21 Fun Things to Do in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has the feeling of a small town wrapped in a big city. Once known for industries like tobacco and textiles, it has broadened its appeal as a center of art, culture, and food while still paying homage to its past. From shopping to street art to living history museums, there are lots of things to do in Winston-Salem and plenty of people to meet.

We’ve visited Winston Salem numerous times, and, every trip, locals are eager to tell us about their city and to share somewhere else we absolutely have to go. Here’s a look at what to do in Winston-Salem on a weekend visit (or longer!).

Visit Old Salem Museums and Gardens

Spending an afternoon at Old Salem Museums and Gardens is one of the most fun things to do in Winston-Salem. In the more than 20 historic buildings, interpreters show the activities of daily living as they were in this Moravian community in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The cobbler hand crafts shoes and sisters dye yarn for weaving. Nearby, people tend the gardens and cook with the bounty just as they would have in Old Salem.

A visit to Old Salem Museums and Gardens is a fascinating look into the customs, businesses, and celebrations of this unique religious community. We love everything about this great living history museum, but our favorite stop is the Old Salem bakery where you can watch all the delicious items being made. You can even buy a few to take home with you.

Wondering where to stay?

Cozy comfort: Brookstown Inn
Downtown chic: Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
Convenience and hospitality: Winston-Salem Marriott
You’ll find more details about where to stay in town at the end of this article.

Eat your way along the North Carolina BBQ trail

North Carolina is known for its barbecue, so trying some is a must when you visit Winston-Salem. For 100 years, locals have smoked pork in the same way—low and slow over wood and coals to get just the right amount of flavor. In North Carolina, there’s no such thing as “pulled” pork. Here, it’s chopped, coarsely chopped, or sliced.

The North Carolina Barbecue Society has honored those who follow those traditions by putting together the Historic Barbecue Trail through the state. Participating restaurants must meet certain criteria, including not using electricity or gas and having been in business for at least 15 years.

Check out the trail and pick the stop that works best for your trip. We loved Real Q for everything from the barbecue to the fabulous hush puppies.

Tour Reynolda House Museum

The Reynolda House Museum of American Art provides a remarkable look into the life of a family that helped shape the development of the city. The house was originally the home of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds and his wife Katherine, set on a massive 1067-acre estate.

Built in 1917, the Reynolda House is a monument to how the upper class lived, featuring large areas for receiving guests, a beautiful indoor pool, a bowling alley, and a life-sized doll house. The house has a premiere collection of American art spanning 300 years, including work from artists such as Mary Cassatt and Georgia O’Keefe.

There is also a separate wing for temporary exhibits. Outside, the four acres of gardens are full of gorgeous roses and exotic flowers, shrubs, and even vegetables, echoing the plans of the Reynolds family from a century ago.

Shop along Trade Street

Trade Street is one of the best places to go in Winston-Salem if you’re in the mood for shopping. This area of downtown is full of great boutiques, specialty stores, and galleries. It’s an excellent place to spend a couple of hours.

We loved discovering the jewelry and decorations at the shops and the hundreds of unique artworks at Piedmont Craftsmen, a craft artists’ guild with a storefront on North Trade Street. In between the shops, there are also plenty of restaurants and cafes to keep you well-fueled for browsing and buying.

Browse Mast General Store

One of the cornerstones of Trade Street, Mast General Store merits its own spot on the “must visit” list. Started in western North Carolina in 1883, Mast General Store is true to the 19th-century general store concept featuring a little bit of everything from clothes to dish towels to grits.

In particular, the store is known for its huge selection of old-fashioned candy. We loved picking up a few childhood favorites along with some throwback (and Harry Potter-themed!) sodas.

Enjoy the view at ARTivity on the Green

In the heart of the Downtown Arts District, ARTivity on the Green is the city’s first public park. It’s impossible to walk by without being pulled in by the unusual shape and bright color of the red “smokestacks” that honor the city’s industrial past. The benches and green space provide a fun place to hang out, and the rotating murals ensure the view is always unique.

Take a walk along the Art Trail

In addition to ARTivity on the Green, downtown Winston-Salem is home to brilliant murals just about everywhere you look. From whimsical pieces like a giant gumball machine to a work honoring Frederick Douglass, the street art runs the gamut of subject matter.

Follow the self-guided art trail around downtown to appreciate it all and enjoy one of the best free things to do in Winston-Salem.

