Greensboro On a Budget
Greensboro is a moderately sized city in central North Carolina. With a population of about 250,000, it is the third largest city in the state. It is not a particularly popular tourist destination, but the city's downtown has experienced a revitalization in recent years. There are an increasing number of bars, music venues, and restaurants in the area that you can enjoy. It's location at the intersection of the major interstates (I-85, I-40 and I-73) mean that many travelers at least pass through this area at some point during their time in North Carolina.Greensboro's climate is much like elsewhere in the North Carolina piedmont. The area has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cool and short with the occasional snowstorm. Summers are hot and humid, and the fall and spring months are quite pleasant.
Sights
Greensboro is not a particularly popular tourist destination but there are a handful of sights around town. Bicentennial Garden is a beautiful place to explore with nice vegetation and sculptures. Right across the street is Bog Garden, that has an elevated boardwalk that wanders through wetlands. Other parks in town include Center City Park, the Greensboro Arboretum, and Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. Blandwood Mansion is the city's National Historic Landmark and serves as the governor's home.Museums around town include Elsewhere, which is a living museum and international art residency, the Greensboro Children's Museum, the Greensboro Historical Museum, the Greensboro Science Center, the International Civi Rights Center & Museum, and Weatherspoon Art Museum.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Greensboro has undergone a revitalization in recent years. There are many new residential and office developments that continue to bring life to the area. In particular, the city's Southside neighborhood downtown has been redeveloped into a neotraditional-style neighborhood.The Four Seasons/Coliseum Area is centered around the Four Seasons Town Center, which is a three story shopping mall on High Point Road. It is next to the Koury Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel. The Greensboro Coliseum is on W. Gate City Boulevard and hosts special events including sports, concerts, and theater.
The airport area is centered around the Piedmont Triad International Airport. There are hotels and commercial development in the area.
Activities
Greensboro has a handful of activities that you can enjoy while you're in town. The Carolina Theater of Greensboro dates back to 1927 and now serves as a performing arts venue.If you happen to be in town on the third Thursday of the month then you can visit the City Market at the Railyard at South End. The event offers local food, music, and crafts. First Friday also takes place the first Friday of every month in downtown Greensboro and highlights local music, art, and vendors.
Food and Dining
Greensboro has a variety of restaurants that include seafood, steakhouses, burger joints, and cafes. If you're looking for southern favorites, there are several great barbecue restaurants. You can also try some interesting food trends such as chicken and waffles at Dame's Chicken & Waffles. For a high end twist on traditional southern favorites, head to Lucky 32. There are also pizza, Indian, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Thai options available around town as well.If you're passing through Greensboro on the interstate, you'll find a wide selection of chain restaurants at several different exits. The food is predictable in quality and price and it's relatively efficient to get off the highway, grab a bite, and continue on your travels.
Transportation
The Piedmont Triad International Airport is a relatively small airport in the area. There are about 75 daily flights that connect the city to most major east coast cities. Greensboro also has an Amtrak station and is served by both the Piedmont/Carolinian and the Crescent routes.Because Greensboro is intersected by I-40, I-85, and I-73, it is a major transportation area for car travelers. Most people traveling across the state pass through Greensboro at some point.
Once you're in Greensboro, like most cities in the southeast, you'll really want to have access to a car. The public bus service is provided by the Greensboro Transit Authority but there are only 14 routes. Weekend and evening service is particularly limited. The transit authority is also responsible for the Higher Education Area Transit (HEAT) which operates in cooperation with UNCG, NCA&T, Bennett College, and Elon University School of Law. Students, faculty and staff of the schools travel for free on this network, but all others must pay the standard fare.
There is also a bus service offered by Piedmont Area Regional Transportation that travels between Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Mt Airy, Chapel Hill, Durham, Asheboro, and Lexington.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.