City Strolls

A trip to Winston-Salem is a walk in the park.

By: Laura Lee

Winston-Salem is home to dozens of parks and nearly 30 miles of greenways, inviting locals and visitors to soak in the scenery and explore the great outdoors.

Built in 1917, Reynolda Gardens was designed by R.J. Reynolds’ wife, Katharine, and is adjacent to the former Reynolds family home (Reynolda) Now part of Wake Forest University, the grounds serve as a 134-acre urban oasis with flowering gardens, scenic walking trails, a wetlands area, historic greenhouse, and a stunning waterfall bridge.

“Katharine built the estate for health reasons during the time of the 1918 pandemic,” notes Jon Roethling, Reynolda Gardens director. “The gardens were located by the road intentionally, not behind the house like other estates, so the public could have easy access.” reynolda.org

Reynolda (pictured above) is one of several must-see historic gardens in Winston-Salem. At Historic Bethabara Park, you can stroll through the nation's oldest medicinal and community gardens. And don't miss the award-winning Single Brothers Garden at Old Salem, which showcases items Moravian settlers grew here centuries ago. You can find more details on the city’s historic gardens at visitwinstonsalem.com

The City of Winston-Salem maintains a network of more than a dozen paved and unpaved trails, boardwalks, and bridges. Opened in 2018, Long Branch Trail meanders along 1.6 miles of downtown’s former rail corridor. The paved trail is popular with cyclists and accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.

Long Branch Trail (seen left) also connects the city’s Innovation Quarter with Salem Creek Greenway, a 5-mile paved trail that links the historic Washington Park neighborhood with Salem Lake Park. That’s where you’ll find the 7-mile Salem Lake Trail, offering beautiful water views, as well as serene paths through the forest. Forget your bike? You can rent eBikes locally from Triad Eco Adventures or download the SPIN app to access dozens of eBikes parked around town. cityofws.org/Greenways

Explore Our Historic Gardens

Dig into the city's inspiring beauty and rich history by touring our collection of historic and heirloom gardens. Scan to learn more.