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 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 its excellent zoo.
And what sets the zoo apart from other zoos is its 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 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 zip lines 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 the 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, the 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, and 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 as life jackets for them so you can feel safe about letting their ide.
You can pick up tickets at the park itself, or grab them 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 hands-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 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.
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haven’t already.
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