I have an errand to run in Greensboro today, and thought I would make a day trip out of it. What is there to do with small children, for cheap, or even free?
They have a nice looking childrens museum downtown. I have only seen it from the outside, it appears to be like Exploris. Try a google search for Greensboro Childrens Museum and it will probably come up.
That looks really cool, Mark - but it will cost almost 25 bucks for all of us to get in. I just put all my money in my gas tank. :lol: I wonder if that zoo in Greensboro is associated with the one in Asheboro? I have a membership, then I could get in for free.
Hmmm... Nature Science Center of Greensboro - 50 percent off admission with the Zoo Society membership. Okay... 11 dollars. Thing Two will get in for free. That is more reasonable, and enjoyable for all ages.
Found this posted in the city-data forum: In Greensboro, there is a minor league baseball team---the Grasshoppers. See if they have a home game. Also, walking the "downtown strip" in GB is fun. There is a new center city parks that kids love. There is a fountain that sprays over a walkway. . that is kind of like a sprinkler. The Woolworths where the Sit-In movement began is also on Elm Street and is an important site for kids to learn about. It's not a museum yet, but is still inspirational to see. Natty Greene's has a nice outdoor patio if it's not too hot, good food, and a kid's menu. Fincastle's in a fun diner. Cheesecakes by Alex is a great place for dessert, coffee, ice cream, or breakfast. Oh yeah, or frozen cheescake on a stick! The kids may like Alex's small tropcial fish tank too. Free wi-fi, as well. There's a pool table at The Green Bean Coffee shop that kids like. It's a coffee shop that also serves beer, which is nice for parents and doesn't have a bar atmosphere. These places are all along Elm Street in downtown. There is also a Children's Museum ($) on Church Street downtown. The Greensboro History Museum is downtown as well (it's free), most of it is a tad boring for kids, BUT if you go up to the 3rd floor there is a more interactive section called "Welcome to the Gate City." Kids can sit in a 1900s classroom, use a switchboard, and watch old movies. There's a very neat old graveyard behind the museum. The Bog Garden in Greensboro is a great place to go on a nature walk and feed the ducks. Bur-Mil park has a swimming pool, golf, trails, and picnic areas. They have a cool "blue bike program" where you can borrow a bike and helmet for free to cruise the park. Country Park has playgrounds and paddleboats. Nearby is the Natural Science Center ($) that has lots of stuff for kids. The Lake Brandt marina is out that way too, nice trails, canoe rentals, views of the the lake (no swimming). There is a small free museum at the Greensboro Battlefield and a living history frontier farm. Kids also like Celebration Station...which is out on the highway and is your general putt-putt, games, bumper boats kinda joint.
It figures that you ask this question when my "Day Trips from Raleigh/Durham" book is at home and I'm at work! I just read the Greensboro chapter a night or 2 ago and it was really cool. Unfortunately, I can't remember anything from it at the moment. Hope you find something that's cheap and fun.
This place was AWESOME! Two indoor play areas for the kids, think "Playspace". Some stuffed animal exhibits, a dinosaur exhibit, live animals/birds/reptiles and then outside 23 acres of monkeys, lemurs, meerkats, tigers, wallabees, a REALLY proud peacock and some other wildlife. Some portions are walkthrough and others are in cages/habitats. There were sheep & goats for petting (Thing One practically layed in the dirt for 30 minutes with these beasts - she could not get enough!) and finally - ample handwashing/sanitizing centers plus some really cool fountains set to music. Worth the drive, and worth the NC Zoo Society membership.
Glad, it was still there! Last time I was there I was very plastered and they used to sell Indian Clay pipes, one of my old roommates used to buy up all their stock! :mrgreen: If you go back the kids might enjoy Guilford Battleground Park the Revolutionary battlefield. The older ones might enjoy the exhibits but I loved the walking trails. It is relatively near the zoo in that I took my bike to both from my old apartment.
