Having lived in the Carolinas for quite some time, I’m always looking for something new to try and a different place to explore. What I’ve come to discover is that sometimes you don’t have to go very far to find that “something new.” The hidden gems in your neighborhood or city, those one’s you keep meaning to try one day, are a perfect place for discovery.

Take Winston-Salem, North Carolina for example. A quick history for those who have never been to this part of North Carolina: Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also called the “Twin City” for its dual heritage and “City of the Arts” for its dedication to fine arts and theater.

I’ve been to Winston-Salem on a number of occasions and was falling into the rut of going to the same places every single time. No more! It was time to expand my horizons. Below are some of the hidden, and not so hidden, gems that I opened my eyes to:

• Old Salem – Old Salem Museums & Gardens is America’s most comprehensive history attraction. The historic town of Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), along with award-winning heirloom gardens, engage visitors in an educational and memorable historical experience about those who lived and worked in the early South.

• Reynolda House Museum of American Art – Reynolda House Museum of American Art is one the nation’s premier American art museums.  Affiliated with Wake Forest University, Reynolda House displays a fine art collection spanning three centuries and representing works by American artists including Mary Cassatt, Frederic Church, Jacob Lawrence and Georgia O’Keeffe. The Museum also features changing exhibitions and is the final venue of only six museums across the country to host the blockbuster exhibition Modern Masters from the Smithsonian American Art Museum (Oct. 7-Dec. 31, 2011). The museum is located in the restored 1917 country home of Katharine Reynolds and her husband R.J. Reynolds, founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

• Wake Forest University - Originally founded in 1834 in Wake Forest, N.C., Wake Forest University relocated to Winston-Salem in 1956. Today Wake Forest is ranked as one of the top 25 national universities in the country. The university has hosted two presidential debates, one in 1988 and the other in 2000. The university includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the Wayne Calloway School of Business and Accountancy, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Law, the Babcock Graduate School of Management, the School of Medicine and the Divinity School.

• Winston-Salem Dash – Winston-Salem dedicated its new downtown baseball stadium and welcomed the Dash, a farm team of the Chicago White Sox, in 2010. Visit their website for schedule and ticket information.

• Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem – The mission of the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem is to create a compelling destination for the community to play and learn by experiencing literature, storytelling and the arts.   The central location provides accessibility to the whole community and every child deserves access to the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem!

What are some of the best hidden gems that you’ve found in your own backyard?

By Tony Jarrett