We’ve heard good things about Greensboro and some very quick last-minute research led us to believe it would be a fun destination for family day trip with plenty of kid-friendly activities to make the drive worthwhile.
Here’s a quick preview of our day: We woke up early and arrived soon after the Greensboro Science Center opened. We spent the bulk of our time at the Greensboro Science Center but also made time for a lunch stop, a visit to a local pinball museum and a fun dessert treat before making the drive back home.
Day Trip to Greensboro, NC
The day we spent in Greensboro with our kids was really fun and the pace of our day felt relaxed and managable. I can easily see how sometimes there might be pressure to see and do all the things when planning a day trip somewhere new but we let go of anything too ambitious and centered our trip primarily around the Greensboro Science Center. Anything else we happened to see or do was a bonus!
How Far Is Greensboro from Charlotte?
The drive to Greensboro from Charlotte is about an hour and 25 minutes. From the Lake Norman area, it takes just over 90 minutes to get to Greensboro. We drove to Greensboro on a Sunday morning which meant we encountered virtually no traffic and we headed home in the early evening so traffic was virtually non-existent then as well.
Our Greensboro Day Trip Itinerary
Here’s a quick at-a-glance itinerary of our day trip to Greensboro with kids:
- Morning: Drive to Greensboro
- Morning through early afternoon: Greensboro Science Center
- Lunch: Burgers and hot dogs at Emma Key’s
- Afternoon: Greensboro Pinball Museum
- Afternoon Treat: Legend’s Ice Cream and Churros
- Late Afternoon: Drive back home
Greensboro Science Center
The Greensboro Science Center was a MEGA hit with our family. It combines an aquarium, museum and zoo all in one which immediately made it appeal to our whole crew. We love animals, aquariums, exploring and interactive exhibits and had the best time at this hot spot! I would 100 percent recommend the Greensboro Science Center to anyone, especially families with children of all different ages. Our kids are 6, 8 and 11 and all loved it!)
Our Favorite Greensboro Science Center Exhibits
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Greensboro Science Center Outdoor Zoo
The first thing we did when we arrived at the Greensboro Science Center was make our way to the outdoor zoo.We were visiting on a hot day and knew checking the outdoors spots off our list first was the smartest choice to avoid the intense heat. What we did not expect was to stumble upon a large outdoor wooden play area which was the perfect spot to stop for some free playtime after a 90-minute drive. The Kiwanisaurus Treehouse Adventure is an ADA-accessible outdoor playground featuring four interconnected treehouses and four crow’s nests.
Our kids had a blast navigating bridges, nets, and hoops above lifesize dinosaur replicas. (Zip lining and ropes courses are also available in the outdoor zoo area and likely would’ve been a priority for us had our kids all been a little older.)
Of course the animals were a big highlight of the zoo portion of the Greensboro Science Center. We felt extra lucky because the cats within the zoo all seemed to be extra alert, playful and fun to watch when we were there. We had the best time observing the playful serval kittens that were born last spring. They reminded us so much of the pouncing, playful kittens we’ve been fostering lately but obviously much bigger. They had all of us cracking up!
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Greensboro Science Center Aquarium
As big-time lovers of marine life, we adore aquariums! The aquarium within the Greensboro Science Center was not massive by any means but it also wasn’t a tiny little place. It felt modern and clean and featured large tanks filled with vibrant fish, rays, sharks, octopus, sea horses and more! The boys thoroughly enjoyed the touch tanks and watching the penguin feeding.
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Butterfly Garden
We got really lucky with this one and were able to visit the butterfly garden the day before it closed for the season. (It’s open mid-may through Labor Day.) Our boys have always been fascinated by butterflies and we thoroughly enjoyed walking through this garden and observing some of the gorgeous butterflies native to North Carolina, including the beloved monarch.
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Hands-On Science Exhibits
Lots of interactive science exhibits and play areas are woven throughout the Greensboro Science Center. We took our time exploring and thoroughly enjoyed the Rainforest Adventure Maze! This is a temporary exhibit ending soon but we really enjoyed the way it wove rainforest facts and conservation information into an interactive maze our boys thoroughly enjoyed. There are also a lot of fun imagination stations our kids thought were a blast, including a large submarine where kids can step behind the wheel of a simulated research boat and steer a submarine!
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Dinosaurs
The dinosaur exhibit was such a cool addition to the Greensboro Science Center! While the outside play area features a handful of large dinosaur replicas, the indoor museum has a prehistoric zone complete with more lifelike replicas and interactive screens that make you feel like the dinosaurs are walking right toward you! Our kids got a huge kick out of this section of the science center and we all thought it was engaging and interesting.
How Much Time Do You Need at the Greensboro Science Center?
We spent just over three hours at the Greensboro Science Center. Our family typically moves at a pretty quick pace but we don’t rush through things by any means! Three hours was enough time to take in the zoo, museum exhibits, butterfly garden and aquarium without feeling like we were moving at a snail’s pace or at a pace that felt too quick and hurried. I’d realistically budget 3-4 hours for the Greensboro Science Center.
Tips for Visiting the Greensboro Science Center
We picked up a few tips I thought might be worth highlighting in case a visit to the Greensboro Science Center is on your radar:
- Arrive close to opening to beat crowds. We definitely noticed a lot more people at the science center when we were leaving a little after noon compared to when we arrived around 9 a.m.
