You can think of Greensboro as North Carolina’s Goldilocks zone: It’s not too small, not too big; it’s halfway between the mountains and the ocean; and it’s sufficiently “green” alongside amenities of urban living. For those reasons and more, this Carolina town—in the hilly Piedmont region—is routinely ranked as one of America’s best places to live. As for travelers, things to do in Greensboro range from visiting restaurants, museums, and downtown baseball games to learning about Civil War history, having outdoor adventures on the lakes and trails, and more.
Let’s call Greensboro a three-season destination (though some folks will certainly enjoy the mild winters). In spring and summer, this spot has warm weather, sunny days, and plenty to do—events like North Carolina Folk Fest and Greensboro Summer Solstice Festival are some of the city’s best. Then, in fall, you get all the glory of the season’s change in the Tarheel State: The canopy of this “green” city turns to gold and tangerine.
Most visitors will get around Greensboro with a car—though attractions may be a bit spread out, traffic is rarely an issue. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, taxis and rideshares are available, as are bus services, both regional (PART) and local (GTA). And, with the city’s plethora of trails, biking and walking are possible within reason, too.
Greensboro, though named after a Revolutionary War soldier, has earned its name: The town’s green spaces dot the city landscape. Unlike some cities’ mansion-lined waterfronts, Greensboro’s major lakes—Brandt, Townsend, and Higgins—are all public parks with hiking and biking trails and paddling and boating opportunities. Even the downtown has major green spaces, like City Center and LeBauer parks, where you can catch an al fresco movie or baseball game under the shadow of high-rises. The Greensboro Arboretum is fantastic, too.