Curious what are other writers, content creators, and publications are saying about Winston-Salem?
True—we think Winston-Salem is an amazing place to visit. But you don't have to take our word for it. See what others are saying in this collection of recent press and media highlights. From articles to accolades, broadcasts to blogs, we're very proud of all the attention Winston-Salem continues to receive. Check back for updates!
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Wine Enthusiast
"The Nonconformist Potential of North Carolina's Yadkin Valley AVA"
The Yadkin Valley stole the spotlight in the April 2025 issue of Wine Enthusiast, a publication read by 5.1 million worldwide. The magazine featured the wine region in a beautifully written article by Amy Beth Wright, a former VWS-hosted guest. The article highlights the region's dedicated winemakers, thriving vineyards, and camaraderie. As Mark Friszolowski of Childress Vineyards notes, “You can’t grow a wine region without camaraderie.”
Southern Living
"25 Places to Visit in 2025"
Southern Living named Reynolda one of the "25 Best Places To Go in 2025." The article was cowritten by Tara Massouleh McCay, Senior Travel and Culture Editor at Southern Living (and a VWS-hosted guest). The article encourages readers to "Visit one of the best-kept secrets in this vibrant college town," before getting into Reynolda's multi-faceted allure, calling it the "ultimate springtime day trip."
Cape Fear Living
"Timeless Elegance at Kimpton Cardinal"
Cape Fear Living, the Wilmington, NC, lifestyle magazine, profiled Kimpton Cardinal Hotel in its March 2025 issue. It was written by former VWS-hosted guest Colleen Thompson, who stated, "If you’re looking for a city that’s balancing history, style, and a little bit of whimsy, Winston-Salem has arrived."
Winston-Salem Magazine
"Wonder Women of Winston-Salem" (Stephanie Pace Brown profile)
Our very own Stephanie Pace Brown, president of Visit W-S, graced the Winston-Salem Magazine cover in their March 2025 issue. In the article, she describes tourism as a "team sport" that creates life-enriching experiences for visitors while benefiting the community. "We often invite media members to visit Winston-Salem,” Brown says. “I love seeing the stories they create [and] seeing the community through their eyes." Congrats, Stephanie!
PBS-NC
NC Weekend visits Bookmarks
NC Weekend, the popular PBS-NC program with 2.8M weekly viewers, visited Bookmarks in as part of its recent episode, "Book Crawl Across the State." The segment toured Bookmarks' downtown bookshop, highlighted its literacy outreach programs, and previewed September's annual Bookmarks Festival of Books, the biggest book event in the Carolinas.
Forbes.com
"Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S."
Forbes spotlighted two Winston-Salem favorites—Ryan’s Restaurant and JOLO Vineyards—in its roundup of the Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. The article, written by friend of VWS Michele Hermann, also used a photo of JOLO as its lead image. It was published alongside OpenTable.com's ranking of America's most romantic dining spots. Notably, only two other North Carolina restaurants earned a spot on the list, further underscoring the city's exceptional dining scene.
Garden & Gun
"Winston-Salem: A City of Contrast and Creativity"
Garden & Gun recently showcased Winston-Salem as a city where history and innovation converge to create something extraordinary. The article highlights Winston-Salem’s rich cultural arts scene, vibrant culinary offerings, and well-preserved historic districts. As longtime local Sue Henderson puts it, “Winston-Salem isn’t just a place to visit—it’s a place to watch history, innovation, nature, culture, tradition, and creativity coalesce. It just draws people in.”
MSN.com
"Best Cities to Raise a Family"
MSN.com included Winston-Salem in its rankings of "100 Best U.S. Cities to Raise a Family." Cities of all sizes were ranked, earning high marks for things such as safety, education, recreation, and affordability. Winston-Salem were the fourth-highest-rated city in the Carolinas, coming in at #64.
Southern Living
“The 15 Best Things to Do in Winston-Salem.”
Southern Living recently highlighted “The 15 Best Things to Do in Winston-Salem.” In the article, author Nicole Letts (who came to Winston-Salem on a hosted visit recently) notes that “Winston-Salem embraces its history while turning toward its future as a vibrant city.” We couldn’t agree more!
Southern Home
"Enjoy a city that celebrates arts, history, and nature."
Southern Home, a national home décor, design, and travel publication, featured Winston-Salem in its January issue. The Alabama-based magazine has a monthly readership of over 300,000.
