What is there to do in Greensboro and Eden North Carolina?

[Ronnie]

I’ll be in these areas this weekend and early next week for the Jr. Olympics and would like to try something local to the area. Some of the group may go visit colleges but my son and I will pass on that. I’d rather go on a boat or Segway tour, something outdoors although weather looks crappy (70% chance of rain and hot). Are there any cable parks nearby? We Can’t rent a boat, skis or do anything to strenuous before my son’s events though. What about places to eat, anything I should not miss while I’m there? I saw the Richard petty museum on the map so I may hit that if it’s not to far, even though I’m not a big nascar fan. If nothing else I’d be happy eating waterside somewhere close. Any lazy river rafting nearby? Never mind scenes from the movie deliverance just flashed through my head. Seriously though what if anything is (are) the draw(s)?

 

[bronze_10]

I live about 2 hours away from Greensboro... As a matter if fact I have to drive there and back everyday thia coming week for training. . But I really can't tell you much about Greensboro. Raleigh is about an hour and a half away and charlotte is about the same. I think @veedubtek use to live in the area. He may be able to give you more insite.

 

[veedubtek]

Eden is pretty much middle of nowhere, and I know nothing about. I lived (and still have a house) in Winston Salem, but worked in Greensboro for a spell. I'm just 30 minutes SW of it now.

Between the 2 (GSO/Eden) is Belews Lake. I've spent alot of time there, but there's nothing really on it. Very warm lake, deep, and clear (for an inland lake). There's usually a food truck at the only marina if you really wanna eat waterside It's only 88 shore miles, very small lake. Probably just over an hour north of Eden is Smith Mountain Lake - again, very nice clear lake, and much larger.

Food in GSO - Gotta hit Dame's Chicken & Waffles just because. Hops burger bar is really good. Iron Hen is a great breakfast spot. Natty Green's Brewery/Pubhouse has a good menu and great local beer selection. There's an awesome greek spot out there too, but the name is eluding me at the moment. Good lunch chain that you don't have out west is Penn Station, they've got a few locations in GSO. And of course, you're in BBQ country. Ain't much out there to beat Lexington style BBQ. Or, in Winston, little Jamaican place called Irie Rhythms has some insanely good jerk pork.

The Dan River has some great tubing, but we've got somewhat of a drought going on right now and it likely isn't deep enough. No real close cable parks, although they are building one here in Lexington. There's a mediocre water park in GSO to beat the heat. Carowinds down in Charlotte is pretty nice. Lots of boutique stores and such in downtown GSO, I enjoy spending an afternoon there about once every other year or so just walking around. That's usually enough.

And of course, I'd be happy to take you out on High Rock Lake this weekend if you're around. I've only got my pontoon in the water right now, far from strenuous, heh. And, the water is actually low enough right now to clear the bridges and make it down to the marina for food.

This is old country, built off big tobacco, desperately trying to find a new definition. As long as you aren't expecting SF Bay area, there's alot to take in, see, and learn. Everything/everyone moves just a few steps slower here, and I'm still not quite accustomed to that yet, but I do like it.

 

[Mainah]

I’ll be in these areas this weekend and early next week for the Jr. Olympics and would like to try something local to the area. Some of the group may go visit colleges but my son and I will pass on that. I’d rather go on a boat or Segway tour, something outdoors although weather looks crappy (70% chance of rain and hot). Are there any cable parks nearby? We Can’t rent a boat, skis or do anything to strenuous before my son’s events though. What about places to eat, anything I should not miss while I’m there? I saw the Richard petty museum on the map so I may hit that if it’s not to far, even though I’m not a big nascar fan. If nothing else I’d be happy eating waterside somewhere close. Any lazy river rafting nearby? Never mind scenes from the movie deliverance just flashed through my head. Seriously though what if anything is (are) the draw(s)?

Congrats to your son on making it to the jr olympics. Congrats to you too because your influence and support has also had something to do with that. I know what it takes with an elite level 14 yo wrestler in my own son. He gets up at 5:30 am 5 days a week to hit the full rack in the garage, showers, pounds a protein shake, heads off to school, goes to practice, brings home a 100+ weighted gpa and does it all agin the next day. I am sure your son has to find time to train like that on top of everything else as well. That kind of work ethic does not happen by accident. Both keep up the hard work and best of luck to your son in his events.

