3 Best Places To See in Winston Salem, NC

Another FIVE-STAR experience in Winston-Salem, strolling through Old Salem Museums & Gardens during the late afternoon hours. We checked into the Historic Brookstown Inn and walked three blocks up to the South Main Street entry point to Old Salem (the location of the historic Mickey Coffee Pot Maker). Easy! Old Salem is an immersive experience offering beautifully preserved and interpreted 18th-19th century history, I was surprised to see a marker on the property where the first Krispy Kreme doughnut store WAS located (see photo). Obviously not 18th-19th history, but still important NC history (love those doughnuts!). Old Salem is perfect for families, history buffs, or anyone who appreciates the heritage and period architecture. Be sure to check out Winkler Bakery, still in operation since 1800! Check out the shops, homes, schools, churches, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

Visiting Old Salem this past weekend was like stepping into a living time capsule, and it was pure magic. As a proud Salem College alum, returning to the community brought back so many cherished memories, but experiencing it through the eyes of my son and the rest of our tour group (which included a bunch of adolescent boys!) made it even more special. The historical interpreters—every single one—were phenomenal, keeping both the kids and adults engaged with their storytelling and knowledge. I want to give an extra special shout-out to Brother DJ and Sister Stacy in the Salem Tavern, who absolutely stole the show. Their passion, warmth, and authenticity made us feel like we had truly traveled back in time. Thank you, Old Salem, for preserving this history and sharing it in such a meaningful and memorable way. We'll be talking about this visit for a long time to come.

Absolutely loved walking around here and learning from all the wonderful historical interpreters. My wife and I stayed at the nearby Brookstown Inn and in the evenings we walked down here after dinner just to enjoy the vibes. If you are buying a ticket to actually go inside the houses I would recommend the all access pass because there’s truly so much to see if you enjoy history, I believe you can definitely make a full day out of it.

Kaleideum in downtown Winston-Salem was a great experience for our family. I took my 5-year-old and newborn, and we all had a great time. There were tons of hands-on exhibits that kept my older kid engaged and excited, and the space was very family-friendly and easy to navigate with a stroller. The staff was friendly and everything felt clean and well-maintained. It’s the kind of place you can visit again and again highly recommend for families with young kids.

I have been to all the children’s museums in the triad area and this one is by far the best in my opinion. Four levels of fun for kids of all ages, including me at 55! I have a granddaughter with autism and she was so excited by the exhibits and was not overstimulated. We will be back for sure and are looking into becoming members.

Great place for the children. Soo much to do it's worth the price. What I personally like about it is the wellness rooms they have. As a mother who breastfeed this private room was perfect. Came to write a review because of it.