Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Greensboro, NC

  • Published 2022/05/11

In the county seat of North Carolina, you’ll find Greensboro, the third-most populous city in the state and one of its top 100 most populated cities in the country.

The area is big and bursting with life, and any visitor who goes there will enjoy a fun and exciting time.

Greensboro has an exciting history and a buzzing urban culture, but it also hasn’t forgotten the value of slowing down and appreciating the wider world.

There are a lot of sights to see in this place, and too little time to go to all of them, so if you plan to visit, you need to have a good plan.

Here are just a few things you can do in Greensboro, North Carolina:

Visit the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Bugler Gillies Monument at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

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One of the top sites of Greensboro is the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park.

It’s one of those sights that should probably be high up on your itinerary if you want to know the place you’re visiting.

The park at New Garden Road commemorates The Battle of Guilford Court House, one of the battles that turned the tide and led to the American victory in The Revolutionary War.

You’ll find a lovely forest surrounding several memorials to the battle when you head there.

A short boardwalk at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

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You’re free to take a guided tour via your phone, starting at the Visitor’s Center, to learn more about the place and the soldiers who lived and fought there.

Relax with the gentle natural ambiance all around you, and take a walk through the woods to find some peace.

A tall monument at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

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View Contemporary Art at the Weatherspoon Art Museum

Exterior of Weatherspoon Art Museum

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If you’re looking for some modern culture and education, then the Weatherspoon Art Museum, which you can find inside the University of North Carolina, is a place you’ll want to visit.

This museum wants to ensure the enrichment of a diverse set of individuals and communities by collecting and displaying modern and contemporary art.

They have collections from all over the world, so you’ll get a picture of what modern art looks like as you walk through its exhibits.

You’ll find displays of modern Japanese prints, interactive art installations, pieces dating back from the early 1900s to the 2000s, and many other things.

Hang Out with the Animals of the Greensboro Science Center

Peacocks at Greensboro Science Center

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If you’re interested in science, Greensboro has a place that’ll tickle your interest.

You’ll see animals from all over the world.

Touch some stingrays as they swim in their aquariums; watch the majestic Caribbean Flamingo; marvel at the Sumatran tiger and other creatures.

A giant tortoise at Greensboro Science Center

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You can also have an encounter with penguins.

The supervisors may even let you feed these tiny, flightless birds, as long as you’re under expert supervision.

The center also hosts movies in their OmniSphere theater about the wonders of the natural world, so check those out if you can.

Learn about History at the Blandwood Museum

Another historical site you can visit is the Blandwood Museum at 447 West Washington Street.

This house marks the beginning of the Romanticism movement in American architecture.

It’s also the oldest example of Italianate architecture in the United States.

Charles Bland built the house himself, completing its first parts in 1795.

Hundreds of years later, the house is home to a museum that gives a glimpse of life in the 19th century through architecture, decorative arts, and landscape paintings.

Sit Back and Relax at the Country Park

A gazebo at Country Park

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With all the museums and historical sites, you and your traveling companions may find yourself exhausted and looking for a brief respite from the itinerary’s endless activities and sights.

The Greensboro Country Park is great if you’re looking to take a break in the middle of your holiday.

The waters of Country Park

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It has two fishing lakes that you can use; cast a line and let your mind wander as you wait for a bite.

Breathe in the fresh air and relax against the cool breeze.

You can also follow hiking trails if you’re looking to take a simple walk and get some easy exercise while you’re there.

You can also rent out a pedal boat and have some fun with your special someone; turn it into a date, and don’t forget to take some movie-worthy pictures along the way.

The grounds of Country Park

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Learn Local History at the Greensboro History Museum

Exterior of Greensboro History Museum

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Greensboro has a rich and exciting history, so it’ll need an entire museum dedicated to documenting and exhibiting it.

The Greensboro History Museum has a lot of exciting displays, one of which is named The Voices of the City: Greensboro, North Carolina.

Lamps exhibit in Greensboro History Museum

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The exhibit asks, “What would a city say if it could speak?”

Various displays tell the story of the local community that spans more than 300 years.

You can also look at the tiny rooms of Otto Zenke, an expert interior designer in Greensboro back in the day.

You’ll find the fourteen small rooms Zenke built there.

Exhibit in Greensboro History Museum

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Give Yourself a Scare at the Woods of Terror

Head to the Woods of Terror on Church Street if you’re looking to get spooked off your pants.

Go through ten haunted attractions, and remember that it’s okay to scream if things get too intense.

There’s a Monster Parade every night, so try not to miss the chance to watch the weird and terrifying stalk the streets.

You can also watch some horror movie classics, and don’t close your eyes at the scary parts if you think you can take it.

Stop by the International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Exterior of International Civil Rights Center and Museum

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Another aspect of history that many would be interested in is the civil rights movement.