Southern Living
"Experience An Old-Timey Christmas in This Charming NC Town"
Southern Living highlighted Old Salem Museum & Gardens in their December 2024 issue. Specifically highlighting the joy of the holiday season in Winston-Salem, this article showcased the rich history of Old Salem's Moravian heritage. In addition to appearing in the printed magazine (7.2M subscribers), the article was featured prominently on Southern Living's website.
Forbes.com
"7 Spectacular Holiday Light Displays"
Forbes highlighted Tanglewood Festival of Lights as part of an article on "7 Spectacular Holiday Light Displays." Every year, the landscape of Tanglewood Park comes aglow with the twinkle of more the one million holiday lights. The article has generated an incredible 51 million unique impressions since being posted.
Yahoo Life
5 Beautiful NC Cities for Vacations This Winter
Yahoo Life, the lifestyle arm of media giant Yahoo, named Winston-Salem as one of the state's top cities to visit on a budget. The article notes that visitors will “enjoy a small-town feel but no shortage of activities and entertainment options” and highlights accommodations that fit all budget sizes.
PBS-NC
NC Weekend: "Historic Winston-Salem Hotels"
North Carolina Weekend, the popular PBS-NC show with 2.8M weekly viewers, toured several historic inns and hotels on its Nov. 21 episode. The six-minute segment included visits to Graylyn, Historic Brookstown Inn, and Kimpton Cardinal Hotel.
Crazy Blonde Life (influencer)
"Travel Guide - Winston-Salem"
Charlotte lifestyle blogger Suzanne Smith, who runs the popular social media page Crazy Blonde Life, recapped her visit to Winston-Salem with a detailed blog post and series of engaging Instagram reels. Visit Winston-Salem hosted Smith and her husband in the fall as they celebrated their wedding anniversary, with an itinerary that allowed them to explore the local cuisine, museums and historic attractions, downtown, and more.
Northern Virginia Magazine
“Former Tobacco Town Now Shines with Brews, Gardens, and Arts”
Northern Virginia Magazine ran this travel-focused feature on Winston-Salem in its November 2024 issue. Titled “Former Tobacco Town Now Plays Well with Brews, Gardens, and Arts,” the article was written by writer Amy White. We had the honor of hosting her and crafting her itinerary earlier in the year.
Smart Southern Style (influencer)
"Winston-Salem Travel Guide"
Laura Long, who runs the popular social media outlet Smart Southern Style, highlighted Winston-Salem in a blog post series of social media reels. VWS hosted Laura and helped plan her itinerary during a 3-night visit over the summer.
USA Today
"Top 10 Best Boutique Hotels in the US"
Congratulations to Graylyn for being included in USA Today’s 10Best ranking of Top 10 Boutique Hotels in America in 2024. From the article: “Winston-Salem's own version of "Downton Abbey" treats visitors like royalty, while homemade butterscotch cookies and a fishing pond count among the unique pleasures at this 55-acre historic property.”
Top 50 Pizzerias
"America's Top 50 Pizzerias"
The Top 50 Pizza organization ranked Mission Pizza No. 21 on its 2024 list, the highest ranking of any pizzeria in the Carolinas. The honor is the latest in a slew of awards for Mission Pizza and Owner Peyton Smith, who was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award in 2022. The Trade Street pizzeria is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024.
Magnolia Megan (influencer)
"Things To Do in Winston-Salem"
Visit Winston-Salem hosted popular Raleigh-based influencer and Miss North Carolina runner up Megan Pintell, aka Magnolia Megan, for a three-night stay in April 2024. Megan, who would go on to become runner-up in the Miss North Carolina pageant later that year, created a variety of content during her visit, including a Travel Guide blog and several social media reels.
Forbes.com
"America’s Top Cities for Young Professionals"
Forbes ranked Winston-Salem the top city in North Carolina (and #20 nationwide) in its list of Best Places for Young Professionals for 2024. The list was compiled covering factors such as employment and pay, housing affordability, cost of living, and lifestyle. The ranking came on the heels of another Top 10 finish in Forbes 2024 ranking of “Best U.S. Cities for Renters.”
The Capturing Couple (influencers)
"Winston-Salem: One of North Carolina's Hidden Gems"
Over Easter weekend 2024, Visit Winston-Salem welcomed Tampa-based influencers Nick and Madison Hearn, aka the Capturing Couple. View their highlight reels and stories below for a look into their adventure around Winston-Salem!
Black People Eats (influencer)
Black History & Culture in Winston-Salem
In February 2024 we hosted Chicago-based digital influencer Jeremy Joyce, founder of Black People Eats (@blackpeopleeats), focusing on Black culture and cuisine.