There are so many incredible spots in North Carolina, that some of the best often don’t even get mentioned. That’s how we feel about Greensboro. It’s a charming city that offers a ton of great cultural and natural attractions. Plus, it’s a lot of fun for people of all ages. Stick around, as Viewcation presents, the Best Things to Do in Greensboro, North Carolina!
International Civil Rights Center and Museum
The International Civil Rights Center and Museum, or ICRCM as it’s often referred to, is a powerful and important site that you shouldn’t miss on a trip to Greensboro. As you might expect, the center pays homage to the fight for civil rights and human rights around the globe. In 1960, several black students from North Carolina A&T State University decided to participate in a sit-in at the lunch counter at their local Woolworths. It was a whites-only counter at the time, and thus this protest caused quite a commotion. The International Civil Rights Center and Museum was originally founded to honor these brave students, and acknowledge their contribution in the civil rights movement in America in the ‘60s. To pay tribute to them, the original Woolworth building has been preserved, as has that lunch counter where they had their protest. By remembering these courageous young people, the site aims to not only educate visitors on the importance of their actions, but also to serve as an advocate for civil and human rights moving forward. In addition to the preserved lunch counter, the museum also offers interactive galleries, artifacts, photos, and video reenactments of important moments in the civil rights era. It’s an important, educational, and moving attraction that will appeal to visitors of all ages. Entry will cost you between 10 to 25 bucks, depending on your age.
The Greensboro Science Center
Another great attraction that provides equal levels of education and fun is the The Greensboro Science Center. Geared slightly more towards younger visitors, the science center used to be called the Greensboro Junior Museum. But in recent years, along with the name change, it has added even more exhibits to appeal to older visitors as well. It now boasts 400,000 visitors a year, up from 200,000. So clearly they are doing something right! One of the highlights of the center is their excellent zoo. And what sets the zoo apart from other zoos is their behind the scenes tour, which they call the “Zoo Trek.” You actually get to feed some of the animals and get a personalized view of how they’re cared for. It’s an amazing way to learn about the animals, and the importance of protecting them. Of course, not everyone is looking to get that close to animals. But there are still plenty of fun things to do at the center for them as well.
The museum portion of the center is thrilling, and offers a chance to stroll underneath dinosaurs in an area they call “Prehistoric Passage.” And anyone looking for a little more physical activity can check out the Skywild treetop adventure park. Sitting almost 50 feet above the zoo, it offers things like ziplines and climbing courses with a variety of difficulty levels for people of all ages.
The extreme weather exhibit is definitely worth your time, as is OmniSphere theater, which has shows playing every day on topics like the cosmos, coral reefs, and much more. It’s a worthwhile attraction that boasts a mix of interactive exhibits and education. You could easily spend the day there!
Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden
For anyone who loves getting out into nature and appreciating a gorgeous garden, the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden is a must see. It’s maintained by a local nonprofit group called Greensboro Beautiful Inc. Their aim is to help the local ecology of Greensboro flourish, and they do an excellent job of it at the Tanger Garden. It’s a beautiful area full of flora and fauna that will allow you to stroll around and admire them, or to simply sit and relax for some time away from it all. There are also programs you can join, just as “Plant a Tree” events, as well as “Community Cleanup.” So you can actually help the garden flourish while you’re visiting. You can also help it by offering a donation while you’re there. The garden is free to the public, and open all year round.
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
The Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is an excellent mix of a place to learn about military history, as well as an excellent place to simply stroll through a gorgeous green space. The park commemorates the 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse. While it was a smaller and perhaps lesser known battle of the Revolutionary War, it actually played an essential part in the Southern Campaign. The Continental Army was joined by a militia, led by Major General Nathanael Greene, as they fought against Charles Earl Cornwallis and the British. At the park, you’ll find artifacts as well as monuments presented to tell the story of the battle. It honors the American and British soldiers who fought each other at the site, covering the weapons they used, the tactics utilized, and the key battle elements. So if you’re at all into American military history, the part will be a delight to visit. Plus, you can do a self guided tour on your phone that’s super informative. It lasts about an hour and a half, and covers nearly two miles of the park. But beyond that, it’s also a lovely green space that is perfect for an afternoon walk. It’s loaded with walking paths, biking paths, and a small pond. It’s perfect for a picnic or a secluded walk.
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Take in some art at Weatherspoon and Ambleside
If you’re an art lover, you’ll be thrilled by the offerings at both the Weatherspoon Art Museum, as well as Ambleside Gallery. Weatherspoon sits on the campus of University of North Carolina Greensboro. It was established in 1941 and for many years it served strictly as a teaching gallery for the art students there. But eventually it moved beyond that capacity and grew into a full fledged public art museum. It features works of modern and contemporary art, and takes special care to exhibit works from a diverse group of artists. It has 15 exhibitions annually, and it prides itself on being a part of the community at large. It does this by offering educational programs and outreach efforts to both the university and greater Greensboro. Fortunately it hasn’t shed its identity as a college based gallery. You can attend lectures, workshops, and other gallery events to learn about the artists hosted there and art in general. But you can also simply walk the grounds and admire their impressive collection of works. Plus, entrance is free!
The other primary art museum in town is the Ambleside Gallery, which is located on Elm Street in Greensboro. It was actually founded quite far away from Greensboro, in Manchester, England. But after a couple of moves, the collection settled in North Carolina, where it now sits for your viewing pleasure. It’s a great collection of artists from the area, as well as from all over the US and the world. The focus as Ambleside is not only to present great works of art, but also to foster a sense of peace and tranquility as you wander its halls. This is accomplished by decorating the walls, floors, with a curated look designed to keep you at ease as you check out the art.
Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park
If you’re looking for some aquatic based fun, look no further than the excellent Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park. It’s a classic, fun for all ages water park with all the rides and slides you’d expect. Feel your stomach drop on the Daredevil Drop or the Bombs Away ride, and zoom through the water at a high speed on the Riptide Racer. Of course, the park isn’t only set up for the thrill seekers in your group. Splash Island and Shipwreck Cove are more chill areas, but are equally full of water-packed fun. If you have small children with you, they’ll love the multitude of kiddie slides. Plus, the park has life jackets for them so you can feel safe about letting them ride. You can pick up tickets at the park itself, or grab then online as well. And if you happen to be hitting up town with a larger group (more than 15 people) then inquire into their discounts for group sales. All in all, the Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park is a great way to beat the heat with some great aquatic fun for the whole family.
Greensboro Children’s Museum
Another great option if you’re visiting Greensboro with the whole family is the Children’s Museum. It has a focus on hand-on learning and offers a great variety of exhibits that feature fun play and outdoor activities. Of note is the incredible teaching garden that sits on a half acre of land, and has various veggies and fruits growing, as well as a bunch of plants and trees. Kids can explore all of it, and learn about this miniature ecosystem in action. They’ll also learn about cooking the vegetables and fruits for a healthy eating lifestyle. Plus, there are a bunch of live animals the kids can see and learn about as well. This includes chickens, worms, and a variety of insects.
Beyond the teaching garden, the Children’s museum also has a ton of great exhibits – more than 20 in all – that your kids will love exploring. And for the ones who need to get out a little energy, there’s a play area with large climbing structures they can climb.
Now it’s time to hear from you. Have you ever been to Greensboro, North Carolina? If so, did we miss any of your favorite spots? If not, do you think you’ll ever visit there? Let us know in the comments section below. And before you go, be sure to give this video a like, and subscribe to Facts Verse if you haven’t already. Click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content!