I haven't been to Winston Salem in many years but I did enjoy the Moravian Village. I remember Winston Salem being a very clean looking city.

If you don't mind driving about 140 miles and you've never been to Asheville, I'd suggest a trip over there to tour the Biltmore Estate. The "house" which is more the size of a castle and the grounds are breathtaking. Asheville city center also has a lot of interesting shops and restaurants.

Asheboro has a terrific zoo! It's probably about 35 or 40 miles away from WS. Near the zoo is an old covered bridge with trails for a nature walk. We loved that as much as the zoo and was especially peaceful. Maybe fall colors will be showing by then.

Biltmore! I've always wanted to go there. That zoo sounds good too!

I grew up going on family vacations to Fontana Village.
Big time memories:

Fontana Village Resort, a year round destination resort, is set amidst the pristine beauty of the Nantahala Forest of western North Carolina, gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The area's breathtaking mountain vistas and panoramic views from Fontana & Cheoah lakes provide memories to last a lifetime.

While you're in Winston, don't hit the routine, chain restaurants when you get hungry.

Now that it's been about 13 years since I left Winston, when I try to list the highlights, it seems it's all about the food for me! I'm not a "foodie," I know there are white-tablecloth restaurants there, but these are the tastes I still long for. (For a little "balance," I'll throw in some non-food places!)

(1) Go eat a key lime pie ice cream cone (graham cracker crust mixed into the ice cream--delish!) at Blue Ridge Ice Cream on Stratford Road (maybe after lunch at Midtown Cafe and Dessertery, right across the parking lot!) They have some unusual flavors, too.

(2) Stop in at the Carving Board sandwich place, also on Stratford, for, well, anything! (I loved, loved, loved their tuna w/apples and cranberries, and their roast-beef sandwiches.)

(3) Stop in at Hero House, down University Parkway, for falafel! (OK, if you don't like falafel, I'll e-mail you my address and you can FedEx it to me! LOL!) I think the gyros and meatball subs were tasty, too.

(4) Check out the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, off Reynolda. They had an adorable little (and I mean little!) gift shop there.

(5) The gardens at Reynolda House.

BUT BACK TO THE FOOD...

(6) Elizabeth's, also on University Parkway, for their pizza and garlic knots and chicken or veal parm and, let me emphasize: garlic knots.

[Darn--now I need to schedule a road trip!]

if its close to jacksonvile u could go to the memoial for the 6 guardmen killed in iraq my sons name is on it hugs linda

i forgot to say my son name on the monument is sgt Roger L Adams jr... THE 4 WERE KILLED ON 6-29-09

While at Winston-Salem, you might enjoy a drive through "Research Park". Many large conglomerates are there and all the office buildings are works of art. They let the architects go wild and they did - very modernistic.

In Asheville, there was a barbecue joint just off the downtown square. Its the best for miles around. Call ahead and try for a night when live entertainment shows up. Its either Friday or Saturday night. The night we were there, the "White Oak" cloggers showed up unannounced in costume, and they brought their fiddler. What a show they put on after the frist round of dinner was served. This group was had just won the state championship.

If you are in the area when fall colors appear, beware that all motel rooms fill on weekends along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The "leaf lookers' come out in droves. If you do not make a reservation, you may have to go 25 to 50 miles perpendicular to the parkway to find a room. Except for high color weekends, motel romms are generally plentiful after Labor Day. A few localized spots may fill when a homecoming game is played.

On the parkway south and then east of Asheville, there is a heritage museum that is worth a stop. They offer local crafts for sale. Its not cheap stuff! We saw a hand made quilt for $800 and that was 15 years ago.

On the parkway near the NC-VA border is Mabry Mill. Its the most photographed scene on the parkway. Its image has graced many calendars. If the fall colors are in force, be sure to get your photo of it. On weekends with color, the place is mobbed, but during the week, the crowd thins.

The speed limit is 45 mph for the entire length of the Parkway. Plan accordingly. There are many stunning overlooks along the parkway.

Can I go with you? I love N. Carolina......

I love Biltmore myself. Plus you can wander around in downtown Asheville and Biltmore Village. I don't remember when the Fall Festival kicks off but I know it is sometime this month. We took some family there a few years ago during Harvest Festival and it was a blast. I could wander the gardens for days. Before the nursery I worked for closed we were involved with rebuilding the rose garden. Lots of those roses came from us. So if you go, think of me!

Trish