Winston-Salem is a city in Forsyth County, which is part of the Piedmont region in central North Carolina. This city is considered part of the Piedmont Triad metro area, along with Greensboro and High Point. The city dates back to 1913 when it was originally two separate towns that once had a mile of space between them. Winston started in 1849 and was named after a major who served in the Revolutionary War. Moravian colonists laid out Salem in 1766 before incorporating it in 1856. The tobacco industry has been a dominant driver of economic activity here since the 1800s, but manufacturing and banking are also notable industries these days.
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, as is the North Carolina School of the Arts. You can see a replica of the first Moravian settlement by visiting the Old Salem open-air museum. See American sculptures and paintings dating all the way back to 1755 in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Visitors also like to take time to see the historic Salem God's Acre Cemetery, which has been in active and continuous use dating back to 1771. Take time to visit the Old Salem Museums & Gardens, which focuses on history and fighting food insecurity by highlighting the stories and struggles of Native Americans, Blacks, and Moravians in the American South.
The area is home to several fantastic eateries, including Los Juanes, which is a popular spot where locals like to get casual Mexican fare, including gorditas, tortas, and tacos. New Sichuan Restaurant offers Chinese-American cuisine with an emphasis on several dozen dishes originating in China's Sichuan province, including dan dan noodles, mapo tofu, and red oil dumplings. Enjoy both nouvelle Southern cuisine and classic French recipes at 1703 Restaurant & Catering, which has a constantly changing menu.
Campgrounds Near Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Carolina Country Campground reflects the beautiful countryside around it southwest of the historic district in nearby Salisbury. Cool off in the swimming pool, paddle boat on the lake, or play miniature golf, tetherball, or basketball. This RV park has nearly 70 RV sites that feature full hookups. Enjoy amenities such as showers, a dump station, and Wi-Fi.
Cross Winds Family Campground has 35 acres and is located just south of Winston-Salem, close to Interstate 85 and Highway 52. Enjoy a shaded site, or ask for a space close to the front if you want better satellite reception. Swim in the pool, or fish in the campground's small pond. This park's more than 60 RV sites have full hookups, showers, and Wi-Fi.
Tanglewood RV Campground has 1,100 acres along the Yadkin River outside Winston-Salem. Enjoy hiking and biking trails, tennis, golfing, horses, and an aquatic center. Park security is here all the time, and there's a fenced area for dogs to run around. Over 40 RV sites have full hookups and Wi-Fi.
State Parks Near Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Head into Virginia to visit Fairy Stone State Park near the Blue Ridge Parkway and the towns of Bassett, Ferrum, and Martinsville. This gorgeous tree-lined space has a 168-acre lake. This is one of the rare places on the planet where you can find fairy stones, which are staurolite crystals that underground pressures naturally form into distinct angles. These stones frequently resemble crosses, and they're a popular item for making jewelry. If you find one on the ground, you can keep it, but the park's rules require that you do not dig to find these stones. There are 10 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and riding horses, and swimming is available during the summer.
Hanging Rock State Park is only 30 miles north of Winston-Salem. Created in the 1930s as a project for the Civilian Conservation Corps, this park has over 20 miles of trail hiking through woods and along streams to scenic outlooks and waterfalls. Other activities include rock climbing, mountain biking, and river paddling. Average winter lows hit the low 20s, and summer highs are often in the 80s. Fishing is available all year long, and you might catch catfish, sunfish, and bass from your rental boat or from the wheelchair-accessible pier.
Pilot Mountain State Park surrounds a natural landmark known for centuries as travelers used it to make sure they were going the right way on their journeys. The modern park is well-traversed inside, with miles of trails leading to camping, climbing, and dramatic scenery. A trail connects the summit to the Yadkin River. Aside from hiking, you can go camping or use a canoe to explore the river. Several canoe-in campsites await you along the river. Hike up to Little Pinnacle Overlook for a great view of the Big Pinnacle, or paddle parts of the river. Cyclists can expect a great workout with grades between 10% and 16%. Permits are required for rock climbers looking to scale the rocky cliffs, and a state license is required for angling from the riverbanks for catfish, spotted bass, and smallmouth bass.
National Sites Near Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Honor the legacy of Booker Taliaferro Washington by visiting the Booker T. Washington National Monument in Franklin County, Virginia. Washington was born into slavery but later became a prominent voice in the areas of politics, business, and African American education across America. See what's left of the plantation he was born at, including farm buildings reconstructed to resemble what they would have been like in 1856 or Washington's childhood years. Nearby, Greater Roanoke offers many outdoor and historical activities and is worth a visit.
The Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail runs from Abingdon, VA, to Kings Mountain, South Carolina. This trail was used by Revolutionary War forces fighting for independence from the British in the 1770s. Patriots marched from Virginia along this trail to try and keep the port city of Charleston, SC out of the hands of the British. Enjoy hiking along one of the trail sections or time your visit to view a historical reenactment of the march.
The Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial celebrates the life of Patrick Henry and is home to where he lived his last years and was laid to rest. Close to Brookneal, Virginia, the home is a museum for colonial history. Start your visit with a trip to the visitor center before you go through historic buildings, including slave quarters, a tobacco-curing barn, a law office, and a colonial kitchen. Hikers can enjoy the Quilter's Trail, Sharp Top Trail, or Mount Pleasant Trail.
National Forests Near Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Tennessee is the state to the east of North Carolina, and that's where you can find the Cherokee National Forest. In fact, this forest is almost the entire eastern border of the state of Tennessee. It also borders the northwestern corners of Great Smoky Mountains National Park if you happen to visit there. Enjoy a pair of reservoirs and the Ocoee river, or hike Big Frog Mountain and long stretches of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Check out wild cherry and maple trees, and look in between them for white-tail deer, black bears, and even bobcats. Common activities include hunting, fishing, swimming, jogging, and horseback riding.
The highlands of West Virginia are to the northwest of Winston-Salem, and this is where you can find over 900,000 acres of the Monongahela National Forest, which spans 10 counties. Differing precipitation patterns vary from valley floors at only 1,000 feet up to the peak of Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet. Western sides of many mountains get approximately 60 inches of annual rain, but the eastern slopes might only get half as much. This creates a diverse spread of wildlife and plants, but several are endangered even among the biodiversity. The network of roads here includes multi-use paths and trails, and many are frequented by fishers and hunters.
West of Winston-Salem in North Carolina you'll find Pisgah National Forest, close to the city of Asheville. This forest was among the first land ever bought to create national forests east of the Mississippi. The first school of forestry was also located here, and you can visit that historic site during your trip. High mountain peaks are home to tall waterfalls and a tremendous number of trails and miles you can hike. Horseback riding is also a popular activity within this forest.
