Winston-Salem

Driving three and a half hours Northeast of Charleston brings you to Winston-Salem, one of the most interesting cities on the East coast. From textiles to tobacco roots, Moravian culture to a thriving arts scene, Winston-Salem holds a great getaway for the entire family. After a visit to a particular bakery, you may want to drive down just for one of the world-class pastries they serve. Here is what to do on your Winston-Salem road trip.

WHAT TO SEE & DO IN WINSTON-SALEM

Anything with the name “Reynolda” in it offers exceptional entertainment in Winston-Salem. Reynolda Village is a collection of boutique shops (be sure to check out Monkee’s and McCalls) and tasty eateries, with a superb coffee and doughnut shop (Dough Joe’s) on the property, as well. Be sure to admire the plants and flowers at Reynolda Gardens, a free attraction and a world-class botanical garden. You can even see black cotton plants here.

Catch a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game, the Class A farm team of the Chicago White Sox for more than twenty years, at Truist Stadium.

An excellent way to see a bunch of unique Winston-Salem offerings is by Segway. You can do a two or three-hour Segway tour with Triad Eco Adventures, where a guide will introduce you to the culture of this region, plus the historical Old Salem Museum and Gardens (a fantastic living history village) and God’s Half Acre. Weather permitting, they also offer standup paddleboards and bike rentals.

Visiting downtown Winston-Salem is a must for exploring Mast General, a 100+-year-old department store, seeing the vibrant murals and excellent photo-ops. For those looking for a rainy day activity or just more shopping, the Hanes Mall features 200 stores, including Belk, Macy’s, and Dillards.

Those traveling with kids, be sure to pencil in Kaleideum Downtown, the children’s museum, or Kaleideum North, a hands-on science center, and the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem (with a Krispy Kreme donut making playroom) for activities they will enjoy and appreciate.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Enjoy one of the best afternoon teas on the East Coast at Flour Box Tea Room & Cafe, where you can choose from a variety of tastefully appointed rooms to enjoy a proper tea. Flour Box’s food, tea, and sweets are exceptional and they serve breakfast, too.

Sweet Potatoes offers fried chicken and soul food staples for a dang tasty lunch option. Penny Path Cafe and Crepe Shop is perfect for sweet and savory crepes and not so common lunch dishes. Dinner choices are numerous at Village Tavern, a Winston-Salem local fave, with delicious appetizers, gourmet burgers, pizza, and much more. I recommend both the Pimiento Cheese Dip and Deviled Eggs.

For a fine dining experience, in a casual setting, Katharine’s Brasserie at the Kimpton Hotel has delicious Steak Frites, oysters, and French onion soup.