There are so many hidden gems in the Triad to discover. Enjoy these ideas of “afternoon outings” and “Triad day trips” that would be perfect for families or groups of all ages and abilities, especially when visitors come to town. Granted, some of these will be more exciting for little ones, while others will appeal to the older members of your group, but my hope is that each excursion will include a little something for everyone.
Elm Street Afternoon
Travel to downtown Greensboro and spend an afternoon hitting the shops on Elm Street! You can start with lunch at Crafted, then pop in Scuppernong Books. Check out Aspen Boutique, Boho Blu, and Just Be, among many others! Cheesecakes by Alex has an adorable outdoor patio to enjoy a sweet treat in the afternoon. For a great history lesson, you can visit the Civil Rights Museum, which is focused on the sit-in activities at the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter in the early 1960s. Wrap up your day by catching a show at Triad Stage or a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game!
A Kid’s Dream in Downtown Greensboro
Start out at Boxcar Bar + Arcade, which is kid-friendly during the day and always fun for the young and young-at-heart! Then head over to the Greensboro Children’s Museum, where kids will never seem to run out of things to do! If it’s a nice day, you can walk across the street to LeBauer Park, which has an amazing creative play area for kids. If the weather isn’t great, you’ve also got the Greensboro Library right there, as well. You can also check to see what might be going on that day at the Greensboro Cultural Center or GreenHill Center. You’ve got great restaurants in that same area, including Ghassan’s, Europa Bar & Cafe and Mellow Mushroom.
The Grounds of Wake Forest & Reynolda
In Winston-Salem, you can spend an afternoon showing visitors the beautiful campus of Wake Forest University. After walking the grounds, you can take the walking path or drive over to Reynolda Village. Grab lunch at The Village Tavern or Silo, and then stroll through the shops. The Garden Boutique, Around the House, J McLaughlin, and McCall’s are some of our favorites. After shopping, there is a beautiful area to spread out on the grass and enjoy some snacks, throw a frisbee, or fly a kite. You can then walk the path around Lake Katharine through the woods and venture to Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Reynolda Gardens.
Loving Liberty Street
Venture to downtown Winston-Salem and spend your afternoon on Liberty Street. Enjoy lunch or dinner at Camel City BBQ Factory, which also hosts a game room to make even the most restless little ones happy. Just across the street, you will find an “art park,” dubbed ARTivity on the Green. Amazing art that your kids will enjoy and your teens will love to post on Instagram! Continue on down to Reboot Arcade Bar (family friendly until 9 pm) to take whirl at PacMan or Space Invaders! Venturing just a few streets off of Liberty, you can then step back in time by visiting Mast General Store. You will love the clothes and accessories, while your children will love the barrels of candy. I also recommend hitting Black Mountain Chocolate Factory, where you can actually view the chocolate being made. To round out your evening, visit Crafted for dinner and Burger Batch for an amazing milkshake for dessert!
The Best of New & Old Salem
In Winston-Salem, you can easily hit Kaleideum Downtown and Old Salem in the same day, since they are within walking distance. Kaleideum Downtown is a fantastic children’s museum where kids can spend hours exploring and discovering. Willow’s Bistro, Di Lisio’s Italian Restaurant, and Senor Bravo are all within walking distance for a great bite to eat, or you can head to Old Salem and eat at The Tavern. You can explore Old Salem Museum & Gardens to experience early American history in the Moravian settlement of Salem. You can view historical buildings and gardens, while also taking part in hands-on workshops, family events, and shopping. Lastly, wrap up your evening with a Winston-Salem Dash baseball game!
Joy in Jamestown
Spend a day in the High Point and Jamestown areas. High Point City Lake Park has just about everything—carousel rides, boats, miniature golf course, picnic shelters and grills, playground, swimming pool, concessions, and a train ride! I would suggest spending the morning here and taking a picnic lunch. Afterward, you can cruise the streets of Main Street Jamestown. Be sure to stop in Potent Potables, The Soap Lady, and Out of Hand. Just around the corner is the Piedmont Environmental Center. The center provides hands-on experiences relating to the nature of life, as well as small-animal exhibits. It also hosts eleven miles of foot trails and the Bicentennial Greenway, which passes through forests and lakeside habitats. After your visit to the PEC, we suggest Southern Roots for an amazing dinner.
Visit TriadMomsonMain.com for more day trip ideas like these!
