By Diane Selkirk
Winston-Salem, North Carolina is steeped in history. Alive with art, this is a place where strong women have thrived. In Exile on an Estate ~ Reynolda House Museum of American Art is one of those places you can just lose yourself. You can wander through the fully restored 1917 mansion as if you were a household guest, admiring the home and taking in the amazing art collection. Don’t miss a the trip downstairs, the full-sized one lane bowling alley and 1920’s bar need to be seen to be believed. When you are done in the house, have a wander through the formal garden. Find a cozy spot for yourself and take a moment to realize you are in the centre of a world that a very strong woman built.
Katharine Reynolds oversaw the building of the house and gardens and in doing so she became one of the most forward thinking employers of her time. She ensured her employees had transportation, housing and that their children had access to education.
Express Yourself (by roaring with the lions):
Think zoos are for kids? Think again. The NC Zoo provides 5-miles of walking trails through a variety of natural habitats. You can stretch your legs, and your imagination, as you walk through prairies, desert, and jungles. This zoo should make you feel good emotionally too. Many of the animals were rescued from dire circumstance and are now being nursed back to health in a professional and top rated AZA environment.
The zoo’s two polar bears used to perform in a Mexican Zoo, where they grew sick and thin. Now they are being cared for in a respectful way, their health has returned and they have even begun to play again.
Exorcise (and eat cake):
Some times you just have to indulge, and when you do, it ought to be amazing. Winston-Salem is a Mecca for guilt inducing goodies. The Moravians were masters at desert and the coffee cake and wafer cookies are still made in the old fashioned way. And Winston-Salem is the birth place of Krispy-Kreme donuts.
If those don’t tempt you, stop in at the Midtown Café and Dessertery. I couldn’t resist and sampled several of the cakes. The 5-flavor pound cake is famous, the ingredients are secret but I think I got close - vanilla, coconut, and lemon? Maybe it was orange. Check it out for yourself.
