GREENSBORO SCIENCE CENTER ROUNDUP

ABOVE: Ravi, born in 2022, was the first successful red panda birth at GSC. Be on the lookout for his parents, Tai and Usha, while you’re there!

LEFT: 4-year-old Hannibal, GSC’s resident Komodo dragon, was brought to GSC from the Denver Zoo in late 2022.

Food & Drink

The Sage Mule, Stamey’s Barbecue, Pig Pounder Brewery, Natty Greene’s Pub & Brewing

Nature

Bog Garden at Benjamin Park, Tanger Family

Bicentennial Garden, Gateway Gardens, Greensboro Arboretum

As part of our visit, we enjoyed two VIP Experiences, or custom private animal encounters that are available upon request. Don’t worry, we didn’t score these because of our sweet magazine connections — these are available to all visitors at the zoo, with prices starting at $125/person for a 45- to 90-minute experience.

During our Cat House VIP Experience we met four species of small cats: fishing cats, servals, a sand cat, and a black-footed cat. Yes, they are all adorable, but before you stuff Layla the sandcat in your purse to be your cuddle buddy

The Sage Mule

Life-changing corned beef hash!

Arts & Culture

Elsewhere Living Art Museum, International Civil Rights Center and Museum, Greensboro History Museum, The Carolina Theater

Family Fun

Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park

(which I may or may not have considered), think again.

“These guys do not make good pets,” said Megan Hankins, GSC’s primary keeper for lemurs and small cats. “I know they’re in captivity and they seem nice and chill and pretty and sweet, but they are still wild animals with wild behaviors and wild tendencies.”

Our next VIP Experience was with two African penguins in particular: Newt and Raven. The penguins are one of GSC’s most popular attractions, and interested visitors can opt for a Penguin Encounter like ours or a Penguin Feeding Experience. Either way, you’re sure to fall in love and learn all about the penguin colony drama — like how Deacon left Raven for a younger penguin, despite being a bonded pair. #JusticeforRaven greensboroscience.org

Antiquing

If shopping is more your scene, Greensboro is also sitting on the mecca of fine antiques and collectibles: Antique Market Place is a 45,000-square-foot facility with over 150 dealers of Civil War relics, glassware, coins, furniture, Native artifacts, and much more. Serious antiquers won't want to miss this treasure trove of relics, so prepare to spend all day exploring every nook and cranny of this vintage paradise.

“We get people from all over, because you can see our sign from the highway,” said Lori Gray, a showroom designer and seller at the market.

“I’m glad to share the enthusiasm and the love, because I think our young people need an education on how to mix the modern and the old.” triadantiques.com