September 15, 2021

Five Autumn Activities That Are Worth the Adventure

This fall, Winston-Salem beckons with spectacular sights, abundant sounds, and farm-grown flavors of autumn. Here are five autumn activities that are ready to be explored:

 

1. Discover Reynolda’s new Georgia O’Keeffe exhibit.

This September, Reynolda House Museum of American Art hosts an intimate, two-room exhibition exploring Georgia O’Keeffe as a gallerist in New York and as a collector in New York and New Mexico. The promised gift, O’Keeffe’s “Cedar Tree with Lavender Hills,” 1937, is joined by works by Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Calder, John Marin, Marsden Hartley, Charles Demuth, and Arthur Dove. The museum’s ongoing exhibition, “Voyage of Life,” remains on display through Dec. 12 and features works by Andy Warhol, Alice Neel, and Romare Bearden, each illuminating life chapters. While there, walk around the lush and verdant grounds of nearby Reynolda Gardens, a beloved project of Katharine Reynolds, local philanthropist and wife of R.J. Reynolds, founder of Reynolds Tobacco Company. Reynolda Village pays homage to the former estate’s glory, having converted many of the historic buildings to shops and eateries.

2. Sip, swirl, and savor our favorite fall color in the Yadkin Valley Wine Region.

With more than 45 wineries, the nearby Yadkin Valley Wine Region is a prime spot for fall leaf peeping. Several ofthe wineries sit nestled in the undulating knolls of the Piedmont and offer fun, fall events. Within an hour’s drive, a trip to the hills is worth it — especially if a glass of merlot is your go-to. “You’ll definitely see a lot more reds start coming out during the fall season,” says Jeremy Stamps, Yadkin-based sommelier, cicerone, and owner of The Wisdom Table. “You might see new vintages as the 2019 reds were arguably one of the best vintages in the past decade.” Since grapes are generally harvested this time of year, several wineries see a production increase, so the vineyards themselves are bursting with activity. For more information on a day trip to the Yadkin Valley Wine Region, visit here.

3. Meander (and nibble your way) along the Moravian Culinary Trail.

Fall back in time and enjoy our virtual Moravian Culinary Trail series that celebrates our deep Moravian food roots. The three-part trail starts with the whisper-thin Moravian cookie, continues with our famous Moravian Chicken Pie (not to be confused with pot pie!), and ends with buttery and slightly sweet Moravian sugar cake. Since settling here almost 270 years ago, we’ve seen Moravian influences grow throughout Winston-Salem, and now you can enjoy the flavors across the city. Since more than a million pounds of Moravian cookies are baked here every year, Triad Trolleys celebrates this with their Moravian Cookie Trail adventure. The trolley ride transports visitors directly to manufacturing locations where you learn the history and taste the mouth-watering flavors of the world’s thinnest cookie.

4. Get some steps in with Preservation Forsyth’s historic walking tours.

Throughout the month of October, Preservation Forsyth is hosting a series of walking tours in historic neighborhoods throughout the city. Each walk focuses on the unique history of that area and highlights some of Winston-Salem’s more iconic landmarks. These free, two-hour tours explore the history of unique neighborhoods of the city, its inspirational residents, and period-defined architecture of certain homes and businesses. Participants may recognize the iconic, clam shell-shaped and bright yellow Shell Station, the last of its kind still standing today. Other stops include historic shotgun houses and the Waughtown Cemetery while notable stories about Addie C. Morris, who helped found the African American orphanage, and Henry Fries, who was instrumental in the development of Wachovia Bank & Trust Company. Tour audio is available through personal cell phones. For more information, visit here.

5. Stroll the perfect fall foliage backdrop at Salem Lake.

Conveniently tucked away and just a 10-minute jaunt from downtown Winston-Salem, Salem Lake is surrounded by lush woods — making the shaded seven-mile loop trail ideal for a comfortable autumn hike, bike, or stroll during leaf-peeping season. Bike rentals are available from several locally-owned businesses at various price points. For more information on area hiking, biking, rolling, and walking, visit here. For more information on Winston-Salem in the fall, visit here