The Reynolda House is one of those places where the building itself competes with the artwork, and…read morehonestly, both win. Walking through the estate gives you a vivid sense of how the Reynolds family lived, entertained, and in one unfortunate case, met their end, all wrapped in the quiet elegance of a 1917 mansion. The galleries are filled with standout pieces like Peale's 1795 portrait of the Robinsons, Thomas Cole's woodland scene, and Albert Bierstadt's Sierra Nevada landscape, each out perfectly framed by the calm, refined setting. Did I mention the Georgia O'Keeffe landscape? There's one of these here too. Beyond the paintings, the museum offers a thoughtful look at period clothing, children's toys, and even the inner workings of the estate's organ, which is a rare treat to see up close. The whole experience is stepping into a carefully preserved world where art, architecture, and history all share the same space. It's all wonderful until a few loud visitors decide the museum is the right place for a group chat and a few "Wow, check this out!" comments that the ushers seem committed to letting breathe. It's a remarkable visit, as long as you're lucky to enjoy it at a reasonable decibel level. There are also the outside grounds, which are free to wander. A ticket is only needed for the home itself. [Review 1189 of 2026 - 4837 in North Carolina - 26368 overall]

We have been waiting to visit here and finally got the opportunity to do it. Their staff is very…read morefriendly, and the history behind every single thing is very interesting. Also, we came here during one of their events, and they had the Camel City exhibition. It was a fantastic experience.

I've visited Old Salem numerous times over the years. I was pleased on my latest visit that new…read morebuildings and exhibits were open. There is a large parking area at the Visitor's Center. Tickets are $27 for a two day pass. The staff provides you with a map and circles all the stops so you will not miss a thing. You can go in any order you'd like. There is a lot of walking so make sure you have comfortable shoes on. There are also restroom stops along the way that are marked on your map as they are not obvious. In the buildings you can see various trades performed and learn about the Moravian history. I enjoyed the Doctor's House; Boy's School as I had not seen those before but it was great to see the other buildings again and get questions answered by the staff. MESDA is now an additional fee and not included with the Old Salem ticket. Then there are just two tours a day. The Frank L. Horton Museum has two self guided galleries. There are a few places to eat while at Old Salem. The Tavern of Old Salem is a sit down restaurant with table service. The Flour Box has sandwiches, pastries and salads as well as a traditional tea service. Winkler Bakery has breads, cookies and pastries. Old Salem has done a great job of preserving history and lots of the exhibits are hands on. There are signs that say "please touch" in some of the buildings.

We popped by on a whim and ended up spending a lovely, informative hour-plus strolling thought this…read morehistoric village site, which is a collection of restored old homes and businesses (and yes, gardens) from the 1700 and 1800s. Interestingly enough there are private residences mixed in as well. OK, so maybe it's really not incredibly riveting but it's still kinda interesting to see how early American life played out for Moravian, Black, and Indigenous peoples that lived in the South. A few of the buildings had docents in period dress relating the history of the particular house (some of these require separate admission tickets) or demonstrating their trades. For instance, we passed by a gunsmith's shop with a working craftsman inside, but it cost to go in. The whole area includes the Historic Town of Salem, the Gardens at Old Salem, the Frank L. Horton Museum Center, and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) and is a few blocks from Winston-Salem's main downtown area, so probably best to park at the lot of the Museum/Gallery/visitor center and walk across the very cool Old Salem Covered Bridge to the village. We didn't have time to see all the grounds - which by the way, also have the site of the Original Site of Krispy Kreme Doughnut shop, which we did see, and were hugely disappointed by. It ain't nothing but an empty lot. But if you like old stuff like I do, you'll dig Old Salem even if you just go for half an hour. Plus it's mostly free.

Plenty of parking, nice entrance with beautiful grounds. Visited after a lot of rain so paths were…read moremuddy. Looks to be expanding, but what is available is well maintained with plenty of picture opportunities. For Free it is a nice area to get some fresh air and stretch your legs.

Truly a special place! The grounds are beautifully maintained with a wide variety of plants,…read moreflowers, and shaded walking paths that make it perfect for a relaxing afternoon. It feels peaceful and inviting, whether you're strolling through slowly, taking photos, or just enjoying the natural beauty around you. There are so many little details to appreciate, from the landscaping to the seasonal blooms, and it's clear that a lot of care goes into keeping the gardens looking their best. It's a wonderful spot to escape the hustle of everyday life, and it's free to enjoy, which makes it even more of a hidden treasure. I'll definitely be visiting again and would recommend it to anyone who loves nature, photography, or just wants a quiet and beautiful place to unwind

Wanting to get out of the house over the weekend, we decided to go explore. We tried to go to the…read morebog gardens which we'd never visited, but they are currently closed for renovations. Right near by, we came across the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden, another spot we've never explored. Parking was easy, they've got a decent size parking lot. Being a sunny, and hot Sunday morning, the tree coverage over the walk ways through the garden provide a ton of shade, which made for a very pleasant exploration. The whole garden is so nicely maintained, with probably a couple of miles worth of paved paths. There are plenty of sculptures to discover, and lots of benches to take a sit, and just enjoy being outside and the well manicured gardens. I'd recommend this to anyone looking to get out of the house and do a little urban exploring. It's even good for older people, as the paths are paved, with minimal hills.

