Here is our list of top things to do to experience and enjoy the rich music and arts culture of Greensboro.
day 1
5:30 PM – Dinner at Green Valley Grill
Take the elevator down to dinner at Green Valley Grill. Enjoy fresh seasonal Old World European and Mediterranean flavors from the wood-fired rotisserie and grill. Pair them with your choice of artisanal cocktails, craft beers and 500 wines. Learn More.
7:30 PM – Shops at the Friendly Center
Located directly across from O.Henry Hotel, this beautiful, open shopping village offers 150 stores – including Apple, Anthropologie, Lily Pulitzer, Williams-Sonoma and more – plus a Regal movie theater. Learn More
day 2
10 AM – Weatherspoon Art Museum
With six galleries and a sculpture courtyard, UNCG’s art museum is nationally recognized for its exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. Its outstanding collection of more than 5,000 objects includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs and objects in miscellaneous media. Highlights include the Dillard Collection of Art on Paper and the Cone Collection of prints and bronzes by Henri Matisse. Located 2.5 miles from the O.Henry Hotel. Learn More
12 PM – Lunch at Print Works Bistro
Print Works Bistro features classical and modern versions of French bistro dishes created with locally sourced food. Relax in our sun-filled dining room or dine outdoors on our creekside terrace. Learn More.
5:30 PM – Greensboro Symphony Concert
Enjoy an early dinner at Green Valley Grill and then head to the performance. Hear Masterworks, Chamber, POPS, Education and Holiday concerts led by Maestro Dmitry Sitkovetsky, featuring guest conductors and artists from around the world. The Greensboro Symphony offers something for all music lovers. Learn more about our Greensboro Symphony Package.
day 3
10:00 AM – Morning Stroll in Greensboro Gardens
Take a leisurely stroll through the Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden, a popular and relaxing 7.5-acre garden that’s known for its massive annual plantings and bronze sculpture. Across the street, the Bog Garden features an elevated boardwalk that meanders through 7 acres of natural wetlands. Stone pathways traverse a forested hillside, and visitors can enjoy the sounds of water at Serenity Falls – a re-circulating waterfall – while viewing the many varieties of plants, birds and other wildlife inhabiting the area. Learn More
12 PM – Afternoon Tea in O.Henry Hotel’s Social Lobby
Taking tea in the O.Henry Hotel Social Lobby has become a local tradition. Reservations are recommended; please call Green Valley Grill at 336-854-2015.
Other Must-Sees
North Carolina Folk Festival
Music and dance traditions from every part of the nation are represented, performed by the state’s very finest traditional artists. A mix of open air and tented areas provide a variety of performance venues, ranging from intimate stages to amphitheaters in downtown Greensboro. Learn More.
Carolina Theatre
First opened in 1927, this restored vaudeville theater serves as one of Greensboro’s principal performing arts centers, showcasing theater, dance, concerts and films. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and located downtown. Learn More
Green HIll Center for North Carolina Art
Located downtown in the Greensboro Cultural Center, this visual arts center/gallery features changing exhibitions by North Carolina artists and a variety of educational programs for children and adults. Fine arts and crafts are for sale in the gift shop, including original works in glass, fiber and wood, as well as pottery, jewelry and paintings. Just three miles from O.Henry Hotel. Learn more
University Galleries at NC A&T State University
The NC A&T State University Galleries are composed of two collections, the H.C. Taylor Art Collection and the Mattye Reed African Heritage Collection. Established in 1956, the H.C. Taylor Collection gallery fearures art that emphases cultures and people from around the world. It includes works by Romare Bearden, John Biggers, Alma Thomas, Charles Alston, Hale Woodruff and Varnette P. Honeywood. The Mattye Reed African Heritage collection consists of more than 6,000 artifacts, including sculptures, masks, figures, musical instruments, textiles and household implements. More than 35 African countries are represented in this collection; among them are Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Haiti and other countries in the Diaspora. This collection is the southeast’s largest repository on the history and culture of African-American life in North Carolina. Located in the historic Dudley Building on the NC A&T State University campus, open Monday-Friday. Located five miles from O.Henry Hotel. Learn more
Greensboro Arboretum
This 17-acre site features 14 plant collections, special display gardens and distinct structural features. The extensive variety of plants offers rich educational opportunities for children and adults, landscape designers and homeowners alike. Learn more
Greenways and Biking Trails
Greensboro has almost 112 miles of greenway trails to experience (37 miles paved and 76 miles of natural surface). Greenways are defined as linear tracts of open space with the ability to connect people to destinations. These “corridors” usually parallel rivers or stream beds, but they also can be found along abandoned railway lines or utility easements. Greenways enhance the overall quality of life in a community by promoting healthy activities, a clean environment, and potential economic benefits. Learn more
Greensboro Historical Museum
Rich history served fresh daily! The Greensboro Historical Museum shares local culture and the city’s significant role in American history, from the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in 1781 to the 1960 Greensboro Sit-Ins and the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001. Twelve galleries also feature an award-winning Voices of a City exhibition, Civil War firearms, the First Lady Dolley Madison collection and exhibits on textile manufacturing. Hands-on interactives and audiovisuals abound. Museum Shop. Learn More
Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
The largest, most hotly contested battle of the Revolutionary War’s Southern Campaign was fought at the small North Carolina backcountry hamlet of Guilford Courthouse. The battle proved to be the highwater mark of British military operations in the Revolutionary War. This park features many educational opportunities and several miles of paved and natural walking/biking trails.
Tannenbaum Park
This park tells the story of everyday life in the back country of North Carolina during the late eighteenth century. The Colonial Heritage Center, the historic buildings and the park grounds offer hands-on exhibits, living history presentations and historic trade programs that paint an engaging portrait of the people, artifacts and activity of Colonial America.
Greensboro Farmers Curb Market
The GFM provides greater Greensboro with opportunities to purchase and learn about local foods in a friendly and diverse social setting. GFM encourages and supports the growth of local foods and artisan goods businesses to improve Greater Greensboro’s economy, support better health through healthy eating and build social and community connections. Learn More