Located in the Piedmont region of the state, Greensboro is the third highest-populated city in North Carolina and a popular spot for visitors, with over 130 different attractions to check out and more than 500 delicious restaurants to dine at. Whether you visit during the sunny days of summer or during the brisk cold of winter, there are plenty of great things to do here year round.
Learn something new at the Greensboro Science Center
The Greensboro Science Center is like three attractions combined into one – an aquarium, a zoo and a museum. In the aquarium, you’ll have the chance to see unique creatures like the fishing cat, green anaconda and African penguin, as well as the hands-on harbor where kids (and adults!) can touch a variety of small sharks and sting rays. In the zoo section, you’ll visit with everything from tigers, gorillas and kangaroos, to peacocks, meerkats and alpacas. While the museum provides lots of opportunities to learn about things like the weather, the human body and ancient animals. You’ll also want to catch a show in the Adventure Theater, take a turn on the SkyWild ropes course and maybe even feed a shark or a penguin.
Go back in time at the Greensboro History Museum
History buffs will enjoy learning all about the history and culture of Greensboro and the surrounding Piedmont region of North Carolina at the Greensboro History Museum. With over 17,000 square feet of exhibits, the museum covers history from every angle, both chronologically and culturally. You can learn about how Greensboro was involved in World War I, see an original Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln and learn about Greensboro’s Cambodian refugee community. For those who want to dive even deeper, there’s the museum’s Archives which includes numerous historic local and regional materials including photographs, manuscripts, magazines, currency and more.
Take a stroll through the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market
If you’re looking for a great place to try the local foods and flavors of Greensboro, look no further than the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market, held across from the War Memorial Baseball Stadium, just outside of the downtown area. The market, which is open Saturday mornings year-round as well as Wednesday mornings from April to December, has over 115 vendors on display selling goods including fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, eggs, baked goods, meat, seafood and craft items. For added entertainment, there’s also Market Music Makers – a free, weekly showcase of musicians from the Triad area.
Experience the International Civil Rights Center and Museum
Perhaps one of the most profound experiences you can have while in Greensboro is a visit to the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. Located in an old F.W. Woolworth storefront, the museum takes visitors back over 50 years to the time when four African-American students from NC A&T State University sat down at a “whites only” lunch counter in that very spot. “The A7T Four,” as they became known, began a sit-in movement across the country and ignited a push for racial equality. In addition to the lunch counter exhibit, the permanent exhibition called “The Battlegrounds” provides a captivating journey through the American civil rights movement with artifacts, photographs, video and interactive elements. The “And Still I Rise” exhibit also pays homage to artists and athletes who have broken racial barriers through the years.
Snap a photo at the Millennium Gate
Looking for the perfect spot to snap a Greensboro selfie? There’s no background quite like the Millennium Gate – a giant statue that sits in the Phil G. McDonald Plaza in downtown Greensboro. This 20 foot tall monument was built by Jim Gallucci and a team of 17 other artists, and is covered with 106 icons that represent great people, ideas, events and inventions that have had a significant impact on the history and growth of the city during the past 1,000 years. The icons were chosen by the people of Greensboro and include everything from a chair to the Statue of Liberty.
Take a dip at Wet n' Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park
If you visit Greensboro in the summertime, make sure to take the whole family to Wet n’ Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park for a day of fun in the sun. Besides being the largest water park in the Carolinas, it’s also rated one of the top ten in the country, featuring over 36 rides and attractions and over 3 million gallons of water! The 41-acre park has everything from lazy river rides and wading pools, to high adrenaline slides and tubes, as well as two separate children’s areas. You can even experience the thrills of going whitewater rafting on their 450-foot long man-made river. A stop at the Thunder Bay Outfitters gift shop for a souvenir to take home and a bite to eat at Captain Eli’s, Uncle Luigi’s Pizza or Crispy’s Chicken will round out your visit.