By:  Ian Western, Leisure Co-Editor

Okay, so Rush Week is over and real life is resuming. After a week of classic style college mayhem, everyone (especially me) is beginning to come to terms with the fact that our workloads are piling up. Stay on top of your workloads deacon fans, but do not forget to maintain that balanced lifestyle that keeps us Wake students from breaking down.

Now that rush week is over, some of you may be looking for an activity other than aggressively fratting to balance the busy deacon lifestyle, and with this amazing weather we’ve been having, a quick tour of Old Salem could be the perfect day trip. The Old Salem Museum and Gardens is located right near downtown and is incredibly easy to navigate to from campus. Before you tour Old Salem, be sure to stop by the nearby Moravian Bakery and try their ridiculously delicious “monkey bread”- you’ll be happy you did.

Upon arriving, guests can choose from multiple adventures that will be sure to make for a memorable visit. Walk through the old town where costumed villagers never break character and provide you an insight to life back in the day. Writing with quil pens, hammering freshly forged horseshoes, and making soap are just a few of the activities visitors can participate in. Chances are a few of you did this when you were younger, and I know you know you loved it. Old Salem would be a great place to take your parents and younger siblings for a day trip for the upcoming spring family weekend if you’re looking for a group activity.

If a make believe journey through time doesn’t tickle your fancy, take a stroll through the lush Gardens of Old Salem. I had the opportunity to take a quick walk through the gardens with my camera and got some amazing pictures. The beauty of the garden will help you forget about that cramped cubicle waiting for you back in the ZSR. Trust me – it’s a great place to completely escape the messes of modern society, and to appreciate some of the remaining natural beauty of Winston-Salem.