Best Free Sites in Greensboro

The Tanger Family Bicentennial Garden was created by Greensboro Beautiful, Inc. in conjunction with the Greensboro Parks & Recreation Department. Greensboro Beautiful is a nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining and enhancing Greensboro's natural beauty and in 1976 created the Bicentennial Garden to celebrate the United States' 200th anniversary i.e. bicentennial. Sculptures of historical interest are placed throughout the park and the flowering trees, lush greenery and flowing stream create an idyllic setting for a romantic or family outing. This public garden is open daily from dawn until dusk and is available for weddings.

The Greensboro Arboretum is more than just a beautiful park complete with wedding gazebo, a fountain, arbor and bridges, though those features in and of themselves make the grounds worth a visit. What makes the arboretum extra special is that it provides a wealth of information for landscape designers or people who simply want some ideas for their garden. The property's 17 acres (6.88 hectares) have been split into 12 plant collections, grouped based on plant size, species, optimum growing conditions, or blossoming times. The grounds also contain a butterfly garden, the exceptional rose garden, rhododendron garden and walking trails.

The ground where the Battle for Guilford Courthouse was waged, this national military park is a solemn commemoration of the soldiers and militia who valiantly braved the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. Back during the Revolutionary War, the battle for Guilford Courthouse was fought, with Major General Nathanael Greene and his men trying to defend the land. Complete with a tapestry of exhibits, monuments and dense forests, the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park is truly an indelible chapter marking the pages of America's history.

Bur-Mil Park is located on the shores of Lake Brandt in Guilford County. The premises include a swimming pool that is used for local swim meets, a clubhouse that can be rented for corporate or social events, a golf course, tennis courts, and trails for hiking or biking. Visitors to the park can take lessons in any of the aforementioned sports, and picnic areas and a wildlife center are also available to the public.

Located near the Bicentennial Garden, The Bog Garden gives visitors a rare chance to walk through the wetlands via an elevated walkway. Visitors will be surrounded by lush green vistas - a welcome escape from the sights and sounds of the city. The nature preserve contains a multitude of local flora and fauna and one of the notable attractions in the park is Dr. Joe Christian Serenity Falls.

Whether a student, a researcher or just someone wanting to know a little something more about the long and rich history of Greensboro and Guilford Counties, the Greensboro History Museum is the place to be. Notable figures the museum covers include, among others, former Governor John Motley Morehead, O. Henry and David Caldwell. Exhibitions here are both of the permanent kind as well as those that are held for only a limited time.

William Sydney Porter, better known as O. Henry, is Greensboro's best known and most celebrated writer. His hometown has honored him with this impressive three-piece statue. Located on a prominent downtown corner, the bronze statue features a sculpture of the author, a large book of his stories and even a depiction of his small dog. There is no twist ending here, just a great place to snap a picture in front of one of Greensboro's favorite sons.