Greensboro North Carolina, the Gate City of the Piedmont
Situated in the beautiful North Carolina piedmont, Greensboro is home to a vibrant arts community. Experience the region’s rich American history of Revolutionary War and Civil War sites, as well as the International Civil Rights Museum. Bask in the North Carolina sunshine while playing one of the many fun and challenging golf courses, or take in a game of one the city’s local pro or college teams.
Art Lovers Rejoice
Greensboro’s thriving arts community offers something for everyone, from classic art and murals to theatre and music festivals. Operating for nearly a century, the Carolina Theatre of Greensboro is home to the Greensboro Ballet as well as various theatre companies and the Greensboro Youth Symphony. While enjoying the downtown district, take in a show at the famous Triad Stage which has been recognized as “One of the 50 Best Regional Theatres in America!” Renowned for its collection of 20th century art, the Weatherspoon Art Museum features pieces by Picasso and Warhol. Meanwhile, fans of American idyllic-scene painter Thomas Kinkade will enjoy the Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery. Stroll the downtown Elm Street area which features many wonderful art galleries, like Ambleside Gallery, originally established in Manchester, England, featuring a changing collection of art from artists, sculptures, and photographers from around the world. Musical performers come from far and wide to take part in the Eastern Music Festival which features all styles of music including avant-garde and non-traditional. Visitors can stay in the downtown district with lodging choices ranging from quaint B&Bs to luxury hotels.
Rich in American History
The greater Greensboro area is home to many outstanding manors, homes, and plantations rich in history including the Blandwood Mansion in the downtown district. This National Historic Landmark circa 1795 was home to former NC Governor John Motley Morehead. The Battle of Guilford Courthouse played a major role in the American Revolution, and visitors can walk the battlefield of the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. There is also an annual battle re-enactment each March. Greensboro is also rich in African-American history and is home to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. Housed in the former Woolworth retail store, this interactive museum features artefacts, photographs, and video re-enactments. Visitors can choose from a guided or self-guided tour. For a living history experience, travel to nearby Winston-Salem, located about 30 miles away from Greensboro, to the Old Salem Historic District which depicts the lives of an 18th century Moravian community.
Sport Lover’s Paradise
Greensboro is home to several mid-tier professional sport’s teams including the Class A Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball team as well as the Greensboro Swarm, an NBA D-League basketball team. A top-level amateur football team, the Carolina Dynamo, also call Greensboro home. The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) collegiate athletics conference’s headquarters are here, and they have hosted a number of tournaments including several men’s basketball Final Fours and ACC conference tournaments at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Hotels near the Coliseum offer accommodations ranging from budget and mid-range to luxury chain hotels, many within walking distance. Golfers and golf fans have much to do in the Gate City. Each summer the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship is held at Sedgefield Country Club and features top pros showing off their skills. After watching the best in the sport compete, visitors can choose from one of the many beautiful, tree-lined courses to tee it up themselves, including Stoney Creek Golf Club, Country Hills Golf Course, and Pleasant Ridge Golf Course, or get a lesson and work on their game at the Carolina Golf Academy.
Food, Drink, and Nightlife
Greensboro is an up-and-coming Southern city for foodies and drink conniseures. Classic cuisine as well as fresh takes on old favourites can be found all around the city and surrounding areas. Enjoy everything from Southern home-cooked favourites like biscuits and gravy or chicken and waffles to specialty tacos or burgers and brews. Cocktails and signature drinks featuring whiskey and rum are also making their way back into popular culture, and the microbrewery scene is exploding all over America, but especially in Greensboro where brewpubs are popping up around the city and they even feature an annual summer beer festival each July. For visitors who want to stay out late and dance the night away, Greensboro offers a vibrant nightlife scene. Pubs, dance clubs, and live music venues abound.
Family-friendly Fun
Spend the day strolling through Greensboro’s beautiful gardens or visiting the Greensboro Arboretum. With nine permanent plant collections and many special displays spread over 17 acres, the Arboretum is open to the public free of charge. For more adventurous sorts, seek thrills at North Carolina’s largest water park, Wet ‘N Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park. Spend a summer day cooling off from the North Carolina sunshine and take a ride down a water slide, lazy river, or pool, or relax in a private cabana. Hotel accommodations around the water park include chain hotels which feature suites if you’re traveling with a large group.