Today’s Forecast

84º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:21 a.m. | Sunset 8:13 p.m.

North Carolina has it all — the green scenery, the bustling city life, the beaches, and amazing weather. | Photos by WStoday, RALtoday, CLTtoday + AVLtoday

Now that summer is quickly approaching, how about a road trip in one of the most naturally beautiful states? Here are six day trip ideas outside of Winston-Salem to explore more of the natural beauty in NC.

North Carolina Zoo (~50 minutes from Winston-Salem)

Embark on an adventure to the world’s largest natural habitat zoo. Choose from various experiences perfect for the entire family. Check out the seasonal Kaleidoscope Butterfly Garden exhibit to see native US and exotic species of butterflies. Day pass tickets cost $15. Pro tip: Save this map to orient yourself around the grounds.

Lake Norman (~60 minutes from Winston-Salem)

WStoday: See views of Lake Norman from Toucan restaurant's patio. — Take in the view from the patio at Toucan’s Lakefront while enjoying your food.
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Photo by WStoday

If you need to find your zen by the lake, this spot offers a peaceful atmosphere to slow down and catch a breath. Spend a day on the lake while enjoying a boat ride, shop at Birkdale Village, and grab lunch on the patio Toucan’s Lakefront to take in a great view of the serene water. Pro tip: See some of the most beautiful sunsets at Ramsey Creek Park.

Boone (~90 minutes from Winston-Salem)

This expedition is for the outdoor adventurer. Drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, plus explore the breathtaking view from Grandfather Mountain’s peaks. Hop on the Tweetsie Railroad and see the beauty of the picturesque North Carolina mountains along a three-mile loop.

A photo of people riding a roller coaster with their hands in the air. — Carowinds’ Fury 325 is the longest steel coaster in North America.
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Photo via WCNC

Charlotte (~90 minutes from Winston-Salem)

Hey CLTtoday. If you like the hustle and bustle of city life, the Queen City’s got it. Spend the day exploring Charlotte’s most iconic landmarks, stop for brunch at these restaurants to satisfy your cravings, and end the day at Carowinds. Pro tip: Stop by Amelie’s French Bakery in Uptown and taste French pastries made from scratch. We promise you won’t regret it.

Come along for a ride

Asked

How often do you road trip?

A. Once a month
B. Seasonally (spring, summer, fall, winter)
C. Every week
D. Barely, I like to stay in my city

All bets car off

Events

Tuesday, May 7

Winston-Salem Dash vs. Asheville Tourists | Tuesday, May 7 | 11 a.m. | Truist Stadium, 951 Ballpark Way, Winston-Salem | $13-$53 | It’s Education Day (read: a great opportunity for schools to bring out students as a field trip).*

Wednesday, May 8

Spanish for Early Intermediate Learners | Wednesday, May 8 | 5:30 p.m. | Walkertown Branch Library, 2969 Main St., Walkertown | Free | Learn and improve your Spanish with guidance from experienced instructor Susan Moretz.

Thursday, May 9

Free Skin Cancer Screenings | Thursday, May 9 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Dermatology — Country Club, 4618 Country Club Rd., Winston-Salem | Free | Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist dermatologists will perform a basic exam through a spot check or an in-depth screening — no insurance or appointment is required.
RetroVinyl Live | Thursday, May 9 | 7-10 p.m. | Joymongers Barrel Hall, 480 W. End Blvd., Winston-Salem | Free | Watch the band debut at their first local show as they perform covers of well-known songs from the 80s and 90s.

Friday, May 10

Novel Organic Practices in the Landscape and Garden | Friday, May 10 | 12-1 p.m. | NC Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center, 1450 Fairchild Rd., Winston-Salem | Free, RSVP | Learn about fertilization practices, soil care, and how to use native plants for a healthy, abundant landscape.
“Once On This Island” | Friday, May 10 | 7:30 p.m. | Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, Ihrie Theatre, 650 W. 6th St., Winston-Salem | $19-$21 | Watch the love story of a peasant girl who rescues a wealthy boy from the other side of the island.

