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City in North Carolina, United States
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Bz3rk at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Winston-Salem is a city in North Carolina. It has an approximate population of 251,000 (2022). Winston-Salem is one of three cities that make up the Piedmont Triad; the others are Greensboro and High Point.
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Winston-Salem's Front Porch
From its beginnings as a regional spa resort and an exclusive community of wealthy tobacco and textile families, Winston-Salem's West End is now a dining and shopping center for the city and a perfect place to explore pedestrian charms. Built around one of the first electric streetcar lines in the country, the West End boasted "Millionaires' Row," where the Reynolds and Hanes families kept homes bought with manufacturing fortunes. Featuring homes built between 1890 and 1930, the neighborhood is known both for its hospitality and the area's largest and most-varied concentration of front porch designs.
The first NC Moravians settled here in 1753, the founding site of Forsyth County. The Park features costumed guides leading visitors through a 1788 furnished church. Additionally, you can view two period buildings, a restored French/Indian War fort and restored medicinal garden. Greenways and path traverse the 175-acre preserve.
In 1991, the Scales Fine Arts Center of Wake Forest University, dedicated its gallery to Philip Hanes and his wife, Charlotte, in recognition of their contributions to the arts. The gallery has an ongoing schedule of diverse exhibits and has housed showings that included works of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, among others.
Named for James Thackeray “T” Diggs, Jr., a 1934 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, painter and art professor for 40 years. Exhibiting one of NC’s largest displays dedicated to the arts of Africa and African Diasporas, it also hosts musical performances, dance, drumming, artist workshops, theater productions and film screenings.
DADA
An ultra-hip area of downtown, DADA, is an eclectic collection of working studios, galleries, shops and restaurants. Just a block from the Benton Convention Center, this exciting neighborhood is easy to find. Come and explore this inspiring world of jewelers, fiber artists, wood and metal workers, antique dealers and sculptors.
Opened in 1982 by the local alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Society, to enrich the community by stimulating interest in American arts and humanities, the center emphasizes the contributions of African Americans. Delta Arts Center hosts exhibitions, lectures, performances and special programming in visual arts, music, literature, history and folk arts.
A beautifully restored historic district and living history museum. See blacksmiths, carpenters, cobblers, and other interpreters practicing their trades and explaining Moravian life in 18th- and 19th-century Salem. The Historic Town of Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) engage visitors in an educational and memorable historical experience about those who lived and worked in the early South. The district includes the Salem Tavern (built in 1784), where George Washington spent two nights in 1791, and St. Philips Moravian Church (1861), the oldest surviving African American church building in North Carolina.
Experience Winston-Salem’s golden era. The historic home of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds and wife, Katherine will charm you with a collection of American masterpieces ranging from the colonial period to the present, vintage clothing, original furnishings and family memorabilia in the restored home. The new wing offers exhibitions and a visitor center.
SciWorks
With a state-of-the-art planetarium, 15-acre Environmental Park and 45,000 square feet of exhibits, learning about science is fun at SciWorks. See a planetarium show, visit barnyard animals or come face-to-face with a NC river otter! At SciWorks, there are interactive, hands-on special exhibits and programs for all ages to enjoy.
SECCA
Consistently featuring the best of today’s regional and national contemporary artists, SECCA fosters creative excellence through changing exhibitions. Past exhibits have featured artists such as William Wegman and Yoko Ono. The modern galleries are housed within the elegant stateliness of a Tudor-style house that was once the estate of industrialist James G. Hanes.
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at Wake Forest University is North Carolina’s only museum dedicated to the study of global cultures. The museum’s permanent exhibits display objects from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania.
Enjoy Advanced Single-A minor league baseball at the beautiful new BB&T ballpark that opened in the Spring of 2010. Season: April-September. An affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. It is a great source of family entertainment in fun in the downtown area.
UNCSA
There is almost always a production or performance happening at this prestigious Fine Arts university.
A former service station in the shape of a giant scallop. Of the 8 built in the 1930s, this is the only one that remains.
Aquatic complex chain with additional land attractions including mini-golf, laser tag & go-karts.