If he does well or perhaps even if not consider taking him to RIOS for dinner (I know there is one in Charlotte and I would guess Raleigh too). You have both earned a quality all you can eat meat buffet. If you have never been to one be patient for the fillet to come arround and definitely try to warm seasoned pineapple. The nascar museum is also in Charlotte and I recall that you may be a bit of a car fan.

 

[Ronnie]

@veedubtek , thanks for all of the information . I will try and find a penn station for lunch today and a Lexington bbq place for dinner tonight.

Other than the hotel pool I Don’t know if I will be hitting the water at all this weekend/week but I may take a dip in lake belews just to say I did.

The hotel is in Eden but the track is in Greensboro. I’m leaning towards hitting the nascar museum instead of the aquarium but also like the idea of walking / watching people downtown.
One of the other parents/drivers suggested that we cross the state line into Virginia to eat lunch and say we’ve been to Virginia, I’m on the fence about that. If i have another opportunity to visit NC I’d want to take sometime to visit the national white water rafting center here, sounds like they offer zip lining through/via the trees as well as a canopy tour not just rafting.

I hit a Walmart last night and bought a pop up for the team to call HQ while we are here. A few people have been to here before a few years ago and some reminded me that the population is not as diverse as what we are used to in California, some went on to say that I should not to walk downtown Greensboro at night unless in a larger group but so far everyone I’ve met have been nothing but friendly and seemed genuinely interested, some surprised, in the JR. Olympics being held close by.

I appreciate just being able to take the trip with my son. I know there are not many more opportunities like this left. Last year they didn’t have enough drivers so he and a lot of his team mates didn’t make it to the opening ceremony, I’m here to make sure he makes it this year.

Thanks for the invite on your boat to see your local lake. To have property (I’d be happy with a lift) on the water would be the ultimate setup for me. Maybe someday, only 1.5 decades to retirement (sounds a hell of a lot better than 15 years).

@Mainah , thanks for the kind words and congrats to you for raising such a dedicated and responsible person. My son’s grades could be better but everything else you said is spot on. I’ve seen him less this boating/jet skiing season because he is always busy with school, practice or competing in meets. It’s his passion to right now and he has been great kid so my wife and i do what we can to support him. We are definatley eating at RIOS before we leave, thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Ronnie]

My experience so far:
1. Very friendly people all the way around (e.g. at the airport / rental car company, Freddy’s for lunch, hotel and Walmart).

2. Lots of space between pretty much everything (e.g. freeway exits, the airport and housing, etc.) and a lot of of undeveloped. I describe the airport as being in the middle of a beautiful forest with tall/old trees. It made the 100 mile trip from the airport seem a lot shorter.

3. Gas is a hell of a lot cheaper out here. I paid $4 a gallon last week in Ca. The same gas costs $2.55 here. CA has not seen sub $3 gas pricing in years.

4. The 2018 Nissan Rogue we accidentally rented is awesome.
It has a lot of bells and whistles like adaptive cruise control (which not only manages speed by adjusting it accordingly as traffic ahead gets congested it also uses a multi-camera system with the brakes to keep the car centered in the lane), a fully integrated and easy to use infotainment system and we are liking the almost full length sun/moon roof. I’ve never been a big Nissan fan other than the for their z cars but if the titan and / or armada have the same features as the rogue one of them is back on my short list for my next tow vehicle.

5. The weather can change almost instantly from sunny skies to a heavy down pour, almost like HI but different somehow.

 

[Ronnie]

More observations:
1. A lot of businesses seemed to be closed on Sunday. Penn Station being one of them but in looking for a place to eat lunch there were a lot more business closed than open and yelp was wrong about these business hours of operation more often than it was correct.

2. There are more Mexican restaurants in Eden, N.C. (Population 15k) Than there are in Union City, CA (population 75k). I have not seen anyone who looks like they are of Hispanic descent. How are either of these things even possible?

3. The weather is predictably unpredictable. Yesterday it was overcast but hot in the morning, cloudy as well as sunny in the afternoon and it rained on and off until about 9 pm when rain, lightning and thunder closed out the day. Now I better understand why a lot of members here have cabin enclosures for their boats.

4. There are a lot of “small” lakes near near Greensboro, we passed at least three as we drove south from Eden to Greensboro and none of them was the lake I was expecting to see, lake Belews or belews lake.

I made it to the iron hen for bfast and am anticipating the best meal I’ve had since the trip began, although Freddy’s is pretty good comparable to 5 guys but better. The observation being things are a lot less expensive here. The crab cakes omelets pictured would be much closer to $20 in CA.