Guided Media Excursions

Go beyond the training grounds, June 16–18. Join us for three curated afternoons designed to show you the best of Winston-Salem’s history, culture, and landscape.

We know your primary focus is on covering the German team practices, but we invite you to be our guest for a few hours to experience the "Twin City" firsthand. These tours are designed to be relaxed, insightful, and—most importantly—built around your schedule.

The Essentials (What to Know)

Cost: Free for accredited media. We provide all admission and food.
Schedule: Tours run June 16-18 (Mon–Wed), approximately 2–7:15 p.m.
Transportation: A shuttle is provided, departing from the WFU Media Center
Limited Space: Each trip is capped at 20 guests on a first-come, first-served basis.
Restrictions: Available for credentialed media only. Proof of valid media credentials required in order to sign up and attend any of the three listed excursions below.
For working journalists: While there's no requirement to provide coverage, they're designed for working journalists looking to create a destination-style feature on Winston-Salem. However, there are no strings attached — ultimately we want you to experience the city and all it has to offer.

Excursion 1 – Tuesday, June 16

Local Culture & Creativity

Highlights – Hands-on art creation, tour of Downtown Arts District, Contemporary Southern dining, optional pro baseball game.

Explore the intersection of Winston-Salem's storied industrial past and its vibrant creative present. We begin at Dabble Art Bar, a creative studio inside the historic West End Millworks complex, for a hands-on art activity before making the short drive to the Downtown Arts District — the city's creative heartbeat, defined by independent shops, working artist studios, and colorful murals.

Dinner takes us to a downtown favorite, Sage & Salt Bistro, serving Southern-inspired "New American" fare inside one of the city's most historic buildings: the 1913 Southbound Railroad Depot. After dinner, the evening brings an optional taste of a classic American pastime — a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game, High-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Tentative Itinerary

2:00 p.m. – Shuttle will depart from WFU Media Center
2:15 p.m. – Hands-on workshop at Dabble Art Bar
3:30 p.m. – Guided walking tour of the Downtown Arts District
5:30 p.m. – Dinner at Sage & Salt Bistro
*7:00 p.m. – Winston-Salem Dash baseball game at Truist Stadium (*optional)

Excursion 2 – Wednesday, June 17

Deep Roots & German Connection

Highlights – Private tours of Bethabara and Old Salem, Innovation Quarter tour, wood-fired pizza and brewery visit.

Discover how a city built on Central European craftsmanship has evolved into a hub for modern innovation. We begin at the very beginning — with the German-speaking Moravians who first settled the region — exploring Old Salem Museums & Gardens, a 1766 living history enclave of original buildings and costumed interpreters that reflects a culture of precision and artistry. Among its landmarks: the nation's oldest continuously operating bakery.

The story jumps to the present at downtown's Innovation Quarter (IQ), where former tobacco factories have become one of the nation's fastest-growing research parks. We conclude with craft beer and wood-fired pizza at Cugino Forno in the "Coal Pit" — the social heart of the IQ, where industrial past and high-tech future feel very much at home together.

Tentative Itinerary

2:00 p.m. – Shuttle will depart from WFU Media Center
2:15 p.m. – Guided tour of Historic Bethabara Park
3:30 p.m. – Guided tour of Old Salem Museums & Gardens
5:30 p.m. – Walk-through tour of downtown’s Innovation Quarter
6:00 p.m. – Dinner at Cugino Forno Pizzeria, with local craft beer
7:15 p.m. – Shuttle will return to WFU Media Center. (End)

Excursion 3 – Thursday, June 18

Scenic Views & Vineyards

Highlights – eBike Tour, Pilot Mountain hike, dinner and tasting at JOLO Winery.

\Trade the city skyline for the stunning vistas of the North Carolina Foothills. We begin with a breezy e-bike tour along the city's scenic greenway system, ending at the Quarry Park overlook — where massive granite cliffs meet hypnotic blue water for one of the city's most striking views.

The adventure continues just north of the city at Pilot Mountain, one of the South's most recognizable natural landmarks. A short hike leads to the park's main overlook and sweeping 360-degree views: the surrounding Foothills, the city skyline, and the distant Blue Ridge Mountains.

The afternoon then shifts pace. We trade the trails for the rolling vineyards of the Yadkin Valley — the Carolinas' most celebrated wine region — settling in at JOLO Winery for a tasting and sunset dinner overlooking the vines. The setting feels surprisingly reminiscent of the European countryside, yet distinctly Southern in charm.

Tentative Itinerary

2:00 p.m. – Shuttle will depart from WFU Media Center
2:30 p.m. – Guided eBike tour of local greenways and Quarry Park
4:00 p.m. – Visit and short hike at Pilot Mountain State Park
5:30 p.m. – Vineyard tour and wine dinner at JOLO Winery & Vineyards
7:30 p.m. – Shuttle will return to Media Center. (End)