Saturday, May 11

Prints and Petals | Saturday, May 11 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | The Tiny Spa (front parking lot), 1204 Reynolda Rd., Ste. B, Winston-Salem | Cost of purchase | Pick out vintage art prints and cards, plus choose a handmade bouquet of locally grown blooms.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

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Announced

Wake Forest University unveils new Face to Face Speaker Forum lineup

a collage featuring headshots of five different people

Mark your calendars for these can’t-miss events. | Photo courtesy of the Wake Forest University Face to Face Speaker Forum

Face to Face has announced five blockbuster speakers for Season Four that you will not want to miss. Here’s what to expect:

Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning on September 11
CNN anchor + 60 Minutes correspondent Anderson Cooper on November 21
Award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward on December 5
Political commentator David Brooks on February 27, 2025
Multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend on April 8, 2025

Pro tip: Subscriptions, which give you access to all events, are now available.

Subscribe to the series

News Notes

Real Estate

The former Kaleideum North facility could go up for sale. Forsyth County Commissioners said they are willing to work with Kaleideum to transfer the 28-acre property to schools or other community organizations. In the meantime, they’ve agreed to spend ~$36,000 to keep the facility in good shape. (WFDD)

Announced

The Hispanic League has officially announced the date for its Annual Fiesta Festival. The daylong celebration will take place at Truist Stadium (951 Ballpark Way) on Sept. 14. The annual tradition celebrates Hispanic culture with food, music, and family fun — it is free and open to the public.

Network

Join the Sugar Mamas Movement Financial Freedom Seminar and learn from experts about budgeting, saving, investing, and taking control of your finances on Saturday, May 11. Tickets cost $50 for the in-person event at UR Coliseum (4421 Poindexter Rd., Walkertown), which takes place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Shop

Get great deals on household goods at the Miller Park Community Yard Sale. Patrons can shop from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Older Adults

There’s still time to nominate a local adult aged 70+ who makes a difference in the community. Nominations for the 7 over Seventy Awards close on Friday, May 10. Know someone who qualifies? Submit a nomination form online or in person at Senior Services (2895 Shorefair Dr. NW).

Plan Ahead

Want to know what makes a house green? Learn about solar panels, pollinator gardens, rain barrels, and more at the Green Home Tour on Saturday, June 1. The self-guided tour takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in local neighborhoods. Tickets cost $35.

Community

Your WStoday Editors here. We care about Winston-Salem. We also care about the people in it. That’s why every day, we bring you positive, impactful news stories about our city — skipping the political talk, crime coverage, and biased reporting. Support our approach to local news with a one-time donation.

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Finance

This $1 billion startup is disrupting the retirement industry

A financial advisor could help you save and invest for retirement. | Photo provided by SmartAsset

This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161M to help people plan for retirement.

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise millennial planning ahead — SmartAsset’s free quiz makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. Research suggests that people who work with a financial advisor could end up with 15% more money to spend in retirement.¹

Ready to kickstart your retirement plans?

Get your financial advisor matches today

¹ “Journal of Retirement Study Winter” (2020). The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of your future results. Please follow the link to see the methodologies employed in the Journal of Retirement study.

The Buy

A gift for your favorite teacher. We promise this is better than a shiny apple on their desk. Check out our teacher appreciation giveaway on Six and Main’s Instagram.

Answered

Last week, we asked: Who are you most excited to see during this Face to Face season? Here’s what you said:

John Legend — 33%
Anderson Cooper — 26%
Peyton Manning — 24%
Jesmyn Ward — 7%
David Brooks — 5%
All of them — 5%

Some of you suggested celebrities you’d like to see come to the Twin City:
“Michelle Obama” — Sheldon M.
“Heather Cox Richardson” — Annie J.
“Martha Stewart” — Linda D.
“Michael Buble” — Frank
“Oprah Winfrey” — Shelley D.
“Jennifer Lopez” — Verónica M.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Kellina

From the editor

Hope Du Jour is today, where participating restaurants will donate 10% of their proceeds to Crisis Control Ministry. City Editor Cambridge and I are looking forward to eating breakfast together + supporting the nonprofit’s mission of helping families in need.

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