Blake Walsh

16 Best Things to Do in High Point, NC

  • Published 2021/10/12

With a city that extends into four counties, there are a plethora of things to do.

The city of High Point belongs to a region called Piedmont Triad in North Carolina.

Guilford County encompasses most of the city, with smaller portions stretching into neighboring Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties.

High Point served as the 1856 North Carolina Railroad’s highest point, intersecting the 1852 Great Western Plank Road.

Its central location and accessibility aided its early transportation expansion, making it possible to ship raw commodities like cotton and lumber and imported and exported processed goods.

English Quakers and German immigrants, among others, began arriving at High Point as early as 1750, although High Point did not become a city until 1859.

Tobacco, woodworking, and textiles were the most significant industries until the city became a central industrial hub.

Piedmont, where the city lies, originally meant “foothill,” so it is no surprise that High Point is awash with beautiful vistas and sceneries.

It’s easy to get lost in High Point’s rich history since there are wineries, parks, and furniture stores galore to discover.

Even stranger, it is also the location of the world’s most enormous chest of drawers.

High Point, North Carolina, offers it all: the magnificent outdoors, small museums and galleries, and a welcoming ambiance with incredible local friendliness.

Read on to find out what to do in High Point, North Carolina:

Stop by High Point Regional Visitors Center

Before anything else, check out the Regional Visitors Center, where you’ll find helpful information on shopping in the Home Furnishings Capital of the World and other local attractions.

Get in touch with the staff for free advice on anything from furniture buying to local activities, hotels, and everything in between.

While it’s technically a visitor center, it is also an attraction in itself.

Styled after an art museum, the center features 21 filled with interactive touch-screen kiosks that stimulate visitors’ imaginations while also providing information on nearby attractions and more!

Meet Monarch Butterflies at All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm

All-A-Flutter Farm is the place to go if you want to witness a real-life monarch butterfly in action and learn about the butterfly’s life cycle.

There are four stages to the journey: eggs, larvae, chrysalises, and monarch butterfly pupae.

This attraction places a focus on interaction.

You can also feed the butterflies with a sugar pod to entice them to come closer to you and your camera.

You may also learn how to construct a butterfly habitat in your school or home, complete with host and nectar plants.

In addition to the barn, the farm has gardens and picnic areas where you may spend the afternoon taking in the lush surroundings.

Explore the City’s History at High Point Museum

The High Point Museum is a must-see for anybody interested in the history of modern-day High Point.

Located in the heart of the city, High Point Museum is a great place to learn about the region’s fascinating history and the strong sense of community that exists here.

Throughout the museum, you’ll learn about influential people who had a role in the growth of High Point and how the city came to be such an essential part of North Carolina’s historical and cultural narrative.

The museum features different sections that illustrate the tales of these individuals.

Check out the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers

View of World's Largest Chest of Drawers

Jstengel / Shutterstock.com

Your High Point getaway would not be complete without a photograph of the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers, which is on display at the High Point Convention Center.

This architectural monument symbolizes the region’s thriving furniture manufacturing industry.

The city established this structure to draw attention to the fact that the city is known as the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World.”

There is no way to overlook this chest of drawers, which measures 10.8 meters or 36 feet in height.

In honor of the region’s hosiery industry, two enormous socks dangle from the chest’s drawers and the chest’s miniature replicas scattered throughout the city.

Taste the Local Flavors of the Brown Truck Brewery

In downtown High Point, the Brown Truck Brewery is well-known for its excellent craft beer selection.

The Brown Truck Brewery strives to deliver significant flavor, freshness, and exquisite quality from the first step of the process to the end of every glass we pour.

All of the drinks produced here employ fresh, seasonal ingredients wherever possible to provide the best possible quality and freshness.

You may eat food and drink on the beautiful terrace while taking in the High Point ambiance, and you can explore the tap and tasting rooms to learn more about the beer-making process.

Visit the Rosetta C. Baldwin African-American Museum

Many of the contributions made by the city’s African-American community are on display at the Rosetta C. Baldwin Museum.

Born in 1902, Rosetta C. Baldwin had been a prominent member of the community and a Christian education instructor.

When she died in 2000 after 75 years of devotion to her community, the City of High Point transformed her house into a museum recognizing her dedication to nurturing and teaching children.

She received the ‘Order of the Long Leaf Pine’ for her efforts.

When she passed away, the home remained primarily unchanged.

Here, you may find artifacts on African-American life in High Point.

You will also discover its impact on the city’s growth.

You may expect to see old photos, antiques, and other significant historical objects at this exhibition.

Learn About Furniture History at Bernice Bienstock Furniture Library

The Bernice Bienstock Furniture Library has more than 5,000 titles about furniture and design, as well as rare literature, some of which were first published as early as 1640.

As well as authentic pieces by 18th-century furniture designers Sheraton, Hepplewhite, and Chippendale, the collection also includes Diderot’s Encyclopedia, which was first published in 1776 and is available as a complete 26-volume collection.

Here, art meets the history of furniture.

Bring your design experts, academics, and students together to examine the original works of the pioneering designers in the furniture business.

Registration is required.

The library is available to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See the Exhibits About Performing Arts at Theatre Art Galleries

If you’re a fan of theater, check out the visual art exhibitions held at the Theatre Art Galleries (TAG), which range from conventional to experimental.

