This is a guest post courtesy of Our State Magazine. View the original story here.
Catch a Carolina Core FC soccer game, fuel up at a food hall, slip and glide down a waterslide, and stay at a boutique hotel on a weekend trip to this Piedmont city.
At Stock + Grain Assembly in High Point, a family gathers at a patio table, each with a different meal from inside the food hall: a biscuit topped with brisket, a gourmet cookie, a poke bowl, and mouth-watering smashburgers. The crowd for the Carolina Core FC soccer game parades in jerseys and hats, emitting a charge of anticipation. Flowers pop red, yellow, and purple with an orange fox resembling the soccer team’s mascot in the sidewalk planter that also serves as a seat. This is Saturday in the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World.”
“I’ve been here most of my life, and it’s exciting to see downtown taking off,” says David Armstrong, co-owner of Nomad Wine Works. “People are drawn here from across the state — obviously for the furniture market, but also because there’s so much to do. As a small business owner, I’m honored to be a part of that draw.”
It may take more than a weekend to experience all that High Point has to offer families. From shopping to sports to interactive children’s museums, there’s plenty to pack an itinerary. Read on for a few ideas to get you started.
Get Social
How does exploring downtown with your kids while also strolling with your beverage of choice sound? The Social District is designed for just that. This district’s boundaries allow patrons to shop, grab a drink, and take it from place to place between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Be sure to hit Armstrong’s urban winery Nomad Wine Works, where they’re experimenting with new ways to bring flavor to fermented beverages. “Most folks love to try a tasting flight and take it to our wine garden or grab a to-go branded cup and walk it through the Social District,” Armstrong says. “It’s been great for local business owners and helped bring us together to activate our spaces and attract folks to High Point.”
When the troops get hungry, stroll a few blocks to Stock + Grain Assembly. Picky eaters? Not a problem at this food hall, which houses seven independently owned restaurants and two bars. Everybody gets what they want in one place. Choose from plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Bonus: The food hall is right next to Truist Point.
A classic downtown ballpark with great city views, Truist Point is a Certified Autism Center and home to the High Point Rockers baseball team and the Carolina Core FC soccer team.
Shop
A weekend in High Point wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Furnitureland South. Browse the 1.3 million-square-foot showroom, which houses the vast collection of the largest furniture store in the world. Serious shoppers may want to touch base with Visit High Point’s Complimentary Concierge team to create a custom shopping itinerary.
Fashionistas will enjoy a stroll through the locally owned Blue Hydrangea Boutique in Uptowne. Owner Elissa Porter named the store in honor of her late mother’s favorite flower and has carefully curated a collection of jewelry and chic bohemian-style clothing with her expert eye for style and comfort.
Eat
Signature stone oven-roasted Italian flavor is on the menu at Giannos. This local favorite welcomes families with its friendly staff and delicious menu. Try the authentic pasta, pizza, and seafood dishes that made Giannos the Triad’s “Best Italian Restaurant.”
If barbecue and burgers are more your style, head to Sweet Old Bill’s — also a Certified Autism Center. Eat on the cheerful patio or head inside, where you’re likely to have a side of live music with your pulled pork plate or St. Louis-style barbecue ribs. Their substantial menu and local beers on tap ensure everyone at the table has something to smile about.
Keep the Kids Moving
Families flock to High Point for accessible activities made for all ages and abilities. Walk or bike the 4.9-mile High Point Greenway, which connects four city parks. There are plenty of playground and bathroom breaks built in, plus picnic shelters and ball fields if you want to pack snacks and balls for your excursion.
In the summer, head to High Point City Lake Park. Rent a boat, canoe, or paddleboard at the marina. The whole family will love the miniature golf, and kids big and small won’t be able to resist the carousel and train. Bring your bathing suits to enjoy the newly renovated ADA-accessible pool and waterslide. Take it easy by the splash pad and on the lazy river or find your thrills on the two giant water slides built on the hill.
Uptowne is a kids’ paradise of play spaces and activities. A good place to start is the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum. Pick up a sensory guide, fidget, or noise-reducing headphones at the admissions desk at this Certified Autism Center. The museum offers two floors of hands-on exhibits to explore. Climb to new heights, scale a cityscape like a superhero, explore Mars, or tackle an engineering project in the STEAM Lab. Outside adventures await in the Adventure Zone. Dig for fossils or learn about pollinators in the garden. The whole family will love a spin on the double-decker carousel.
After making your way out of the museum, walk two blocks down North Hamilton Street and snap a selfie with the World’s Largest Chest of Drawers. At 32 feet high, you may have to back up a bit to get the full set of drawers, including the giant socks hanging out (just like at home — almost).
For the more artsy members of your family, make a reservation at Distractions Art Studio, a Certified Autism Center. Choose a pottery or canvas project, then paint and create your own art to take home. Younger visitors will enjoy a stop at Q’s Corner: Hit the main gym for jumps into the ball pit or on the trampoline, or check out the state-of-the-art multi-sensory room, soft playroom, and experience room. Q’s Corner offers innovative play for all kids of all speeds, whether they actively work out the wiggles or prefer to engage the senses to soothe.
Stay
Pick a home base for the weekend in the heart of High Point. The stately JH Adams Inn is within walking distance of the Children’s Museum and Sweet Old Bill’s and is a short drive from the downtown social district and City Lake Park. It may look like a Victorian guesthouse, but this historic boutique hotel is outfitted with everything you need for a weekend away, from a gym and complimentary WiFi to an on-site restaurant.
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