Roadtrip Reality: A Day Trip To Old Salem, North Carolina

Roadtrip Reality: A Day Trip To Old Salem, NC

Happy Tuesday guys!

Sorry I missed Friday’s Top 5 post but I had to get up early for a field trip with my son’s school and I just didn’t have the energy to finish it Thursday night! But because of the 4th grade field trip I attended, I have an awesome Roadtrip Reality post for you today!

We took a day trip to the historic town of Old Salem, NC that was established in 1766 by the Moravians, a Christian group from the area in Europe that is now known as the Czech Republic. The Moravians were active missionaries and the town is full of their rich history. Most of the buildings have been restored to represent different facets of the Moravian culture.

You walk through the town and each stop is an interactive exhibit or representation of what life would have been like in Old Salem at the time. There was a potter, gunsmith, silversmith, baker and shoemaker just to name a few. The parents were just as fascinated as the kids were and honestly I’m dying to go back already.

It felt like a mini colonial Williamsburg basically set in our own backyard! Growing up in Charlotte I feel certain I went on this field trip as a kid (although it has long escaped my memory), but it was so cool to experience it with my son through his eyes and my own. If you live in the surrounding states or are ever visiting NC, I highly recommend adding this to your itinerary! Winston-Salem is also a great little city worth a stay too!

I’m not going to lie, I felt very inspired by the minimalism of the Moravians in their architecture and decor. The buildings were not grandiose and the decor was neutral, almost melancholy, but it gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling every time I walked through a different door. But, that might have had something to do with the giant wood burning fireplaces in almost every room :)

Now let’s check it out…

1. The Tour Begins at the Museum

We started the tour at the museum with an introduction to the town and what the Moravians were all about.

2. The Churches

We got to view a historical slide show in one of the churches before we headed out on the walking tour and the pews in the St. Philips African Moravian church were original! There are two other churches in the town as well.

3. The Tavern + The Tavern Restaurant

The Tavern (or inn) was where travelers stayed when they came to visit Old Salem.

We were able to dine in the Tavern restaurant (a separate building from the historic Tavern built in 1816) while the kids were on a different part of the tour. It was really charming and the food was delicious!

4. The Gunsmith

I think this guy was a kid favorite for sure! We had 5 boys in our group so I didn’t find that surprising at all. The gunsmith taught us about all the different kinds of guns that were made and used, especially for hunting.

5. The Potter

The Pottery was one of my favorite stops! I find pottery wheels fascinating and I loved the aesthetic in this quaint little one-room building.

6. The Shoemaker

Not only did the shoemaker make and repair shoes, he also made fire buckets for carrying water to fight fires.

7. The Apothecary

The Apothecary was probably the most informative stop. We learned about all the medicines (or lack there of) and how they treated many injuries and illnesses. Let’s just say I’m happy that we live in 2018!

There were lots of natural and holistic methods of healing used.

8. The Single Brothers’ House

The unmarried men in the town resided at the Single Brothers’ House and we were able to check out the beds, clothes and even sign the guest book. The gathering room with the organ was really cool too!

There is also a Single Sisters’ House but we didn’t make it into that one but I’m assuming it is similar.

9. The Miksch Family House

This was the first house built in Old Salem to be occupied by a single family and a lot of baking, sewing and other domestic tasks happened here.

Can you believe that the average person consumed 1 pound of bread per day in this town?!?! Hello…bring on the yummy carbs! I’m guessing they worked off a lot of those calories though :)

10. The Bakery

I’m not going to lie, this might have been the highlight of the trip! At the very least, it was the best smelling stop :) The kids got to see the main fireplace where most of the town baking happened and sample an authentic Moravian cookie!

Of course we had to buy a famous sugar cake, a pack of Moravian ginger cookies, and a giant chocolate chip cream filled cookie (that mama kept for herself!).

10. The College

There is also an all girls college and a grade school for 9 to 12 year-old girls in the town. I really can’t imagine what it would be like to attend college in this town but I guarantee you it would be interesting!