M.C. Benton Jr. Convention and Civic Center

Located in the City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the M.C. Benton Jr. Convention and Civic Center is a great venue for your team’s next sporting event. More commonly referred to as the Benton Convention Center, this recently-renovated, state-of-the-art facility is one of the largest meeting facilities in North Carolina.

Upon the completion of a 20-million-dollar renovation project, the Benton Convention Center now features 105,000 square feet of flexible meeting space throughout the facility’s exhibit halls, breakout rooms, reception areas, three ballrooms, and boardroom. Additional upgrades included an expanded upper level pre-function area, carpeted exhibit halls, new windows and skylights, and much more.

As luxurious as the Benton Convention Center is after such extensive renovation efforts, it would be a shame for you and your team to spend whatever free time you may have during your trip inside the convention center. Instead, venture out and see all that this charming city has to offer. After all, the Benton Convention Center is located in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem. This means that you and your team will be just a short walk away from some of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, landmarks, and restaurants.

 

Things to Do

Kaleideum Downtown

Kickstart your team’s imagination and love of learning with a visit to Kaleideum Downtown, a two-story children’s museum located just under a 20-minute walk from the Benton Convention Center. The mission of Kaleideum is to inspire “wonder, curiosity, and lifelong learning in our children and community through interactive play and discovery,” which is exactly what your team will do during their visit to the museum.

In accordance with their mission, Kaleideum features a wide array of both permanent and temporary exhibits. Permanent exhibits at the museum include Kaleidoscape, a crocheted climbing structure; The Enchanted Forest, a literature-based play area; Amazing Airways, an exhibit that features a series of air tubes that are designed to allow children to test hypotheses about air flow; and IceVenture, a new exhibit that brings fun wintertime activities like snowball fights, snowman building, and ice skating to the great indoors! 390 S Liberty St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Winston Cup Museum & Special Event Center

If you’ve got any racing fans on your team they’ll surely be revving their engines at the chance to visit the Winston Cup Museum & Special Event Center. The Winston Cup Museum & Special Event Center celebrates 33 years of legendary NASCAR Winston Cup Series stock car racing history.

The museum features rare championship memorabilia and racing artifacts, including more than 20 race cars driven by the likes of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., Alan Kulwicki, and Wendell Scott, as well as trophies, uniforms, helmets, winner’s checks, and more. Fun games like interactive racing simulators and NASCAR trivia make a visit to this unique Winston-Salem attraction enjoyable for everyone. 1355 N Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Bailey Park

You and your team will adore spending an hour or two outdoors at Bailey Park. This one and a half-acre park provides both locals and tourists with a space to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of Winston-Salem’s downtown. Many free community-based activities and events are held at the park, including live entertainment on the park’s covered stage and regular visit from local food trucks.

In addition to amenities like the stage and food truck court, Bailey Park also features a sprawling lawn suitable for a variety of recreational activities, as well as benches, tables with chairs, restroom facilities, and more. 575 N Patterson Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Old Salem Museums & Gardens

Take a step back hundreds of years into Winston-Salem’s past at Old Salem Museums & Gardens, one of America’s most comprehensive historical attractions. During your group’s visit to the attraction’s two museums, the Historic Town of Salem and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, as well as the Gardens at Old Salem, you’ll be engaged in an enthralling historical experience about those who lived and worked in the early South.

At the Old Salem Museums & Gardens, the history of Salem is brought to life through storytelling, hands-on activities, live entertainment, events, and more. In addition to the attraction’s two museums and garden, you’ll also come across preserved and restored historical structures, authentic craftsmen practicing their trade, fascinating collections of rare antiques and world-class artifacts, and one of a kind shopping opportunities. 600 S Main St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

BB&T Ballpark

For a fun, memorable way to spend a few hours of downtime during your visit to the Benton Convention Center, take your team out to the ballgame at nearby BB&T Ballpark. Located only a mile away from the convention center, BB&T Ballpark is the home of the Winston-Salem Dash minor league baseball team.

BB&T Ballpark was opened recently in 2010 and boasts a variety of amenities that make it one of the best places to enjoy a game of minor league baseball. In fact, it was even named “Ballpark of the Year” in 2010 by Baseballparks.com. It features seating for 5,500, 16 luxury suites, and a state-of-the-art LED scoreboard and outfield wall.

