Top Rated Parks to Visit in Burlington

"William B. Umstead Park is the home of many nostalgic memories of cookouts, camping trips, and picnics for Raleigh natives. The state park includes 20 miles of trails for both seasoned hikers and casual walkers alike and is home to some of the most well preserved nature in the Triangle. Picnic shelters with tables and grills operate on a first-come first-served basis, but can also be rented ahead of time, perfect for a birthday celebrations or graduation picnics for members of the class of 2021 (consider ordering premade meals from Catering Works for occasions such as these)."

"The 5,000 acres of William B Umstead Park hosts some of the best hiking trails near Raleigh. Umstead’s 13 miles of multi-use paths are perfect for horseback riding, jogging, and cycling, but they’re only the beginning of this park. More than 22 miles of foot traffic hiking trails await, with many of them flat."

"The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department exists to provide professional and diverse leisure opportunities through inclusive programs, facilities, parks, and open space, ensuring that Greensboro is a desirable place to work, live, and play."

"This park is a wonderful delight as it has the Simkins Indoor Sports Pavilion that has eight Plexi court tennis courts. This is the home to the most famous Penn Wright Baseball Stadium and their home field of Eastern Baseball League. They have a press box of tournaments and there is a concession area."

"This relatively new nature park is located at 692 Erwin Road. Its two main trails are both less than one mile long and feature mostly flat terrain. Though short in length, these trails include several notable facets such as a spacious meadow and beautiful views of New Hope Creek."

"Website: greensboro-nc.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectoryAddress: 1300 Briarcliff Road, Greensboro (Behind Irving Park and Latham Park neighborhoods on Briarcliff Rd, which can be accessed from Wendover Ave or Sunset Ave.)Features: Great playground, huge grass area for picnics and running, concrete for basketball or ride-on toys, and picnic tables. Perfect park for kids of all ages because you can easily keep an eye on all of them in different areas.Playground?. Yes with swingsBathroom on Site?"

"Although not a hiking destination in the strictest sense, Valley Springs Park (located at 3805 Valley Springs Road) is included on this list for its naturally canopied, uniquely spacious forest disc golf trail. The 22-hole course is very popular among local disc golfers for its open feel and varied terrain. Considerable shade throughout nearly the entire course makes up for its frequent hilliness."

"Part artists’ collective, part quirky art gallery, part workshop, part educational facility, the Elsewhere living art museum is perhaps the piece de resistance of Greensboro’s new artistic wave. Inhabiting a former thrift store on Elm Streen in the downtown, the spot offers an eclectic range of exhibitions and shows throughout the year. The idea is to get the public thinking about reclaimed and recycled materials in a whole new way, and the resident artists here have worked hard to craft a new aesthetic philosophy, using at-hand, often mundane and found objects to create thought-provoking works that tell a story."

"Elsewhere, a museum and artist residency set inside a former thrift store in downtown Greensboro, received an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in early 2019."

"Serving up innovative and freshly prepared dishes to Gate City since 1980, Liberty Oak Restaurant is one of the best-known Greensboro restaurants. They offer everything from sandwiches to the most delicious finger-licking shrimp and grits you’ll find outside mom’s house!. You’ll also be inclined to order their Fried Goat Cheese Salad served with bourbon-soaked cherries, perfectly cooked Seafood Risotto Carbonara, or their namesake Grilled Chicken."

"is situated inside the oldest building in the Old Greensborough Historic District making it an ideal restaurant for an intimate dinner. Liberty Oak prides itself on only using the finest quality ingredients and delivering dishes to the table with superb service. Meats are sourced from local farms and fruits from nearby orchards."

"It is my favorite fancy place to dine because the atmosphere is not stuffy. Great drink specials during the week, $5 martinis…"

"Kids of all ages will enjoy the interactive exhibits at this local museum. Voted one of the most family-friendly museums in the Southeast, visitors can experience an expansive butterfly house, outdoor exhibits with bears and wolves, and conduct their own fossil dig amongst dinosaurs."

"The Museum of Life and Science, founded in 1946, is an 84-acre museum featuring numerous indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits. It was formerly the NC Children’s Museum and the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science."

"Here you can ride in a flying machine, sail a radio-controlled boat on an outdoor pond, view artifacts from space missions, and ride…"

"Finally, head to the International Civil Rights Museum, housed in a building that played host to a non-violent sit-in protest in the civil rights movement. As the name betrays, this museum contains exhibits from the civil rights movement, teaching visitors about the brave individuals who were monumental in the fight for human rights. Admission to this museum costs $15 for adults and $12 for seniors, $10 for those between 6 and 12 years, and $8 for kids below 5 years."

"Although there are several museums to visit in Greensboro, one that you should not miss is the International Civil Rights Center & Museum. This is a collecting museum and an archival center that is also a teaching facility. The focus of this fascinating attraction is the struggle for civil and human rights, both nationally and internationally."

"The Durham History Hub (operated by the Museum of Durham History), is a museum that uses stories about people, places, and things to foster curiosity, encourage further inquiry, and promote an understanding of diverse perspectives about the Durham community and its history. The History Hub is located in Downtown Durham and features rotating exhibits."

"The Museum of Durham History is truly one without walls, as advertised. However, you can stop by for info about their “History Groves” scattered throughout the city."

"The Museum of Durham History is all about the Durham community and its history. You can come back time after time with its changing..."