Visit Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies

Making 10 million cookies a year, Mrs. Hanes’ Moravian Cookies has been a staple in the Winston-Salem area for over 60 years. These thin, crispy cookies come in six flavors—traditional ginger, lemon, sugar, black walnut, chocolate, and butterscotch—and are all rolled and cut-out by hand.

With advanced scheduling, visitors can take a one-hour tour of the factory and watch the cookies being made on weekdays year-round (except November and December when demand is at its peak). Every weekday, the operation is also visible through the windows in the shop, so you don’t have to take a full tour to see where this popular treat is made. The employees here are among the nicest you’ll ever meet, so feel free to ask questions.

See the old Shell Station

On the south end of town, you’ll find the last giant yellow clamshell Shell Oil station in the country. Once conceived as a way to advertise and build awareness of the Shell brand, eight such stations were built in the area in the 1930s. The one on the corner of Peachtree Street and East Sprague Street is the last one standing.

The Shell station no longer operates as a gas station but is a monument to itself, featuring photos and articles about its building and other Shell memorabilia. It’s a great stop for a photo op and a quick trip back in history.

Raise a glass at Broad Branch Distillery

Broad Branch Distillery is another one of the best places in Winston-Salem to indulge a vice. If you like whiskey and rum, this former tobacco warehouse in the Arts District is the place to be.

Broad Branch, one of 75+ distilleries in North Carolina, is a grain-to-glass distillery. They oversee every part of the process that results in their premium whiskeys and other spirits.

Stop by for a cocktail or a tasting and a tour that will take you behind the scenes. Our favorites were Smashing Violet, a blueberry-infused smooth North Carolina whiskey with a hint of natural sweetness, and Sungrazer rum, which draws some of its flavor from aging in port and whiskey barrels.

See the Coffee Pot

One of the oldest landmarks, the city’s giant tin coffee pot was built in 1858. At over 7 feet tall, it was an attention-getting promotion for a local tin shop. Over the years, it has become one of the most recognizable symbols in town.

The Coffee Pot—also known as Mickey’s Coffee Pot, after the tinsmiths who built it—is owned by the city. It has been moved a few times in its 150-year history but is now located in a grassy island formed by Old Salem Road and Main Street.

Visit Graylyn Estate

A few miles from downtown Winston-Salem, the Graylyn Estate was once one of the largest private homes in North Carolina. An opulent house built by a R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company executive in 1932, Graylyn is now an exquisite hotel and conference venue.

If you can’t stay overnight, consider coming for dinner or one of their regular Tour Pour du Jour events, which includes a tour of the property and a sampling of Graylyn’s house wines. Fair warning: these monthly events are popular and often sell out in advance.

Sample the varietals of Yadkin Valley wineries

Just west of Winston-Salem is the Yadkin Valley, a 1.4 million-acre area that includes over 45 fabulous vineyards and wineries producing everything from North Carolina-native Muscadine wine to sophisticated Super Tuscans.

If you want to tiptoe among the vines, you can reach several picturesque Yadkin Valley vineyards in just a half-hour. Check out some of the 30+ offerings from Childress Vineyards while enjoying lunch in their gorgeous bistro that has sweeping views of the grounds.

Find an Art-o-mat

We first heard of Art-o-mat back in 1999 when one was displayed at the Whitney Museum in New York. Lance set about collecting the miniature pieces of art they dispensed at every opportunity. What we didn’t know then was that these clever re-purposed cigarette machines had their roots in Winston-Salem. Local artist Clark Whittington turned the offending machines into something that would dispense beauty in the heart of tobacco country.

The original Art-o-mat artworks were photos from Clark on wooden blocks that sold for only $1. Over time, he has sourced artists from around the world to keep the 100+ machines stocked with art. These cool art dispensers are at several spots around town, including the original one at Mojito on Trade Street. Check to see if there is an Art-o-mat near you.

Try craft beer at Foothills Brewing

One of the most popular craft breweries in Winston Salem is Foothills Brewing. For over 15 years, they have made and bottled their offerings in the city.

Locals love the downtown brewpub for great food, beer specials, and live music. To learn even more about the brewing process at Foothills, visit their main facility and tasting room where they offer Beer School and samples of all their unique brews.

