NC: Winston-Salem 18th Century Old Salem

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So I crossed the Catawba again, picked up my Nana, buzzed through Rowan County, crossed the Yadkin and didn't stop til we hit the Old Salem Tavern in the 18th Century Village of Old Salem, Winston-Salem, NC.

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I wasn't perfectly at ease until I got my Bratwurst Platter fully ordered. Then I leaned back in my 1784 chair and cut Nana loose.

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"Ohhh," she began, "We never made it up here. We started out one morning around 1979 with Becky and Harold, but we had to turn back because your grandfather got sick."

(Harold and Becky on a similar road trip, way,way before 1979, but way, way after 1784.)
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I loved hearing Nana talk about the old days. I had anguished whether I should take this trip. I thought Nana'd love hitting the road and busting out of the Assisted Living for a day or two. But gas... mileage... upcoming trips to Charlotte weighed me down. Cars breaking down at home, end-of-the-quarter work in my "to-do" pile... It didn't seem like I should go. But I did. It was the right decision.--

I had never been to Old Salem either. Gram had unusually high energy that day and we had a great time. Old Salem is not handicap friendly. In an effort to re-create 18th century life as it was, the buildings have not been altered for wheelchair accessability. The people at the Visitor's Center were extremely friendly and helpful in advising me as to which exhibits Gram could possibly get into and which had too many stairs for her to climb.

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We got into the Hat Shop above and barely made it into the Bakery, here to the right. Those were three, rough, high, wet steps for Gram to climb, but she did it.
Employees and other visitors were very helpful to us.

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"Founded in 1766 by the Moravians, a Protestant faith that began in what is now known as the Czech Republic, the restored town of Salem is a vision of life in a congregational community in the early American South. Costumed tradesmen and women re-create life by producing essential goods like tools, ceramics, furniture, and metals using traditional practices of long ago. The Moravian Church and Salem residents kept meticulous records and accounts of their lives, allowing Old Salem Museums and Gardens to accurately restore the remaining original bldgs. and to tell the stories of those who lived and worked in Salem." [oldsalem.org]

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Most exhibits in the historic area require an All-in-One Salem ticket which you can get at the visitor center. Children 5 and under are free. None of the buildings we went in required a ticket, they were all free.
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These final photos are from the Winkler Bakery. Bread, cookies and other baked goods are still made in this wood-fired oven. We watched a fellow bake and he gave us a bite from a hot loaf of Moravian Sweet Bread. To die for. He then handed me a whole loaf which I purchased upon exit.
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Lookey to the right, way back on the counter - those are the sweet breads.... cooling.
The town is set up within a few cobblestone blocks, worth strolling through on a leisurely day. It was raining and misty for us and we couldn't use the wheelchair on the cobblestone, so we drove through slowly, parked and got out several times.
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If you're within an hour's drive, take a little trip to Old Salem. It's a wonderful way to spend the day. I can't wait to go back and take Eva.