The International Civil Rights Center and Museum commemorates the February 1, 1960 sit-ins in Greensboro and the civil rights movement growing alongside it.

Exterior of International Civil Rights Center and Museum

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The place features permanent galleries to commemorate the civil rights movement’s struggle.

They also occasionally host special and rotating exhibits.

One of these is a display that features a wide array of outstanding African American artists, entrepreneurs, and civic figures who broke free from the restrictive laws of the Jim Crow era.

Walk around LeBauer Park

Name sign of LeBauer Park

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LeBauer Park is a great place to visit while you’re still between destinations.

They have a playground so that you can bring your children.

Let them have fun and burn off some energy while the adults take a break.

Scenic night scene at LeBauer Park

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Several art installations are scattered across the park to provide points of interest for visitors, so take some pictures if you find something interesting.

And if you get hungry, there are also kiosks and food stalls you have to try out to get a good taste of what local cuisine in Greensboro is like.

Wander through Gateway Gardens

Entrance archway of Gateway Gardens' children's garden

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Maybe you and your traveling companions are looking for something more relaxing and peaceful for the following day.

The Gateway Gardens, spanning 11 acres and located at E. Gate City Boulevard, is part of the Greensboro Beautiful project.

The place features different plants and enclosures, so you’re never going to run out of things to explore as long as you’re interested in the natural beauty of everything around you.

Butterfly bench at Gateway Gardens

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There’s an edible potting garden and a rain garden; walk a little further, and you may even find yourself in a walled pond.

There’s also a maze and a tunnel somewhere in the compound if you genuinely want to lose yourself in the plant life.

Just make sure that you’ll still be able to find your way out in the end, no matter how far you wander into this garden.

Fruit-shaped chairs at Gateway Gardens

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Let Your Kids Have Fun at the Greensboro Children’s Museum

Here’s a place to visit if you want to give a fun, little treat for your younger companions.

The Greensboro Children’s Museum wants to inspire hands-on learning through play.

Drop by the Greensboro Children’s Museum if you want a fun, energetic, and safe environment for your kids while on vacation.

There’s an outdoor play plaza that any child looking for adventure would fall in love with.

There’s also the exhibit called “Our Town,” where kids can go and view a variety of realistic and hands-on exhibits so they can roleplay with their parents and caregivers.

Stop and Smell the Flowers at the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden

Welcome sign of Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden with flowers in front

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The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden is another garden worth visiting if you haven’t had your flowers and foliage yet.

The place has a massive bronze sculpture that’s almost impossible to miss.

It’s a sight you’ll want to see, just for the beauty surrounding the statue.

Bronze statue of a man and a woman sitting on a fence at Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden

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Greensboro created the garden in 1976 to honor the 200th anniversary of the United States.

There’s also an artificial circulating stream and a gazebo, and one of the highlights of the whole place is the annual plants and flowering trees that dot the area.

The garden is the kind of sight you visit if you want to relive your fantasy of wandering magical gardens as a child.

The place looks like it jumped right out of a fairytale and can make even the most cynical person believe in magic.

An old mill at Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden

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Find Yourself Elsewhere

Elsewhere at 606 South Elm street is a pretty exciting place, so visit if you’re looking for something unique and quaint in your travels.

The museum is a lot of things all rolled into one: a living museum, an artist residency, and a collaborative learning laboratory, among other things.

And the exhibit starts right at the building’s back facade, where you’ll find light installations arranged to look like whimsical and nonsensical sets of ladders.

On the other hand, the garden at Elsewhere serves as a space for convening, growing, and connecting.

This garden is an excellent spot if you’re looking for a respite from the world of things.

And this is just the beginning; there are at least a dozen other things to do when you visit this place, so give it a shot if you have the time.

Immerse Yourself in the Culture at the Greensboro Cultural Center

Exterior of Greensboro Cultural Center

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Besides touring the sights and learning history, it’s also pretty fun to participate in the local cultural events, and where better to do that than at the cultural center?

The Greensboro Cultural Center serves as a home to many arts-related programs for the city.

There are public art galleries you can view to get a glimpse of what the city’s local talent offers.

There’s also the Van Dyke Performance Space, so catch a show there if you have the chance.

Go Swimming at the Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park

What better way to end your trip than by heading to a water park and playing the day away in a pool with your traveling companions?

If you’re up for it, visit the Wet’n Wilde Water Park for a fun time.

There’s a pool featuring the bow of a sunken ship, and you and your friends and family will indeed have a fantastic time climbing over it or swimming around it.

You can also try out one of their numerous slides if you need an adrenaline fix.

Final Thoughts

Having a lot of things to do while on vacation is a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, you’re never bored, and you get to experience new and interesting things at every turn, but on the other hand, it can get tiring if you don’t plan it well.

But if you’re up for it, there’s no denying that you’ll make a lot of memories along the way that will last for decades.

So plan your trip to this city already if you have the time.

Greensboro is not a place that will disappoint.

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