# Weekend getaways from Greensboro–Winston-Salem with kids

Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/greensboro-winston-salem/weekend-getaways/

> The best trip within about five hours of Greensboro–Winston-Salem for each of the next 6 weekends, chosen for kids under 6. Every event links to the official page we checked it on. Some weekends only have something farther out, and those are marked as a long drive.

Last checked: 2026-10-29.

## Weekend of Oct 30–Nov 1: Greenville (about 3 hr 45 min)

Boo in the Zoo has its last evening on Friday, and new this year is a Halloween afternoon session from 1 to 4, which works well for little kids.

- **Boo in the Zoo**, Fri Oct 30, Sat Oct 31, 3–8 p.m. entry; Oct. 31 session 1–4 p.m., Greenville Zoo. $15; members $12; $3 trick-or-treat add-on. Timed tickets. Bring your own treat bag. New this year: a Halloween afternoon session. Official page: https://www.greenvillezoo.com/boo-in-the-zoo

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min): Renaissance Festival weekend and Tricks and Treats at Carowinds.

## Weekend of Nov 6–8: Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min)

Pirates' Christmas Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, plus the last day of Tricks and Treats at Carowinds on Saturday, 11 to 5:30.

- **Tricks and Treats at Carowinds**, Sat Nov 7, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Nov. 7 closes at 5:30 p.m., Carowinds. Included with park admission. The park's daytime, no-scares Halloween, with a costume contest, candy and family rides before the evening haunt takes over. Official page: https://www.sixflags.com/carowinds/events/tricks-and-treats
- **Carolina Renaissance Festival**, Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. 4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices. Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22. Official page: https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/special-event-weekends/timetravelers

## Weekend of Nov 13–15: Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min)

Time Travelers' Weekend at the Carolina Renaissance Festival: kids 5 to 12 get in free with a school-supply donation, and 4 and under are always free. Parking is free too.

- **Carolina Renaissance Festival**, Sat Nov 14, Sun Nov 15, Saturdays and Sundays, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville. 4 and under always free; kids 5–12 free with a school-supply donation Nov. 14–15; see the festival for ticket prices. Jousting, 16 stages of music, comedy and circus acts, and more than 1,000 costumed villagers. Nov. 7–8 is Pirates' Christmas Weekend and Nov. 14–15 is Time Travelers' Weekend. Free parking, rain or shine; last weekend is Nov. 21–22. Official page: https://www.carolina.renfestinfo.com/special-event-weekends/timetravelers

## Weekend of Nov 20–22: Raleigh (about 2 hr)

The NC Chinese Lantern Festival opens Saturday in Cary. The paths are paved and stroller-friendly, and the 4:30 twilight session is less crowded.

- **NC Chinese Lantern Festival**, Sat Nov 21, Sun Nov 22, 6–10 p.m.; twilight session gates 4:30 p.m., Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Cary. See Koka Booth for prices; 2 and under free. Paved, stroller-friendly paths. The 4:30 twilight session has smaller crowds. Most people take 45 to 75 minutes. Official page: https://www.boothamphitheatre.com/chinese-lantern-festival

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min): Speedway Christmas lights open, and it's the Renaissance Festival's final weekend. Columbia (about 3 hr 30 min): Opening weekend for Fireflies Holiday Lights and Riverbanks Wild Lights.

## Weekend of Nov 27–29: Greenville (about 3 hr 45 min)

Disney On Ice is at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena over Thanksgiving weekend.

- **Disney On Ice**, Fri Nov 27, Sat Nov 28, Sun Nov 29, See the tour page for show times, Bon Secours Wellness Arena. See the tour page. In Greenville Nov. 25–29. Official page: https://www.disneyonice.com/en-us/tickets/

Also within reach: Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min): WinterFest opens at Carowinds, plus Speedway Christmas. Raleigh (about 2 hr): The Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary.

## Weekend of Dec 4–6: Virginia Beach–Norfolk (about 5 hr 30 min, long drive)

Norfolk Botanical Garden's Dominion Energy Garden of Lights is open every evening, and kids under 3 are free.

- **Dominion Energy Garden of Lights**, Fri Dec 4, Sat Dec 5, Sun Dec 6, Every evening, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; open until 8:15pm on value nights, 9:15pm on popular nights, Norfolk Botanical Garden. Value nights: adults $24, kids 3–12 $15; popular nights: adults $30, kids $18; under 3 free; $5 more at the gate. Opens 11/06; runs through 01/03. A one-mile walking loop that works with strollers and wagons; double strollers have to fold to get through Baker Hall. The elves roam on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8, and Nov 12 is holiday-pajama night. Official page: https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-lights/

## Other family getaways within 5 hours

We don't post event listings for these places. Check the official page for hours and what's on.

- **Grandfather Mountain**, Linville, NC (about 3 hr from Greensboro–Winston-Salem). The Mile-High Swinging Bridge is the big draw, and the park also has wildlife habitats and a nature center. Official page: https://grandfather.com/
- **Biltmore**, Asheville, NC (about 3 hr 15 min from Greensboro–Winston-Salem). George Vanderbilt built Biltmore, billed as America's largest home, on an 8,000-acre estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Official page: https://www.biltmore.com/
- **Battleship North Carolina**, Wilmington, NC (about 4 hr 15 min from Greensboro–Winston-Salem). Visitors explore nine levels of this World War II battleship, climbing inside gun turrets and seeing where the crew slept. Official page: https://battleshipnc.com/
- **Myrtle Beach**, Myrtle Beach, SC (about 4 hr 15 min from Greensboro–Winston-Salem). Myrtle Beach sits on the Grand Strand, 60 miles of sandy coastline shared by 14 beach communities. Official page: https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/
- **Colonial Williamsburg**, Williamsburg, VA (about 4 hr 45 min from Greensboro–Winston-Salem). Kids can meet 18th-century people across 301 acres of Colonial Williamsburg, once the capital of Virginia. Official page: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/
- **Luray Caverns**, Luray, VA (about 5 hr from Greensboro–Winston-Salem). Luray Caverns are the largest caverns in the eastern United States. Official page: https://luraycaverns.com/

## FAQ

**Where can we go for a weekend from Greensboro–Winston-Salem with little kids?**
Over the next 6 weekends our picks from Greensboro–Winston-Salem are Greenville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Virginia Beach–Norfolk. Each one is chosen for what's on that weekend, with the dates, times and prices checked on the official pages.

**Which cities are within an easy drive of Greensboro–Winston-Salem?**
Charlotte (about 1 hr 45 min), Raleigh (about 2 hr), Columbia (about 3 hr 30 min), Greenville (about 3 hr 45 min), Richmond (about 4 hr 15 min), Augusta (about 4 hr 45 min). Times are normal driving times without traffic.

**What other family getaways are within 5 hours of Greensboro–Winston-Salem?**
Grandfather Mountain (about 3 hr), Biltmore (about 3 hr 15 min), Battleship North Carolina (about 4 hr 15 min), Myrtle Beach (about 4 hr 15 min), Colonial Williamsburg (about 4 hr 45 min), Luray Caverns (about 5 hr). We don't post event listings for these, so check the official page for what's open before you go.

**Why is the same city picked more than once?**
Sometimes one city really does have the most going on two weekends in a row, like a holiday lights opening followed by a show. We don't rotate cities just for variety.

**Are the times and prices current?**
They're what each official page showed on Oct 29, 2026. Tap through to the official page before you go.