"Funky, art-filled chain pizzeria featuring craft beer, calzones & creative stone-baked pizzas."
There are two Village Taverns in Winston-Salem. The bigger one is located on Hanes Mall Blvd. near the mall and smaller, original is located on Reynolda near Wake Forest. Both have great food, but you may want to choose depending on the atmosphere you are looking for. They both are very busy on weekends, so make sure you plan for a little bit of a wait.
Hand-dipped milkshakes, hand-crafted burgers or pizza on an open patio.
"Family-operated American cafe & deli preparing sandwiches, salads & desserts in an easygoing space."
"This casual place with a patio offers a familiar selection of hibachi, tempura & sushi choices."
"Fried chicken & other soul-food staples plus beer, wine & cocktails in a storefront space."
"Warm, convivial bistro featuring updated American fare & views of a lily pond from the front tables."
"Chill nook supplying made-to-order sushi, Vietnamese pho & Thai dishes along with beer, wine & sake."
"Trendy, upscale New American eatery & bar with a fireplace & covered outdoor terrace."
"Elegant dining room with relaxed ambiance serving an elevated menu of Mediterranean & American food."
"Contemporary Southern cooking, craft beers & Sunday live jazz in an upscale-casual environment."
"Refined Southern cuisine & diverse wines presented in airy, bright environs with a covered patio."
"Upscale menu of Southern food & dishes with international influences made from local ingredients."
"Upscale Continental destination with extensive wine list in a wooded setting overlooking a stream."
Downtown wine bar that also serves a small but delicious dinner menu. Great atmosphere with outdoor seating along narrow alleyways.
One of the best pubs in town. Very cheap drink specials and friendly staff.
"Local brick-lined tavern offering up standard Irish food & a wide range of microbrews & scotch at the bar."
Another local institution.
"Nashville-inspired plates, a whiskey bar & live music in a down-home spot with Southern flair."
"Next to a shopping center, this informal hotel is 10 minutes' walk from the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and 2 miles from both Highway 52 and Wake Forest University. Warmly decorated rooms come with Wi-Fi access and TVs, plus microwaves, minifridges and coffeemakers; upgraded rooms add whirlpool tubs and/or sofas. A breakfast buffet is complimentary. Other amenities include a spa, a 24-hour gym and an outdoor pool."
Complimentary continental breakfast, wireless internet, on-site laundry, seasonal outdoor pool and fitness and business center.
"Opposite Benton Convention Center, this casual all-suite hotel is 1 mile from historic Old Salem and 3 miles from the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Unfussy suites offer custom-designed beds, Wi-Fi (fee), flat-screen TVs, minifridges and microwaves. All have living rooms with pull-out sofas. Upgraded suites add Keurig coffeemakers. Cooked-to-order breakfast is complimentary, as are evening socials with drinks and snacks. There’s an informal restaurant and bar. Other amenities include a fitness center, an indoor pool, a spa, a garden terrace atrium, plus event spaces. Parking is available for a fee."
"A mile from the Old Salem Museum and Gardens, this polished downtown hotel is a 10-minute walk from Bailey Park and 3 miles from The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. The relaxed rooms offer free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and desks with ergonomic chairs, plus coffeemakers and minifridges. Some include sitting areas and/or city views. Suites add separate living and dining areas. Amenities include a bar/restaurant, a lounge and a 24/7 fitness center, plus a business center. There's also meeting and event space for up to 2,700 people. Breakfast and parking are available for a fee."
The largest shopping mall in North Carolina, and one of the largest in the southeastern United States. The area surrounding the mall along Stratford Road, Silas Creek Parkway, and Hanes Mall Boulevard has become the city's largest shopping district.
By train
There are no rail services to Winston-Salem, but Amtrak offers several daily services to nearby Greensboro.
By car
Winston-Salem is easily accessible by car via Interstate 40, U.S. 421/Salem Parkway, Interstate 77, Interstate 85 and U.S. Highway 52 (Future Interstate 73/74).
By bus
PART (Piedmont Authority for Regional Transit) buses serve Winston-Salem from other parts of the Piedmont Triad.
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Greensboro · International · GSO
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