Winston-Salem is a fantastic place to raise a family. There are so many opportunities for community engagement with kids and ways that you can connect with our local organizations, farms, and history for impactful hands-on learning and entertainment. Let me share with you just some of the amazing things to do with your kids in Winston-Salem to make picture-perfect memories that will last a lifetime!
Nine Super Fun Things To Do In Winston-Salem With Kids
Kaleideum
Kaleideum is an interactive children’s museum and center for learning where kids get to play, explore, and have fun! Born from a merger between SciWorks and The Children’s Museum of Winston Salem, Kaledium works hard to provide visitors of all ages with opportunities to see the world through a variety of different lenses and perspectives. Just like looking through a kaleidoscope! With two locations (Kaleideum Downtown and Kaleideum North), there is an exhibit to pique every interest and inspire every curiosity.
They have plenty of exhibits that encourage creativity, inventing, and making, as well as climbing and using physical experimentation to make scientific discoveries about principles like physics and gravity. Learn about unique animals, North Carolina’s ecosystems. And even practice basic life skills through play! Like grocery shopping and packing Krispy Kreme doughnuts (one of life’s most important lessons!) In addition, Kaleideum is expanding their Things To Do In Winston-Salem With Kids! They are anticipating a fall 2023 opening of their new downtown facility, with over 5 stories of opportunity for hands-on learning and play!
Gateway Nature Preserve
Incredible things can happen when we stick together and put our minds to the test. Gateway Nature Preserve is a beautiful example of that! In 2008, a group of neighbors from Washington Park and West Salem banded together to protect a nearby 19-acre site from commercial development. They raised money to purchase the land and then paid to keep it protected in perpetuity. Today, Gateway Nature Preserve is all about educating the greater community about the importance of ecosystems and protecting our environment. They also proudly raise awareness about climate change, and work to discover ways to create a more sustainable world.
Try hiking their half-mile Forest Discovery Trail and learn as you walk at seven different stations along the path. Visit the Pollinator Garden with over 120 native trees, shrubs, and perennials that provide a much-needed habitat for butterflies, bees, and other important pollinators. Salem Creek’s sandy beach provides water for wildlife and is a great place to bring your little ones to play! The Story Circle is a gathering place of stumps perfect for sharing stories and making new memories. Gateway Nature Preserve has plenty of opportunities for families to play and engage with nature. Because they know you’re more likely to want to protect something that you feel connected to!
Reynolda
Reynolda is a stunningly beautiful estate that connects people “to the beauty and complexity of the American story through the integration of learning, art, nature, and history.” Its beautiful estate-turned-art museum was built in 1912. It was privately beloved until it was donated to Wake Forest University to be preserved as a haven for others to enjoy! It became an institution dedicated to the arts and education in 1964. And it has been growing and evolving as a public place to gather, learn, and grow ever since.
Today, they offer plenty of opportunities to experience art and nature with your little ones! Kids under the age of 18 get in free. So you can take in the beautiful Reynolda house and its art exhibits and wander the beautiful gardens hand in hand. They also have hands-on, creative workshops designed with kids in mind that will align with the museum’s current collections and exhibits, a scavenger hunt to keep kids engaged as they explore the property, and Reynolda Read-Alouds, which are outdoor storytimes with books, songs, and take-home activities to enjoy as a family!
Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Winston-Salem is a pretty awesome and historic place, and Old Old Salem Museums & Gardens is a celebration of the history and unique stories that have made this area what it is! Considered to be one of the most comprehensive history attractions, it is a collection of museums (The Historic Town of Salem, The Galleries at Frank L. Horton Museum Center, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, and the Gardens at Old Salem) that engage visitors in an educational experience. Each museum is dedicated to sharing the rich, authentic, and diverse cultural history of the early south, with special emphasis on the Moravians, enslaved and free people of African descent, and Indigenous peoples of the Southern Woodland.
You and your kids can explore our area’s history by taking in historical artifacts and pieces of artwork, listening to authentic stories, and learning about the kinds of people that have helped to make Winston-Salem the amazing place that it is. This fun thing to do In Winston-Salem with kids will help you appreciate the present and the past of the city.
Alpha & Omega Corn Maze
Alpha & Omega Corn Maze is a 20-acre agricultural complex with plenty of unique entertainment opportunities! What began as a field of corn and a tent filled with pumpkins has now grown into one of Winston-Salem’s most beloved seasonal traditions. In late June, the 5 acres of corn fields are planted with over 200,000 corn kernels, and once the stalks have grown at least a foot, they bring in their mower to cut paths that form a main trail for an adventurous corn maze to be enjoyed in the fall!
