The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Winston-Salem, North Carolina Now
BY TRIPVEEL EDITORIAL STAFF | October 2019
At the intersection of where you’ll experience a rare combination of big-city culture and small-town charm, Winston-Salem, North Carolina is shaped by early twentieth-century companies such as R. J. Reynolds Tobacco and Hanes. Surrounded by wineries, limitless recreational opportunities, award-winning picturesque gardens, historic architecture and mouthwatering Southern cuisine—Winston-Salem truly is the “City of Arts and Innovation.”
Image courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
1. THE HIKING
Right off the Bethabara Greenway, Mill Creek Trail runs parallel to the back of the palisades in the historic park. The 2.5 mile trail winds through creeks and through a wonderfully restored marshland.
After trekking through multiple boardwalks, you’ll come upon the remnants of the old grist mill.
2. THE ART
In an ultra-hip area of downtown, discover a backdrop of artistic street murals in the Winston-Salem Downtown Arts District, while browsing numerous working studios, galleries and boutique shops.
On every first Friday, during the First Friday Gallery Hop, galleries and businesses stay open late and studios open their doors to visitors from 7 to 10 in the evening.
3. THE COCKTAILS
Tucked away in the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Winston-Salem near Wake Forest University—Providence is not only a restaurant, it’s a destination unto itself that combines a beautiful cosmopolitan interior with unique and flavorful twists on farm-to-fork cuisine. Relax and unwind with an autumn-inspired, handcrafted Cranberry Margarita concocted with Patron tequila, fresh squeezed lime and of course, juicy cranberry.
Providence Restaurant in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Favorites include Pan-Roasted Maple Glazed Alaskan Salmon with cabbage, kohlrabi, shaved Brussel sprouts, sweet potato hash and pistachio dust and Shrimp N’ Grits with stone ground grits, white cheddar, sautéed shrimp, andouille sausage and a smoky tomato broth, as well as Joyce Farms Aberdeen Angus Filet with roasted fingerling potatoes, shaved asparagus and a mushroom demi-glace.
Make sure you indulge in one of Providence Restaurant’s decadent desserts such as DJ’s Butter Pecan Cheesecake or Southern Fried Apple Pie. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Winston-Salem boasts a number of impressive historic and heirloom gardens that tell the rich agricultural history of the city. Adjacent to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Gardens paints a vivid portrait of roses in full bloom, seasonal vegetables and interesting succulents.
Image courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
A walk through the gardens and into the greenhouse not only provides stunning scenery, it provides a history lesson on early 20th century Winston-Salem during the Reynolds family era. Designed in 1913 on the historic estate of Winston-Salem's tobacco tycoon R.J. Reynolds and wife Katharine Reynolds, you can see Katharine Reynold’s vision of these magnificent gardens.
Image courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
Stroll the reconstructed greenhouse then venture on to see the boathouse and wetlands.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Located on the "Reynolda Mile," Graylyn is the former home to Bowman Gray once president of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Now a luxurious inn, Graylyn is one of the finest examples of Norman Revival architecture in the United States. In the Atlantis Room, whimsical murals of undersea life line the indoor pool with porthole windows original to a cruise ship.
Image courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
Take Graylyn’s Tour Pour du Jour, a butler-guided tour giving you an in-depth look into the history of the estate, including the solid marble tub in with built-in scales and gold-plate fixtures—all attributing to what made Graylyn “the showplace of the city.”
Known to many as the “strangest home in America,” Körner’s Folly was built in 1880 by designer Jule Gilmer Körner. Exemplifying Victorian ingenuity, the historic home showcases the talent, ingenuity and imagination of a true genius.
Image courtesy of Visit Winston-Salem
With 15 different fireplaces, no two doorways or windows are exactly alike. The top level contains a private theater, known as Cupid’s Park Theater, which is believed to be the first private little theater in America.
Ready to book your Winston-Salem, North Carolina vacation?
