The third-largest city in North Carolina has a central role in civil rights history, with the 1960 Woolworth's lunch counter sit-ins that sparked nationwide protests.
Start your visit to Greensboro by stepping into the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, where four North Carolina A&T students sparked a national movement in 1960. Watch sharks glide overhead at the Greensboro Science Center’s aquarium or listen to live jazz at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts. Walk or bike along 70 miles of trails that loop around Lake Brandt and through Country Park. The city’s two universities bring energy to local cafes and galleries, and each September, the streets fill with music during the North Carolina Folk Festival. Greensboro feels both lively and approachable, with quiet neighborhoods sitting minutes from downtown’s music venues and breweries.
Civil Rights History
Begin at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, which occupies the former Woolworth’s building where students refused to leave a segregated lunch counter. Original stools and signage remain intact, paired with audio recordings of participants. Ten minutes away, Guilford Courthouse National Military Park marks the site of a 1781 battle between British and colonial forces, with reenactments held monthly. Tour the 1846 Blandwood Mansion, once home to a state governor, to see Federal-style architecture and antique furnishings. The Charlotte Hawkins Brown Memorial, 20 miles northeast, honors the founder of a groundbreaking school for Black students during segregation.
Museums and Performances
The Weatherspoon Art Museum at UNC Greensboro rotates exhibits from its collection of 20th-century American art, including sculptures by Alexander Calder. Catch independent films at the Carolina Theatre’s 1927 auditorium or watch the Greensboro Symphony perform classical pieces at the Tanger Center. Creative Greensboro runs public art projects like the Downtown Arts Program, which places local artists’ paintings and installations in storefronts. In March 2024, the city began adding murals to libraries and community centers, with submissions accepted until March 15.
Trails and Recreation
Walk the 5.5-mile loop around Lake Brandt, where kayak rentals are available from April through October. Guilford Courthouse National Military Park has 2.5 miles of shaded paths past Revolutionary War monuments. Free guided hikes start March 1 at Country Park, focusing on local plants and wildlife. Families cool off at Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe’s wave pool in summer, and golfers play Sedgefield Country Club’s Donald Ross-designed course. Downtown, LeBauer Park holds free yoga classes on Saturdays and live music every third Friday.
Festivals and Sports
Attend the North Carolina Folk Festival in September to hear bluegrass, West African drumming, and Latin jazz across six downtown stages. July’s Fun Fourth Festival includes a morning parade followed by fireworks over Center City Park. From late November to January, the Greensboro Science Center decorates its zoo with light displays and themed exhibits. Basketball fans pack the Greensboro Coliseum for ACC tournaments, where tickets start at $25. The arena also hosts major concerts, from country stars to hip-hop acts.
Universities and Demographics
North Carolina A&T, the largest historically Black university in the U.S., offers campus tours highlighting its civil rights history and engineering labs. UNC Greensboro’s campus includes a theater department that stages student productions open to the public. Recent enrollment growth at both schools has spurred new coffee shops and bookstores near campus. Nearly half the city’s 302,296 residents identify as Black, with 40% white and 10% Hispanic. Areas like Fisher Park feature early 1900s cottages, while newer apartments downtown average $1,114 per month.
Getting Around
Piedmont Triad International Airport has direct flights to 12 U.S. cities, including New York and Chicago. Amtrak’s daily Crescent Line stops downtown, connecting to Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Greensboro Transit Agency buses run every 30 minutes on main routes like Market Street and Holden Road. Most residents drive, but bike lanes now stretch from Lindley Park to the Bog Garden wetlands. Traffic peaks weekdays from 7:30–8:45 a.m., though commutes rarely exceed 25 minutes.
Where to Live or Stay
Downtown’s converted warehouses hold loft apartments near breweries such as Joymongers and Little Brother. Families often choose Irving Park for its sidewalks and large yards, with median home prices near $400,000. The Dunleath neighborhood has Craftsman-style houses built in the 1920s, many with front porches and magnolia trees. East Greensboro’s Windsor Chavis Nocho Complex provides a swimming pool, gym, and after-school programs. For short stays, hotels cluster near Friendly Avenue, with mid-range options like Hyatt Place and budget motels off I-40.
