Winston-Salem, North Carolina is rich in history. Moravians immigrated from Eastern Europe to North Carolina as early as 1753. The town of Salem was established in 1766 by Moravians. It was known for arts and culture and it was a bustling trading center in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Salem sold land to the county of Forsyth in 1849, which created the town of Winston. By the end of the 19th century people were referring to the two cities together as Winston-Salem. The combined city was officially established in 1913. It was the largest city in North Carolina by 1920 thanks to the railroad and big tobacco.
R.J. Reynolds tobacco company called Winston-Salem home as did Hanes textiles. Together these businesses employed over 60 percent of the residents. It was also designated as a port of entry into the United States even though it is 200 miles from the coast because R.J. Reynolds was importing so many goods for his business from abroad. Winston-Salem can also claim Texas Pete and Krispy Kreme.
Today, Winston-Salem is the fifth largest city in North Carolina and it is nicknamed “the city of arts and innovation.”
If you ever find yourself passing through Winston-Salem here are some fun activities to experience:
- Old Salem https://www.oldsalem.org/and Bethesda Park https://historicbethabara.org/#
Old Salem and Bethesda Park are both rich in history. When you visit both places, you will be transported back in time. You get to see how the Moravians lived. At Old Salem, you can see furniture, ceramics, paintings and other decorative arts made and used by early settlers in the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts. You can also buy delicious Moravian cookies.
These are both great experiences for adults and kids. I went to both places on field trips growing up and I loved listening to the guides talk about early life. I also remember getting to play with early children’s toys like the hoop and stick.
- Reynolda House and Gardens https://www.reynoldahouse.org/visit
You can spend a full day exploring Reynolda. You can tour the historic mansion that has been restored and that showcases a great American art collection. There are wooded trails, formal gardens and large lawns for strolling, picnicking, playing and relaxing. There are also several shops and dining options in Reynolda Village. Also, the Wake Forest University campus is easy to access via walking trail or car.
- Kaleideum Children’s Museum https://north.kaleideum.org/
There are two Kaleideum discovery centers in Winston-Salem. The downtown center is a wonderful Children’s Museum with hands-on exhibits and play areas. At the time of writing this that location is temporarily closed. The Kaleideum North is open. It is a 17-acre Science and Environmental Park with a planetarium. The last time we were there we spent over 4 hours and the kids still did not want to leave.
- Winston-Salem Dash– https://www.milb.com/winston-salem/
Winston-Salem has a minor league baseball team at Truist Stadium. Minor league baseball ticket prices are cheaper than major league games, but the experience is just as fun. It is easy to get in and out of the games. There are good food and drink options and there is a kids area.
