winston Salem better, you must visit the historic Bethabara Park. It is Winston Salem’s birthplace and crucial to the first European settlement.
Being a national historic landmark, this place offers the opportunity to explore nature, wildlife, and history, all in one place. Discussing the history, you will find ancient roads and buildings from 1756. Among all the old structures, the Gemeinhaus—the Moravian church—is the oldest. It functioned as a meeting area for the ancient community. By visiting this place, you will not only know but also understand the stories of Moravian settlers. You will gain deeper insights into how these enslaved people lived and worked with the Native Americans in the colonial era.
Furthermore, you can discover the colonial gardens that provided the people with medicines and vegetables. Nevertheless, you have got a lot of stuff to do in Winston Salem. Speaking of the nature and wildlife, you can consider going for photography and birding. Bethabara Park is famous for its wildlife preservation and the bird-observation deck, a treat for the photographers. On the other hand, if you look for the fun things to do in Winston Salem NC, no worries. You can hop on the hiking trails in the Bethabara park as well.
Relax by the Water at The Quarry at Grant Park
Walking around to explore and discover more can be tiring. Thus, you can always think about relaxing by the water at the Quarry, at Grant Park. Nonetheless, there are many other reasons for adding this to the things to do in Winston Salem NC. As you visit this park, you will witness how large it is. Talking about area, it covers about 200 to 228 acres. This site earlier functioned as the Piedmont Quarry. As the quarrying came to a halt, the place was not used for years. However, after the voters accepted the subsidy to transform the place into a park, it became accessible to locals in 2017.
Besides relaxing by the water, there are many of the best things to do in Winston Salem NC, particularly at Grant Park. You can enjoy walking or biking on the trails as you bond with the greenways of this place. For the families, this place provides a mining-themed playground, reflecting upon the site’s history. You can also spend quality time with your family or take a rest within the picnic area with restrooms. Nevertheless, if you are more into nature, this place will exceed your expectations. The visuals of cliffs, a deep blue lake with stones on the shore, and vegetation in the parks make the place worth the visit.
Walk, Bike, and Unwind Along Salem Lake Road
If someone tells you to visit Winston Salem, you must not miss out on exploring the Salem Lake Road. As the lake covers an area of about 365 acres, it is surrounded by a seven-mile trail. You can have a sight of this beautiful landscape from the vantage points. Besides, as you think of the things to do in Winston Salem NC, you can go for a walk and bike along the Salem Lake Road. Visitors often go walking, biking, and running on the trail encircling the lake for its easy route. There are many other things as well.
On the Salem Lake Road, you can rest or indulge yourself in fun activities at the Marina Center. This center will not only offer you a comfortable rental space but also some other services. As the Marina Center offers boating service, you can go fishing from the pier or boats. Moreover, you can go for fun at the playground near the Salem Lake Road, established particularly for the families. A beautiful view without the soothing sound of birds chirping is a piecemeal. Thus, you can live the nature to the fullest by birdwatching alongside the flora and fauna observation.
Plan Your Visit to Winston Salem — A City Full of Discovery
Since the city is full of discovery, you have a lot of things to do in Winston Salem NC. As your life gets busy and overwhelming, you must consider taking a trip to Winston Salem. The exposure to nature and peace would feel like therapy. On the other hand, even if you have a peaceful life, you can always plan vacations with your partner, family, or friends. Spending time in Winston Salem would not only offer you fun but also historic insights. However, with limited time and many things on your plate, unplanned trips can be disappointing.
Once you plan to visit Winston Salem, you should grab a notepad to list down all the places to visit. There would be numerous things to do in Winston Salem NC. However, you must not miss out on the things discussed already. You can discover more, as being the twin city, it blends the historical essence, art, and outdoor ventures. This vibrant destination would offer you a unique experience of local art, flavors, and national festivals. Additionally, you can shop from the Camel City Goods Co. for the locally enthused gifts and clothing. It could be a souvenir to make the experience last for a lifetime.
Going from place to place and taking long walks at the historical sites often makes the trip exhausting. Additionally, having an adventurous day on the trails consumes your energy to the fullest. So, as the energy runs low and the stomach growls due to hunger, you should end your day with delicious seafood. For the seafood enthusiast, the Red Crab Juicy Seafood is a perfect place in Winston Salem. The food and environment would never disappoint you. The experience keeps you coming back to this place. Thus, you should add this place to the things to do in Winston Salem NC.
As the restaurant offers a menu with customization options, visitors find it a perfect place to satisfy their appetite. You can choose the seafood boils from the categories, such as blue crab, shrimp, lobster tail, etc. Additionally, you can taste a variety of sauces from the options, like Cajun, garlic butter, and Red Crab’s signature juicy special. Since visitors are choosy about the spice levels, you can customize yours. On the other hand, if you don’t prefer the boils, this place offers you fried seafood as well. Nonetheless, Red Crab has established its name in the competitive marketplace for its plentiful servings and exceptional flavors.
frequently asked questions
What can couples do in Winston Salem for a romantic day out?
If you are taking your partner for a romantic day out in Winston Salem, you can visit the Reynolda Gardens for a long walk. Additionally, you can head to Krankies Coffee to spend quality time over a cup of coffee in the cozy environment. At a short distance, you can find an art gallery as well. It would enrich you with a cultural taste.
What are the best times of year to visit Winston Salem NC?
Being a person who avoids crowds, spring could be the best time of year to visit Winston Salem NC. Before the summer crowd visits the place, you can enjoy the adventures and explore nature peacefully. Additionally, during this time the gardens and parks bloom, taking the beauty of this city at its peak. However, if you desire to attend the festivals, you should visit in the fall season.
How many days should I spend in Winston Salem NC?
If you want to explore the city in depth, discovering all the places, you should spend at least 4 to 5 days in Winston Salem. Otherwise, for a quick highlight, you may visit for a weekend. It would get you time to visit the historic sites and explore the art at the museums.
What local foods should I try when visiting Winston Salem NC?
Coming to the local food, you will get a variety. There are many places that you can visit. For instance, visit Barbecue to have an eastern-style pork barbecue. If you crave something sweet, you can go for the Moravian Cookies & Treat. It offers the most authentic cookies in the city.
Conclusion
A trip to North Carolina can give you a lifetime experience if you choose the destination wisely. Winston Salem is among those cities that never let you down. Once you get there, you can find many fun things to do. Apart from fun, this city offers a deep insight into its making and overall history. Additionally, the landscapes, like the Salem Lake Road, astound you with breathtaking sights. Thus, if you plan to visit Winston Salem, don’t forget to list down the things to do. It would not only save you time but also help you prioritize the places you should discover in depth.