When you and your family visit Alpha & Omega Corn Maze in autumn, you’ll get to experience their maze trails, exciting hayrides and horse-drawn carriage rides, pig races, pony rides, and so much more! Pick out a pumpkin or two (or a dozen!) to take home with you, and enjoy live music, holiday markets, and delicious treats. In the spring, Alpha & Omega opens for an epic Easter helicopter egg drop you’ll have to see in person to believe! It’s the perfect spot for some down-home memory-making (and is a great spot for seasonal family photos!)
Red Hound Farms
Farming is an important industry in the Winston-Salem area. So Red Hound Farms gives you and your kids the opportunity to experience farm life up close! Founded almost 100 years ago in 1929, Red Hound Farms has now grown to a 160-acre farm! Additionally, they are home to 5 horses, 100 cows, six dogs, 2 alpacas, goats, chickens, cats, geese, and more! They love sharing their farm with the community and offer a variety of activities that encourage visitors to engage with and fall in love with the magic of their farm.
Red Hound Farms offers activities like Story Time. A free event that gathers kids from the community to read a story aloud for free. With the option to buy lunch and have a picnic! They have an animal petting and feeding area. There you are invited to touch-friendly farm animals and feed them nutritious food. Kids ages 6 – 12 can experience Farm Camp in the summers. Designed to teach younger generations the importance of farming, all while getting to experience how a farm works hands-on! Like most everything farm-related, Red Hound Farms’ activities are seasonal. So be sure to check their website for opening dates and event schedules!
Historic Bethabara Park
Centuries ago, Winston-Salem was home to a large German-speaking Moravian community. And Bethabara was the first European settlement in the North Carolina Piedmont. Today, Historic Bethabara Park is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of this significant era and community. The park spans 183 acres of preserved wildlife, historic buildings, trails, and more. Their gardens provide opportunities to connect to the earth and learn about important pollinators and medicinal plants used by the Moravians hundreds of years ago!
Today, when you visit Historic Bethabara Park, you’ll get an authentic look into what life looked like in the Moravian community when it was founded in the 1700s. You may even get to experience trade demonstrations! Like blacksmithing, textile weaving, or carving to see some historical tools and skills in action! Schedule a guided tour for an insightful and educational experience, or check out one of their unique themed events!
The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem
The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem is a community theatre that prides itself on its professional-quality productions and experiences. It’s been providing for quality productions for over 80 years! At its heart, community theatre encourages local citizens to flex their creative and collaborative muscles by volunteering. Whether onstage or off. Theatre encourages audiences and storytellers to see things from a new perspective. In addition to being an entertaining activity, it’s also an excellent catalyst for important conversations and learning!
The Little Theatre’s regular seasons typically include a few family-friendly productions that are great for including your child in a theatre-going experience. They can also get involved themselves through their youth classes and camps. Designed to entertain, engage, and enrich the youngest Winston-Salem citizens. Whether your kid is a confident performer or brand new to the stage, they’ll find their place and their voice at The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem!
Bookmarks
Bookmark is an independent bookstore that opened in 2017 as a place for locals to discover new books and meet as a community. They have a stage, a conference room, and mobile bookshelves that make it a convenient spot for gatherings. Additionally, they currently host more than 15 community events each month! Bookmarks is dedicated to increasing access to books for all of Winston-Salem. Kids and adults enjoy a collective effort to create positive change.
Bookmarks also hosts Storytime, which is “a celebration of the experience of discovery.” It allows families to unplug from the screens and spend time together exploring and cultivating community through books. They are held once a month and are totally free. But you don’t have to wait for Storytime to visit and experience the magic of Bookmarks! Their expert staff will happily help you and your family find the perfect new book to take home. Then read together whenever you want it!
Things To Do In Winston-Salem With Kids
With so many opportunities to learn, grow, and play in our community, it’s no wonder that Winston-Salem is a fantastic place to raise a family. Check out these amazing things to do in Winston-Salem with kids, and let me know what you think!
Are you trying to find another way to make these moments in your child’s life last? Why not book some photos? I know how quickly these years fly by. It’s my job to make sure you can preserve these moments forever! If you’ve been considering booking a session, then I’d love to connect! So let’s chat today to find out more!