When it comes time to grab some ballpark grub, you and your team will have no issue finding food for everyone to enjoy. BB&T Ballpark is home to a variety of deliciously different concession stands, like Bolt’s Electrified, which specializes in everything from fried pickles to tater tots; Kona Ice, which serves up refreshing, Hawaiian-style shaved ice; Domino’s Pizza; and more. Don’t forget the peanuts and Cracker Jack too, of course! 951 Ballpark Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Places to Eat

Burger Batch

Burger Batch is a restaurant that serves up burgers, milkshakes, and other American classics like you’ve never seen them before. Some of their most unconventional burger offerings include the Blue Sky, topped with bleu cheese, bacon, guacamole, mayo, and mustard, and the Figgy Piggy, adorned with a decadent combination of balsamic fig jam, bacon, caramelized onions, and goat cheese. If you’re not feeling adventurous enough to try one of their more left field burger options, don’t worry; the menu Burger Batch also features the standard Original BB, topped with only lettuce, tomato, and fancy sauce. You can also make your own burger by choosing from their array of classic and artisanal toppings.

The only thing more amazing than the burgers at Burger Batch are their decadent, oversized milkshakes. These milkshakes are so big for example, they aren’t just putting chunks of cake into their It’s a Surprise cake batter shake. They put a whole slice of cake right on top! 237 W 5th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Sweet Potatoes

If you’re searching for food with soul, look no further than Sweet Potatoes. Since 2003, Sweet Potatoes has been dishing out some of the city’s best southern-inspired, down-home cooking. Their menu features a variety of soul food classics, often with a creative twist. If you’re visiting Sweet Potatoes for lunch, you can enjoy dishes like a fried bologna sandwich topped with pimento cheese on Texas toast or chicken tenders and sweet potato waffle fries drizzled with hot honey. For dinner their menu expands to include hearty entrées like the Smothered Yard Bird, which features a pan-fried chicken breast, country ham, spicy greens, and melted Brie smothered in chicken gravy and served over rice.

No visit to Sweet Potatoes would be complete without trying one of their most popular desserts: sweet potato bread pudding. Featured on the Food Network show Guilty Pleasures, this rich dessert consists of pecans and a buttery batter poured over sweet potato biscuits, then baked to sweet perfection. Bourbon caramel sauce makes for a delectably rich finish that alone warrants a return trip to Sweet Potatoes during your stay in Winston-Salem. 529 N Trade St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Mellow Mushroom

The only thing “mellow” about Mellow Mushroom is their restaurant’s welcoming, laidback atmosphere; their food is anything but. Ever since the first Magic Mushroom opened in Atlanta, Georgia over 40 years ago they’ve been hand tossing and stone-baking each and every one of their flavorful pizzas.

Some of the specialty pizzas on the menu at Mellow Mushroom include the Pacific Rim, topped with red sauce, mozzarella, ham, bacon, caramelized onions, pineapple, and jalapenos; and the Funky Q. Chicken, with BBQ chicken, mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, caramelized onions, Applewood smoked bacon, and a BBQ sauce swirl.

If you’re feeling inspired, build your own pizza by choosing from a variety of sauces, cheeses, and toppings. Other delicious offerings on the menu at Mellow Mushroom include salads, calzones, hoagies, and burgers, as well as fun appetizers and desserts. 314 W 4th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Mooney’s Mediterranean Café

Mediterranean cuisine is well-known for being as healthful as it is flavorful. So if you and your team are looking to enjoy some lighter, fresher fare while in Winston-Salem, head to Mooney’s Mediterranean Café. Mooney’s Mediterranean Café is a popular restaurant that specializes in traditional Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine.

Every dish on the menu at Mooney’s Mediterranean Café is prepared with the utmost enthusiasm and care. For instance, their smooth, savory hummus is prepared fresh daily and their crispy falafel is always freshly fried to order. Their menu also features other popular Mediterranean dishes like shawarma, kafta, and warm lentil soup, as well as plenty of vegetarian, vegan, and kid-friendly options. 101 W 4th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101

 

Winston-Salem is a southern city with a lot to offer you and your team during your visit to the Benton Convention Center. It’s home to a variety of fun attractions that can be enjoyed by visitors of all ages along with restaurants that serve up delectable, team-friendly food. You won’t have to spend a lot of your free time walking from place to place either, since many of the city’s most popular entertainment and dining options can be found less than a mile away from the Benton Convention Center.