Three extensive galleries host a variety of exhibits throughout the year, ranging from solo to group displays.

Over the summer, they provide a variety of entertaining and engaging week-long summer camps.

It also hosts workshops on weekends and during vacations.

Have a Family Day at City Lake Park

View of City Lake Park

Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

High Point City Lake Park provides all you need for a fun-filled family day without having to leave the park’s grounds.

Depending on weather conditions, the park is available every day for fishing, boating, picnics, and enjoying on the playground equipment.

There are ten picnic shelters with a capacity of up to 600 people.

Tables, chairs, and grills are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

It features a merry-go-round, a train ride, a 30 person excursion boat trip, miniature golf, canoes and pedal boats, a marina ramp, a gymnasium, and a 20′ x 50′ field stage.

But the park’s highlight is a 165′ x 230′ pool that is handicap accessible, as well as a water slide, all available for family entertainment.

Catch a Show at High Point Community Theatre

For more than three decades, the High Point Community Theatre has provided the people of High Point with top-notch theatrical performances.

It’s a non-profit, all-volunteer arts group whose mission is to engage the community, inspire a passion for the dramatic arts, and pass that enthusiasm on to future generations.

Every year, it hosts four large-scale shows and many other events geared toward young people.

Holiday classics like “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” are available to schools at a reduced fee throughout each season.

Providing a comprehensive range of services, the High Point Theatre is a cutting-edge downtown facility with high-quality lighting and sound, outstanding visibility, projection, and streaming capabilities.

Located in the International Home Furnishings Center, the global headquarters of High Point Furniture Market, High Point Theatre has a continental-style auditorium with 900 seats for performing arts.

Picnic at Oak Hollow Festival Park

The Oak Hollow Park’s 1,500-acre complex is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.

Families and groups may enjoy its picturesque picnic spots.

Both parks provide a beautiful view of the lake and are ideal for picnics.

The park’s playground is only one of the many facilities available, including boating, racing, fishing, and festivals.

The park has bathrooms, two shelters that can cater to up to 80 people each, and plenty of parking.

In addition, a children’s playground with swings is available at North Overlook.

You can make a reservation for a shelter by completing an online form.

Lean Environmental Conservation at Piedmont Environmental Center

The Piedmont Environmental Center (PEC) offers programs and space to learn about conservation and enjoy the outdoors to teach people about the interconnectedness of all life on earth.

Additionally, there are 6.8 kilometers (3.7 miles) of natural trails and access to the High Point and Bicentennial Greenways.

There are also educational workshops for all age groups as well as school groups and individual programs.

Programs and excursions are available for people of all ages, both individually and in groups.

An 11-mile network of hiking paths stretches throughout this 376-acre environmental center.

The center holds classes regardless of weather conditions.

Take a Swing at Oak Hollow Gold Course

Oak Hollow Lake and the Oak Hollow Golf Course are both nearby.

Golfers of all ability levels will have a difficult time navigating this gorgeous yet demanding course.

You may find many of the distinctive features of a Pete Dye design at Oak Hollow.

Pete Dye’s design features include pot bunkers, railroad ties, peninsula greens, and an island tee.

Our most noticeable Dye signature, on the other hand, is its tiny, undulating greens.

The par-4 sixth hole that’s 420 yards along the lake’s lapping waves is the course’s hallmark hole.

The adventurous can take on an air-gulping challenge from an island tee box at the course’s extreme ends.

There are no rules restricting the remainder of the field from attacking the dogleg.

It also features a driving range, a grill room, and picnic shelters on the property.

Check Out the City’s Railroad History at High Point Train Depot

The High Point Train Depot, which went under renovation in 2003, is currently the site of a fully operational Amtrak railroad station.

The railway terminal on this site would have played an essential role in the history of this city, as it would have attracted people to the region and transported troops during World War II, among other things.

Despite the depot’s renovation, many of its original characteristics remain, making it a beautiful place to explore the city’s humble beginnings.

Take Photos at John Coltrane Statue and Marker

One of High Point’s most well-known residents, John Coltrane, was an extraordinarily brilliant musician and saxophone virtuoso who rose to fame throughout the 1960s.

Coltrane was most recognized in the country for his performances with Miles Davis, the legendary trumpeter, and Thelonious Monk, a renowned pianist.

To pay respects to the renowned jazz saxophonist, the City of High Point erected an 8-feet bronze monument of Coltrane at S Hamilton St & Commerce Avenue.

Go Antique Shopping at Twin Deer Antique Mall & Design

The Twin Deer Antiques Mall & Design used to be a 1960s-era furniture factory that turned into a lovely antique shopping center.

This facility is ideal for selling antiques and decorative things because it lies in a forested area with ample parking space that is easily accessible.

Find anything from antiques to vintage to beautiful furnishings to hand-made items to market samples.

It gathers around 70,000 visitors each year.

The mall is open every day of the week, save Mondays and holidays.

Final Thoughts

High Point, North Carolina, has a lot to offer year-round.

During a long weekend, you may discover local history, see magnificent monarch butterflies, and even get a crash course in furniture manufacturing.

Explore High Point by including some of these things to do and sights to see in your schedule!

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