Beautiful park and a wonderful pathway around the whole garden. Well kept and very relaxing. Lovely…read morearea for a quick photo shoot or a book to read in the sunlight. Thankful for clean restrooms located in the parking lot! Beautiful blooms around the springtime as they transition from bud to flower!

This is a neat museum at Old Salem. They have lots of beautiful furniture and decorative objects on…read moredisplay. We find the staff can be unfriendly. I would recommend checking it out while visiting Old Salem,

It's built in a old factory, restored and renovated- very beautiful. Again, probably the only other…read morething in this town that is actually open on Mondays. Most everything else (Old Salem tours, all museums, Farmer's markets, most of the theatre district) is all closed on Monday- note:Mondays aren't the time to visit. Friendly staff, cool air conditioner, even a pot of coffee and clean bathrooms await you, inside this quaint little shop. Unfortunately the elderly lady with the Christmas sweater in the middle of June (the air conditioner was probably on too high for her) was friendly, but resigned to the fact that we just came on the wrong day to do or see anything. She did direct us to the Colfax outdoor Farmer's market and was quite charming with her descriptions. However, her advice of "I never had a bad meal" when asked about restaurants in the area, didn't narrow the selection down much for a foodie. Again, not a whole was open, so picks were slim. It was a little unfortunate that we were not offered a map, for obvious reasons of roaming around this little town. She said she didn't have one. I guess I should have downloaded one from the web before. I was offered a map of Old Salem, which was a strip of Main street with all the historical buildings (most of which were closed, yes on Mondays.) Note to visitors: You'll probably find a little more comprehensive information on the web. Staff was friendly, but not all that informative. Did I mention, don't bother coming on Mondays! :)

The Green Hill Center for North Carolina a pleasant visit to view local artwork while spending a…read moreday in Greensboro

Greenhill is an awesome art gallery located at the Greensboro cultural Center in downtown. They…read morealso have a amazing artsy gift shop. You can park in the parking garage next to the library.

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum is located in the heart of Downtown Greensboro. It…read moreopened in 2010. The museum offers guided, self-guided, and virtual tours if you can't make it to Greensboro. I've done the guided tours and the self-guided tours. With the guided tour, you are provided with background information as you go through, and directed to specific things in each gallery. With the self-guided tours, you start with a video overview of what you will see in each gallery, then you go through the museum at your own pace. One tour isn't better than the other; it just depends on what you prefer. This museum is special in that it is located inside the 1929 F.W. Woolworth building, where the 1960 sit-ins at the lunch counter began. The L-shape lunch counter and the 69 stools remain where they were in 1960. This is where you first enter the galleries. Standing in front of the lunch counter where history was changed is unforgettable. The late Phil Freelon and his firm, the Freelon Group, handled the historic renovation and turned the building into a museum. Eisterhold Associates designed the interactive exhibits. The renovation and preservation made sure that many of the 1929 features remained. From the terrazzo floors to the plaster coffered ceilings. to the lunch counter, to the original stools, to the art deco stairway, to the basement, to the exterior red and gold Woolworth sign. The original dorm furniture is located in the basement. It was the planning room for the NC A&T students. The Hall of Shame is also located in the basement. It is very graphic and difficult to view, but it is so important to see these images, as you will never forget them. Segregated Greensboro shows the segregated signs and vending machines, advertising and The Green Book. The churches played a vital role in the Civil Rights Movement, as this is where they planned. Freedom Songs helped build courage before protests. There are interactive exhibits, and you can try a literacy test to suppress voting. The museum shifts from the dark side to successes. You will see mugshots of 1,200 peaceful protestors. Most of these are from other protests after the sit-ins, paying tribute to those who fought for equality. You can read about the legal triumphs after the sit-ins. After reading about other protests in the country, make sure to read through some of the names on the Wall of Remembrance, especially those you haven't heard about before. The last gallery has many black-and-white, tile-sized photos that form a mosaic of President Obama. They represent the power of community. It is a reminder that everyday people can bring change. Photography is not allowed in the museum galleries because much of the content is copyrighted. I take a lot of photos, so this was initially a challenge. But after a while, I just got so immersed in the exhibits.

Informative museum led by knowledgeable staff. Highlight was original Woolworth counter from iconic…read moresit-in. Note that protective face masks are required and no photography is allowed. I'd give 5 stars if I could have taken photos.