Joe and I like to take mini vacations over the weekend. For this trip, we choose Winston-Salem (W-S), NC. W-S is home of the original Krispy Kreme and of course the (former) big tobacco giant RJ Reynolds. Our criteria include that the place be:
- Less than a three hour drive each way (only 1.5 hours)
- Has reasonable accommodations (Hampton Inn around $100 ish)
- Has a few interesting things to do (see list below)
Our whole trip lasts 30 hours as we leave at 10am Saturday and return after a detour through Concord at 4pm. Thankfully the weather is bright and sunny but brisk with highs in the mid 50s. I wear my Northface down jacket and am comfortable. We cover quite a bit of ground but in that time, I manage to read an entire book and parts of two others. We have down time!
Day 1 – Saturday
- Sweet Potatoes
- PBJ – Fried pork chop with peanut butter and banana aioli topped with bacon, cheddar cheese and tomato jam on a Sweet potato bun
- Sweet potato with butter, sour cream, bacon, and pineapple
- Black Mountain Chocolate Factory
- Drinking chocolate with cinnamon and cayenne and toasted marshmallow
- Shops on Trade St
- Old Salem shops
- Site of original Krispy Kreme
- Fratelli’s (double date with a BFF is such a BONUS!!!!)
- Rib eye with loaded mashed potatoes
Day 2 – Sunday
- Cooks Flea Market
- Camino Bakery (didn’t stay)
- Washington Perk / Larry’s Coffee
- Decaf cappuccino with lavender
- Jeffrey Adams on Fourth
- Fried chicken with Brussels sprouts and gouda mac & cheese
En route home
- The Depot antique shops in Concord
There’s a reason this place has SO many great reviews on Yelp. Sweet Potatoes has excellent service and most interesting food combinations. Foodies unite in this unique southern restaurant with soul and charm. Joe and I split an appetizer and meal which is the perfect amount.
- PBJ – Fried pork chop with peanut butter and banana aioli topped with bacon, cheddar cheese and tomato jam on a Sweet potato bun
- Sweet potato with butter, sour cream, bacon, and pineapple
Next stop is the Black Mountain Chocolate Factory which interestingly, only has one location total and it’s in Winston-Salem. The owners decided to stop commuting from W-S to Black Mountain so they just moved the whole shop down.
Get the drinking chocolate with a toasted marshmallow. You won’t be disappointed!
Downtown W-S is so happening now that it has it’s own logo, website, and banners galore.
Joe and I visit the old Salem shops. Besides a couple of guys in turbans, we are the only people there without children.
I am so excited to see the marker of the original Krispy Kreme until I realize it’s literally a plaque on the ground. It’s very underwhelming but at least I can say I’ve been there. Ugh! I’ll stick to the KK by the house from now on.
Old Salem is boooooooring. Granted, we don’t buy tickets so we can’t see anything of the actual exhibits. All we can see if gift shops and a few old timey things. I’m glad I saw it but don’t ever need to see it again.
Dinner is at an iconic restaurant for W-S called Fratelli’s. It’s an Italian steakhouse which sounds like an oxymoron. Charlotteans – think Beef & Bottle meets Village Tavern. The service and food are fantastic but the company is truly the treat!
Come Sunday, Joe and I venture to some spontaneous spots. We swing by Cook’s Flea Market which is an interesting event but once again, I never need to go there again. It’s a conglomeration of lots of cheap things sold in booths. Most are new items though.
After our quick detour, we try to visit Camino Bakery only to met with a line 20 people long. So we take another detour across the street to Washington Perk. This is the most disgustingly hipster cup I’ve seen in a while. Don’t mind that I ordered a decaf cappuccino with lavender. I’m not a hipster. I didn’t put a bird on it.
I immediately recognize the place and recall this photo I took a few years back. I’m proudly sporting my KK shirt to honor W-S. I try to recreate the photo but instead end up in an awkward Wonder Woman meets yoga person meets white girl drinking decaf cappuccino with lavender. Thank goodness I didn’t order a pumpkin spiced latte to go with my Uggs.
On the way back to Charlotte, I spot a billboard that says antiques at the Depot. We quickly add a GPS stop to the phone route (dang, we are so spoiled) and head over.
The Depot is killin’ it in terms of antiques galore. Not that I’m an antiquer but we have a gallery wall design idea (watch for that blog) and find all we need while wading through. I took this photo because this booth with the mannequin is beyond creepy. I can’t help but stare and now you will too.
Check out “the dash” sometime. The twin city can be a fun place for a 30 hour getaway!