One thing I wanted to accomplish with the Travel Tips Tuesday series was to not only learn about new cities and places, but also hear why these places are so important and how they hold a special place in the hearts of these writers. Whether it’s where you studied abroad, started a family, or fell in love, we all have a place that is dear to us. Today’s location is definitely a very special place, as it’s the hometown of blogger Allison Hodges. Take it away Allison!
Hi everyone! I’m Allison and I’m the fashion and lifestyle blogger behind The Savvy Camel! I’m so excited that Camille has invited me to share a little about my hometown, Winston-Salem, North Carolina! I moved to Pennsylvania in May of last year and I’m absolutely loving it here! But there’s nothing like the place you call home. I may be biased, but I think Winston (us locals drop the “Salem,” ha!) is such a cute city and a great off the radar travel destination! There’s so much there-things you’ve probably heard of but never knew came from there!
Must do and see:
Old Salem: The Old Salem Historic District is home to the North Carolina Moravian settlement from the 18th and 19th centuries. All of the historic architecture is so beautiful and charming. There are old houses, churches, and the cutest little shops! Be sure to get some Moravian cookies while you’re there! Tip: the area also makes for great photo ops 😉
The Reynolds Building: One of my favorite fun facts about Winston is that it’s “the home of the original Empire State!” Yes, there are t-shirts and everything, ha! If you guys didn’t know, there was a prototype for the Empire State Building, and it’s sitting in downtown Winston-Salem! I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty cool. Rumor has it, the staff of the Empire State Building sends a Father’s Day card to the Reynolds Building each year!
Innovation Quarter: The Innovation Quarter is fairly new to downtown Winston and it’s such a fun area! Wake Forest (go Deacs!) heads the Innovation Quarter as a place for, you guessed it, innovation. There are tons of start up businesses housed here, research space, and all sorts of resources needed for innovation. I think it’s such an inspiring concept! The area is beautiful and is where you’ll find Bailey Park, another must visit! There are always tons of fun events going on at the park (and lots of yummy food trucks!) and, bonus, there’s an awesome view of the city’s skyline.
Reynolda Gardens: Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! The Reynolds family (you know, the tobacco family) is a huge part of Winston’s history. Their estate is now the Reynolda Village. The Reynolda house is maintained as a museum for American art and the remainder of the estate includes the gardens and shops. I highly recommend visiting the museum if you can, but if you only have time for one, the gardens are a must see! They’re absolutely stunning and you will not regret it! Take time to browse the cute little shops, too, of course!
ARTivity on the Green: This is Winston’s art park and it is SO fun! The park is filled with neat, modern sculptures and tons of room for the family to run around and play. There are fun lights at night and occasional water works in the summer!
Where to eat:
Foothills Brewing: If for some reason you can only eat at one place while you’re in Winston, Foothills has got to be the place. This is my absolute favorite. The food is great, the beer is great, the atmosphere is great. It’s just great! You can make an afternoon of this, too and visit the tasting room and check out the rest of the brewery! Who doesn’t love a good brewery tour?
O’SO Eats: This is one of my favorite little Winston gems. SO yummy! I seriously haven’t had a dish there that I didn’t love. It’s an American menu with at least a gazillion options. And, confession, my hubs and I may or may not have been known by name there… It’s that good!
Burger Batch: THE MILKSHAKES! I’ve literally never seen more beautiful milkshakes in my life. This is a fairly new place, but there’s no way you won’t see them on the Travel Channel in the future, ha! Oh, and for what it’s worth, they’re freaking delicious. You can’t go wrong with any flavor that you get here. Scouts honor.
Krispy Kreme: My hubby mourns the loss of Krispy Kreme now that we’re here in PA. If you’ve never had a Krispy Kreme doughnut from an actual Krispy Kreme doughnut shop… while the hot sign is on… you haven’t really had a Krispy Kreme doughnut. But do one better, and visit the original Krispy Kreme while you’re in Winston. Yeah that’s right, another Winston original that the world would be lost without.
Tate’s Craft Cocktails: If you’re wanting a little night life while you’re in town, I would definitely hit up Tate’s. They have the absolute yummiest cocktails and it’s such a cute little bar. Need a recommendation? Try my favorite of their signatures, “My Blue Heaven.” You won’t be disappointed!
Why you love this city/favorite thing about it:
There’s so much that I love about Winston! The city is a true up-and-commer. The arts, the food, all of it! The culture is fantastic, too, which only helps the city grow! And that’s probably my favorite part. The people from Winston have so much pride for their city and want to see it flourish! I think any place fueled with passion is a good place to be, don’t you?
Anything a first timer visiting this city should know?
Just be aware that public transportation isn’t amazing in Winston-Salem. There’s usually a bit of a wait for an Uber since they’re still growing in the area and you’ll have to call for a cab if you’re not in downtown. It’s not too difficult to get around otherwise, though! But if you’re able to rent a car, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Thanks so much for letting me share, Camille! If anyone ever visits Winston, I hope that my recommendations help! And of course let me know what you think of your visit!
Thanks for sharing Allison! Don’t forget to check her out her blog The Savvy Camel and follow her on Instagram and Facebook!
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