Visit Winston Salem + YMCA Mistletoe Run

Last Holiday Season, I had the privilege of spending the weekend in Winston Salem + participating in the YMCA Mistletoe Run! This was my first 5k {not a runner} and it was so. much. fun. I invited my girlfriend Heather @heatherlynnbee to join me + a couple other Atlanta based bloggers, Jessica @happilyhuges and Chelsea @chelseapatricia were with us for the weekend – I loved getting to know these two amazing ladies! If your into travel, yoga, fitness, fashion, and just all around positive vibes – go give these lovely ladies a follow! 😉

Have you been to Winston Salem!? If not, what are you waiting for!? This charming town is less than a 1.5 hour drive from Charlotte and has so many fun things to do & see + great places to eat & drink! After living in Charlotte for 20 years, I actually just made it to Winston 3 years ago, when Adam and I decided to celebrate NYE at The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel. When I found out we would be staying at the same hotel for our Winston Weekend, I couldn’t wait to return to this totally cute & chic hotel in the former R.J. Reynolds Building.

WHERE WE ATE
The Katherine – French Brasserie inside the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel
{we ate dinner here on our first night and breakfast before hitting the road and heading back to Charlotte}
Mary’s Gourmet Diner – cutest little breakfast spot
Foothills Brewing Company – great place to pop in for a casual lunch
Mozelle’s – cute and cozy restaurant, had the yummiest dinner here!
Quanto Basta Italian Eatery & Wine Bar – omg, this place had the yummiest Italian food, maybe one of the best chicken parmigiana I’ve ever had. We all indulged knowing we’d burn it off on our run first thing in the morning.
Camino Bakery – LOVE this place for a latte and perhaps a sweet treat!

THINGS TO DO
Visit the Reynolda House Museum of American Art
Old Salem Museums & Gardens
Walk or take a Segway Tour of the City
Visit the nearby wineries – we went to Childress Vineyards and it was SO beautiful! We were blessed with the most gorgeous day – unseasonably warm and so sunny! The other girls made their way to Raffaldini Vineyards – I’m so sad we didn’t get over there, too! It literally looks like Tuscany.

Reynolda House Museum

Childress Vineyards

YMCA MISTLETOE RUN

The Mistletoe Run helps to raise awareness and stop childhood obesity. The run took place on Saturday morning – we were up bright and early, grabbed some coffee and a lite bite downstairs in the lobby of the hotel and then headed to the race location to pick up our packets at the William G. White Family YMCA {775 West End Blvd.} The awesome part about the Mistletoe Run is that there’s a little something for everyone – you have 3 options for your run: Fun Run, Half Marathon or a 5k. And of course, you can walk the course, as well. All of us girls went with the 5k and it was the perfect distance for me! {Lol} As I mentioned above, I am not a runner and definitely not distance. I was so proud of myself for completing my very first 5k! Afterwards, we were spoiled with the VIP Experience in one of the many tents – we replenished our bodies with bites from Jason’s Deli, Sunshine Electrolyte Drinks and a mini massage sesh!