- Wear comfortable shoes! We walked close to 7,000 steps.
- Check the weather because part of the experience is outdoors. We visited on a hot day that called for afternoon storms, so we made sure to prioritize visiting the outdoor sections of the science center in the morning.
- Bring water and snacks. Water fountains and water bottle refill stations are available on property so you can easily refill your own water bottles. Food and snacks are also available for purchase on site.
- Confirm current hours, prices and special experiences before visiting. Certain areas were closed off or under construction during our visit and this seems to be common, as the science center is always growing. Make sure to check to see that the areas that are important to you will be open during your visit.
More Things to Do in Greensboro with Kids
Greensboro Pinball Museum
Our family first fell in love with pinball museums during a fall trip to Asheville last year! Our kids flip for these vintage machines and Ryan and I think they’re a lot of fun, too. We spent just over an hour at the Greensboro Pinball Museum, a trule local gem, right after lunch and we had a great time. Our boys did not want to leave!
And here are a few more ideas we considered visiting during our Greensboro day trip that might be worth looking into if you’re planning a trip to Greensboro:
Partee Shack
This was top on our list for additional activities if we had the energy but we ran out of steam and opted to skip it on this particular day trip. ParTee Shack Greensboro is a massive indoor entertainment center featuring two creative 18-hole mini golf courses, a multi-level go-kart track and an arcade with more than 30 games. The mini golf courses are apparently extra fun and incorporate unexpected obstacles and interactive challenges like a zipline, basketball hoops and dodgeball.
Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum
Seems to be best suited for younger children and families looking for imaginative, hands-on play.
LeBauer Park and Center City Park
A convenient downtown option for outdoor play, walking and letting kids burn off energy.
Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden
A relaxed, free outdoor stop for walking, exploring and taking family pictures.
Greensboro Arboretum
Another free option for families who enjoy gardens, trails and outdoor time.
Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe
We were highly considering a visit to this spot since we’re a water park-loving family!
Where to Eat in Greensboro with Kids
Food is never the most exciting thing to our boys so when it comes to visiting restaurants and finding places to eat with our kids when we travel we like to keep things very simple. We opt for fast-casual places and love to find spots with outdoor seating, kid-friendly food and a unique local flare.
For lunch during our Greensboro day trip, we ate at Emma Keys, a local hot spot in the Lindley Park neighborhood that’s been open for 16 years.
With a menu featuring lots of different variations of unique burgers and hot dogs, we knew we could all find something we’d like and enjoy.
At the urging of a local visitor, I ordered the back porch burger featuring pimento cheese, a fried egg and sliced pickles and thought it was a greasy delight. Our boys liked their kids cheeseburgers, hot dogs and fries. Ryan got the chimi dog and coney dog and ate every last bite.
Ice Cream and Dessert in Greensboro
Ice cream is pretty much everyone in our family’s all-time favorite food. We love finding new ice cream shops to visit when we travel and Legend’s Ice Cream & Churros popped out at us as it seemed especially unique. (It was also conveniently located on our way out of Greensboro as we were leaving to head home.) The churros at Legend’s were fantastic but we all agreed we’d skip ice cream from this spot next time as it was a little icy and not our favorite. Next time we’d consider visiting Yum Yum, Boza Creamery or Ice Cream Factory.
We also stopped into Dolce & Amaro, an artisan Italian bakery, for macarons during our time in Greensboro and loved them!
Sweet, chewy and delicious!
Is Greensboro Worth Visiting with Kids?
There was no shortage of things to do in Greensville with kids during our day trip! For our family the answer to this question is a strong YES. We had no trouble filling a day in Greensboro with fun activities and adventures and feel strongly that we could return to Greensboro with our kids and do completely different things and have a blast all over again. The drive was very managable for a day trip and the variety of activities for our kids ages 6, 8 and 11 worked well for our family.
Tips for Planning a Greensboro Day Trip
Our day trip to Greensboro was fun and felt very managable for a myriad of reason I’d boil down to the following tips:
- Choose one main attraction and one shorter secondary stop: We didn’t overload our itinerary and I think this was keep for keeping our energy levels up and avoiding burnout for our kids
- Begin at the science center early: This spot deserves to be a priority and if you’re planning a visit here, I’d do it first thing to maximize your enjoyment
- Save time for a playground or outdoor break: The outdoor play area at the science center was really helpful for shaking out our legs and giving the boys some free play time after our drive
- Pack snacks and water: We packed a cooler with drinks and snacks and definitely used them, despite stopping for lunch and a few treats
- Avoid trying to fit too much into one day:Â We were so tempted to do more than we did (Partee was calling to us!) but I’m glad we didn’t. Our trip was full enough to feel fun without feeling like too much.
More North Carolina Day Trips for Families
In case you’re looking for more day trip ideas, here are a few North Carolina travel blog posts I’ve shared that night be of interest:
- 15 Day Trips from Charlotte
- Great Wolf Lodge:Â My Great Wolf Lodge Review + My Great Wolf Lodge Tips
If you live in Greensboro or have visited Greensboro in the past, I’d love to read more about any “must sees” for our next trip because this day trip to Greensboro surely will not be our last!
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