Tour Korner’s Folly

Korner’s Folly, a 22-room mansion just outside Winston-Salem, seems just like a normal house from the outside. It’s inside that the home’s unusual features become clear.

Completed in 1880, Korner’s Folly was built by Jule Gilmer Korner—a decorator, designer, and all-around creative gentleman—to showcase all the features his clients could choose for their own homes. As a result, it has 15 fireplaces, eight kinds of brick, and ceiling heights ranging from 5.5 to 25 feet high. With murals, tilework, trap doors, and more, Korner’s home was his life’s work and a fitting canvas for his talents.

The home is open for tours year-round, and there are regular programs like scavenger hunts and themed events. At Christmas, every inch of the house is decorated in festive style by local volunteers—it’s remarkable to see.

Visit Bethabara Historic District

Less than 10 miles away is a Moravian settlement known as Bethabara Historic District. First settled in 1753, Bethabara was meant to be a temporary home while the Moravians looked for a more suitable permanent location, which ultimately became Old Salem.

The 183-acre park and wildlife preserve has the restored 1788 Gemeinhaus (the Bethabara Moravian Church), a couple of buildings, and the excavated foundations of the original settlement along with the restored colonial gardens for which Bethabara was well-known. A visitor’s center provides more information about the Moravian settlers, and tours are available.

See Tanglewood Park

Every year, from mid-November through New Year’s Day, Tanglewood Park becomes one of the most popular attractions in Winston-Salem. The route through the park is laced with bright wreaths, brilliant snowflakes, and winter scenes. In all, the 5-mile route has over one million lights in dozens of displays you drive through.

In addition to being one of the best and biggest light shows in the Southeast, Tanglewood’s Festival of Lights also features Gift Village where visitors can make s’mores, meet Santa, and do their holiday shopping. A visit here is one of the best things to do in Winston-Salem during the holidays, but plan ahead because entry lines can be long.

Take a trip to Mount Airy

Head just a half-hour out of the city to the town of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Famous as the hometown of Andy Griffith and the model for his Mayberry, Mount Airy has everything there is to love about a small town.

In Mount Airy, you can visit the Andy-related sites like his eponymous museum or take a squad car tour through TV history. There’s plenty to do that’s not “Mayberry,” too. Stop by the White Elephant Beer Company for some craft brews, try the best burger around at Old North State Winery, or take in some old-time music at the Earle Theater.

Visit Pilot Mountain State Park

If you’re looking to spend some time outdoors near Winston-Salem, Pilot Mountain State Park is a great choice. Just a half-hour from downtown, you can be in the middle of the park’s 6+ miles of hiking and bridle trails.

The park offers opportunities for rock climbing, rappelling, and canoeing plus camping at the 42-site campground. We loved the chance to walk around and photograph the scenery.

Hike in Hanging Rock State Park

Just 30 miles from the city is beautiful Hanging Rock State Park in the Sauratown Mountain Range. Visitors can boat, swim, rock climb, and hike to their hearts’ content. Adventure seekers will like Moore’s Knob, the highest point in the Sauratown Mountains, where they can climb Moore’s Wall.

Spending time by the lake is more our speed, and we love hiking to the park’s stunning waterfalls. For a rustic getaway, consider staying in a cabin near the park’s edge.

Where to Eat and Drink

Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen, and Bar: Popular eatery featuring Southern-inspired dishes made with local ingredients. Make sure to pair one of the seasonal dishes with their inventive cocktails.
Quanto Basta: Italian restaurant featuring hand-stretched pizzas, delicious meatballs, and lots of great pasta dishes.
Tate’s Craft Cocktails: Renowned for its knowledgeable bartenders and excellent drinks. If we lived here, we would be regulars.

See more recommendations for great restaurants in Winston-Salem.

Where to Stay

Historic Brookstown Inn: This former mill from the 19th-century has unique rooms and spacious suites. There is a nightly wine and cheese happy hour plus milk and cookies later in the evening.
Kimpton Cardinal Hotel: Top-notch service and comfortable, upscale rooms. Don’t miss the unique amenities like the adult rec room.
Winston-Salem Marriott: Super-comfortable beds and solid service you expect from Marriott. Its Club M provides complimentary hot breakfast and hors d’oeuvres.

During our first visit, we were the guests of Visit Winston-Salem. All opinions of the delicious and artsy are our own. We loved the city so much that we have returned multiple times.