Greensboro holds a special place in my heart for several reasons. I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees there (UNC Greensboro), and experienced lows and highs during my late teens/early 20’s (I feel old now)!

A little personal background history about Greensboro: My paternal grandfather lived in Greensboro off of a street that I always passed by when traveling to and from college and back home. I never appreciated that small gem of history until I moved away from the area.

I remember the first time that I went to Greensboro with my family for an event called Destination UNCG that was for recently admitted students to get acquainted with offered academics and the campus prior to the official freshman orientation. It was almost as if someone set up the scene for me to fall in love with the place (which I did). The sky was clear, it felt warm outside, and there was a light breeze in the air. I remember turning the corner of Spring Garden Street and Tate Street and just being in awe of how beautiful the atmosphere was. Although at the time, I hadn’t even explored downtown, I was proud that I’d chosen UNCG.

While there, I met some of the greatest people ever and built stronger relationships with friends who also moved to the city from my high school hometown. I can recall several days (especially during the summer), where we went out to clubs, went to bars once we turned 21, laid out by the pool, went shopping, and enjoyed being an Aggie for the weekend during NC A&T’s homecoming. Over the years, Greensboro has really grown. Especially within the downtown area where there are now several bars, clubs, and craft breweries. It seems as if all the good and more fun things came to town after I left.

Here’s a list (in no particular order) of some of my favorite places in Greensboro that I would highly recommend checking out if you were ever in town:

• Scuppernoug Books: I LOVE books, and this cute independent book store fulfilled all my bookworm needs. They get extra brownie pints from me because they also offer coffee!
• Green Bean: During my graduate school years, I spent a few afternoons in this coffee shop typing papers at the last minute. It’s a small coffee shop with enough wall plugs for laptops and wifi.
• Natty Greene’s: This was the first craft brewery that I’ve ever came in contact with and I absolutely love their food and beer! (P.S., the Wildflower Witbier is my favorite)!
• International Civil Rights Museum: I love museums about the Civil Rights era and advice everyone, regardless of race or gender to visit a museum like this. The Greensboro sit-ins were pivotal during that era, and the artifacts from these sit-ins are located in this museum. Know your history!
• Gibson Park: It’s technically in the High Point/Jamestown area, but it’s a peaceful park where I’ve made several attempts to get in shape. Work of advice: don’t go off trail and remember the path that you took.
• Event-Greensboro Brews Fest: If you are a beer drinker, this event is for you! Every summer, the brew fest is held at the Greensboro Coliseum. You pay one price to test as much beer as you’d like from a variety of vendors for about 3-4 hours. I went one year, and let’s just my friends and I were all drunk when we left. It was so much fun!
• Shopping: During college, Four Seasons Town Centre Mall was cool. We couldn’t have our cars during freshman year and I fondly remember waiting on the bus to come and pick my friends and I up. The struggle was real! Now, I personally prefer shopping at the Friendly Center now that I can afford more things than I could back in 2010-2016.
• Visit any of the bars on Elm Street near Gate City Blvd (which will always be Lee St to me). So many popped up after I left and I’m so jealous!

Although Greensboro isn’t a HUGE city, I believe that it was perfect for me during my college years. I’ve moved on from the city, but it will always hold a special place in my heart.