Greensboro Staycation Ideas – Bring the Kids!

Want to spend some quality time with your kids and create memories together that will last a lifetime? Treat your family to a well-deserved vacation in Greensboro, North Carolina, where you can relax and have fun. As the third-largest city in the state, there is an endless number of activities, parks, and attractions to explore throughout the city as well as countless kid-friendly attractions to discover!  

It is a fantastic destination choice for families with children, overflowing with fun activities and unique interactive experiences. Visit parks, explore museums, and cool off at the Carolinas’ Favorite Water Park during the hot summer months! Continue reading below as we share some of our top tips for enjoying your next family visit to Greensboro, NC!

Psst… we want to let you in on a little secret. The absolute best thing to do in Greensboro with kids during the summer is a day spent at Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe. There’s not a better place to cool off and beat the heat while having a blast alongside your loved ones.

Are you looking for things to do in Greensboro, NC this weekend? Spend the day splashing around and cooling off on 40+ water rides and attractions. Enjoy your favorite foods at the park’s many dining options, shop for souvenirs at the gift shop, and attend fun-filled events! Families of all ages will find something to love at this splashtastic water park.

As one of the largest water parks in North Carolina, kids, teenagers, and adults will find a thrilling variety of water attractions and rides to explore. It’s truly one of the best things to do with kids in Greensboro, NC! From exhilarating water slides to a relaxing lazy river and colorful kiddie play area, there’s truly something for everyone at Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe.

Test your bravery on Bombs Away, where you can take your pick of two hair-raising water slides: one is an open vertical drop slide and the other sends riders free-falling down an enclosed vertical tube. See how fearless you really are on the 76-foot vertical drop slide at Daredevil Drop, or race your friends and siblings down Double Barrel Blast! Get your adrenaline pumping on Riptide Racer, where you can race your friends on four side-by-side slides. Put your nerves to the ultimate test on Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror where you’ll drop down a heart-stopping 40-foot plunge followed by 360-degree spins and vertical drops. These are just a mere few of the park’s many water slides that you won’t want to miss!

Experience the thrill of white water rafting from inside a tube on a 450-foot-long man-made river at Raging Rapids, or relax and chat alongside your friends on the Lazy River. Plus, Leisure Lagoon is the ultimate place to unwind and wade around in calm, shallow waters.

Young children should head straight to Happy Harbor to explore the sprawling 6,400 square feet of water wonders. Colorful animals, water-spilling mushrooms, and splashin’ pool fun await you here.

Make your park visit even more memorable by renting a private cabana for the day. You’ll have a private shaded area for relaxation whenever you need a break from all the action. There are several different cabana options to choose from, but all include a shaded area with chairs, loungers, and a table as well as other perks depending on the package you choose. Cabanas must be reserved at least 24 hours before your park visit.  

Be sure to check the park’s event schedule before your visit to catch some of the entertaining and unique activities on offer. The park has a week-long Kids Fest each summer, along with Sunday Funday and other fun events you won’t want to miss!

Want to keep your park memories intact forever? Do you need to pick up an extra pair of goggles or a pool towel? Head over to Thunder Bay Outfitters where you can shop for unique souvenirs as well as practical items. Here you can find a range of apparel items, bathing suits, sunscreen, pool towels, goggles, souvenirs, and more! Grab a Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe shirt or bathing suit to remember your fun family day at the park.

A visit to Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe isn’t complete without enjoying some of the park’s fantastic dining options. Between all the swimming, splashing, and sliding, you’ll be sure to work up an appetite during your visit! Luckily, there is a broad selection of excellent dining options to choose from. Head over to Captain Eli’s for a delicious menu of comfort foods such as sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and Pepsi fountain beverages. Have a slice of pizza at Uncle Luigi’s Pizza or snack on fried popcorn chicken from Crispy’s. If you’re craving savory and juicy BBQ items, don’t miss out on the mouth-watering menu at The Smokehouse. Sweet-tooth lovers are in luck because the park has an array of delicious sweet snack options. Cool off with a hand-dipped ice cream cone at Breakers Hand Dipped Ice Cream. Sip on a healthy smoothie at Parrot Ice Smoothies, or eat a nostalgic cup of Dippin’ Dots.

Want to get the best value for your ticket purchase? Check out the season pass options where you can enjoy the fun with your family while making memories together all summer long! There are several different season pass tier options, each with their own perks and inclusions. With season passes you can enjoy unlimited visits, food and retail discounts, discounts on friend tickets, and more!  

What are you waiting for? Come spend the day with us at Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe with your family and friends! Start making unforgettable memories together and have fun on all the rides and attractions. There’s a ticket option for everyone, from single-day passes, to bronze season passes, to platinum passes with no limitations! Family fun, smiles, and lifelong memories await you at Wet ’n Wild Emerald Pointe, one of the best things to do with kids in Greensboro, NC!

Recharge with a day spent close to nature at the stunning Greensboro Arboretum. Breathe in the fresh air, sit among the flowers, and relax under the shade of a tree in this tranquil, whimsical space. It’s a phenomenal place for children of all ages to play, run, explore, and learn all in one!

The 17-acre garden site is located in the Lindley Park neighborhood and features 14 different plant collections. Entry is free and the space is immaculately kept and regularly maintained, which is apparent through its remarkable landscaped appearance.  

Spend your day here exploring the various plant collections where you can read and learn about the different exotic species. Go for a long, leisurely walk along the paved walking trail. Visit the special display gardens and other artistic structures around the gardens. There’s also a scenic overlook area where you can enjoy a stunning view of the city and green surroundings!  

You can also enjoy your visit to the arboretum even longer with a picnic. Bring a blanket and a basket filled with your favorite snacks and drinks to enjoy under the shade of a tree or on a picnic table. There’s a spectacular wedding gazebo that you can reserve for a wedding or an outdoor event of your choice.

Kids and teenagers can enjoy the playground and basketball court, and there are clean public restrooms available for all visitors. Check out the events schedule before your visit to find regularly scheduled activities such as aerobics classes, games for kids, educational workshops, and more! A visit to the arboretum is truly one of the best things to do with kids in Greensboro, NC.

In Greensboro, families can visit a museum dedicated exclusively to children! The Greensboro Children’s Museum is a 37,000-square-foot space for children to run, play, explore, and discover over 20 hands-on exhibits.  

Kids will stay entertained for hours playing make-believe in the modeled, interactive spaces which include a grocery store, a post office, a doctor’s office, and a construction zone. Take a photo in the iconic Big Red Chair and run around outdoors in the enormous Outdoor Play Plaza which includes a 25-foot suspended tunnel!  

Children can experiment with interactive science exhibits and let their imaginations run wild at Imagination Station. Learn about geometry at the Tinker Station and play with magnets at the Mag Wall. There’s something new and exciting around each new corner, and every station is filled with invaluable learning opportunities!

Stop by the Edible Schoolyard to explore the hands-on kitchen gardens. Here kids can learn about the important relationship between nature, planting, and eating nutritious foods.  

Be sure to check out the museum’s program calendar for special events happening during your visit. A vacation with your kids in Greensboro isn’t complete without spending an afternoon exploring the wonders of this one-of-a-kind museum.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Greensboro, North Carolina, the adventure begins at Greensboro Children’s Museum!