Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, originally called Wachovia by its Moravian settlers, has grown from its simple beginnings to an active and exciting city where the past and present meet. It is home to numerous museums, gardens, historical landmarks and modern sky scrapers. When you visit Winston-Salem, plan on a day (or more) filled with great activities and attractions sure to please the whole family.
Are you architecture enthusiast? Then you don’t want to miss Reynolda Village. Here you will find a quaint English village complete with shops selling items like table linens, bicycles, fishing rods and antiques. The shops are housed in former cattle sheds, dairy barns and carriage houses. The Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Reynolda Gardens are also open for touring. The museum has pieces by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Cole and Georgia O’ Keefe.
 About
10 minutes from downtown Winston-Salem, is Tanglewood Park.
The Park has a bed and breakfast as well as camping facilities.
There are 1,100 acres for golf, tennis, swimming, horseback
riding, hiking and fishing. The Park is open year round,
and during the Christmas holidays, beginning in November
and lasting until January, puts on the Tanglewood Festival
of Lights, a phenomenal lights display that draws people
from miles around.
Perhaps the most renowned attraction in the area is Old Salem. It is here that
you step back in time to the 18th century Moravian village,
from which Winston-Salem evolved. Old Salem is composed
of 80 structures, some of which are the shoe makers shop,
the Shultz shop, and the Boy’s School. You can enjoy the
sweet and savory items at the Wrinkler Bakery, or visit
the John Vogley House and its collection of 19th century
toys.
To learn more about the Moravian’s influence in Winston –Salem, visit Bethebara Park. The Bethebara has ruins from structures built by the Moravians who lived there in 1753. You can visit Gemeinhaus, which was simultaneously a church, school, and living quarters. There are also reconstructed palisades, and a medicinal herb garden.
Of special interest to children is SciWorks. Here the children can travel through the solar system, walk nature trails, and meet up with dinosaurs. The SciWorks Planetarium has a 50 foot dome that allows one experience the night sky through to slides, and video images. It has exhibits on NC entitled from the Mountains to the Sea, an Environmental Park, KidsWorks, SoundWorks which has instruments and fun with sound waves, and HealthWorks where you can learn about the human body. All exhibits are designed for hands-on learning and are sure to provide for the whole family.
Other area attractions include the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Old Salem. The museum has decorative items, furniture, textiles and ceramics from over 100 years of detailing. At Winston-Salem State University, you can visit Diggs Gallery which showcases original works by North Carolina’s black artist. If you like learning about world cultures, then be sure to visit the Museum of Anthropology on the campus of Wake Forest University. The museum houses unique items like high top moccasins, grass socks, Zulu beer strainers and wrist knives, to list just a few.
So, come to Winston-Salem for family fun and learning, as well as great outdoor
activities. You’re sure to have a great time!
Garden Lady by Charlie Reese
Barn picture by Mooney
Block Party picture by St. Steele
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