The Greensboro Science Center is a true gem for families AND adults. They are committed to wildlife conservation, rehabilitation and education. The center is constantly improving and evolving the facility by maintaining current exhibits and adding new ones. They also host traveling exhibits such as BODIES. Right now, they are working on adding a new rainforest biosphere (Current ETA September 2027). There is also a butterfly room filled to the brim with butterflies, it is quite a site to see! The interior features children play areas, weather ed, reptiles and more. Not to forget about the AQUARIUM (my favorite part), which gives visitors the opportunity to touch rays and sharks, see the penguins, awe at massive tank with a wide variety of fish, and don't forget the penguins and jellyfish! The exterior is like a mini zoo, it could easily take you an hour+ to visit the flamingos, monkeys, tigers, Pygmy hippos, wolves, red panda, petting zoo and more. They also have concessions inside and outside if you need a beverage or some snacks. Don't forget to end the day with a ride on the carousel! During the December/January holiday time, they also have a lighted exhibit outdoors that you can walk through with lighted sculptures, shows, and hot cocoa. The Greensboro Science Center is a great value experience for something to do in Greensboro, I can't recommend it enough. read more

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A great attraction that includes an aquarium, zoo, butterfly house, and more! You could spend an entire day (or few days) here and experience something new. The zoo had many cool animals, the aquarium was super fun, and I absolutely wished we had time to do the rope/adventure course. I really enjoyed my time here. A few things to note was that the restrooms were very dirty, some of the exhibits and other areas of the science center were not maintained. read more

Where do I begin??? Was looking for something for the kiddos to do that was fun yet educational that wouldn't break the bank... we ended up at the Greensboro Science Center... and when I tell you, the kiddos had a ball! Nephew is 11 and my niece is 8 and they enjoyed EVERYTHING! They were a little heartbroken because they were unable to visit the zoo or the butterfly exhibit, but it was because there was a storm going on outside. They saw so many animals... we're able to pet some animals saw a movie, played and made new friends! I promised them we would be back to see what we were unable to see due to the storm, and this was after 3 hours in the Science Center! We had a great time! See you next time! read more

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The Butterfly Garden is only open 3-4 months a year and it is something everyone should experience. Many different types of butterflies everywhere flying and resting on host plants. Even with a lot of people, it is calm and serene. Highly recommend a visit! read more

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My family loves the Science Center! We frequently visit and enjoy the indoor aquarium & outdoor zoo portions the most! It is so fun when the scuba divers are in the tank and answering questions. There are so many other wonderful aspects to the science center too, like the dinosaur museum, the seasonal butterfly experience, other special programs, exhibits, and educational opportunities as well! Highly recommend a visit! read more

Greensboro Science Center - Scuba Divers in the aquarium! - Zoos Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

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The entire day isn't enough to see all that GSC has to offer! The penguins and Caesar salad were my favorite -- beyond educational and fun for everyone! read more

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We went on Teacher Appreciation Day and really enjoyed the free pass. Going in the morning was a good idea before they got too busy. Many animals were out and active, especially the red panda and the pygmy hippos-so cute, rolling in the water and "kissing"! It was nice to catch a feeding at the penguin exhibit and listen to the talk they gave over the intercom explaining the feeding and how they keep track of the penguins' diets. There is really a lot to do at the Science Center, with the aquarium, zoo, many exhibits and child play centers. The outdoor tree houses are really cool for the kids! The butterfly garden was not open yet for the season, so we will have to check that out another time. read more

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This was my first time really visiting the science center. I had been once before several years ago for holiday lights, but didn't really get to explore the interior, or see the animals My wife and I went recently on a Saturday, and spent several hours exploring. I've got to say I was really impressed. It has things to offer young and old alike, it's very educational and amazing resource to have in Greensboro. In addition to the small aquarium they have a zoo, with a vast array of animals, a large outdoor play ground, as well as a ropes coarse and zip line that are an additional cost. I was really amazed by how much they had to offer. The science center is spread out over many acres, so it never feels to crowded. This is 100% I'd recommend people take friends and family visiting, especially if they have children with them. Staff we interacted with was very friendly, informative and helpful. Tickets are good for reentry on the same day, so if you decide to go get lunch elsewhere, you can still come back. They have a massive parking lot, so that should never be an issue. Just a great experience, lots of fun things to see and do. Go check them out! read more

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A great way to send any afternoon with kids. There are exhibits inside the aquarium area and outside where the animals reside. There are several really unique animals on display as well. Only negative I have is they are always under construction somewhere. I know when it's all done it will be really nice just annoying for now. It's an afternoon well spent. Loved the penguins! read more

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Lots of fun and exploring to do at the science center! This place has really evolved over the years. It does seem to be more zoo/aquarium focused than "science" focused. The kids love it and love the outdoor play area! They could spend hours just playing there. My only gripe is how expensive the concessions are! $5-$6 for a small fountain drink - with no lid or ice is hardly acceptable... but alas, we didn't venture here for the fountain drinks. read more

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My husband and I took our grandson for spring break and honestly, we acted like big kids ourselves the whole time! From the moment we walked in, it was a wonderful experience overall. The highlight for all three of us was definitely the stingray touch tank, getting that close and actually petting them was so cool. And seeing the penguins up close? Absolutely amazing. There's just something special about watching a child experience these things for the first time. It took me right back to when I came as a kid, and getting to share that with my grandchild made it even more meaningful. The staff was consistently friendly and helpful, the temperature inside was comfortable, and the weather outside cooperated beautifully. We also appreciated how manageable the crowds were and parking was better than expected, we even snagged a front spot! The reason this is four stars instead of five comes down to timing and expectations. We visited during spring break, which is one of the busiest weeks of the year, and unfortunately several exhibits we were looking forward to, including the red panda, the tigers, and the meerkats, were not available. For a week when families, grandparents, and school groups are specifically planning around this visit, you would hope the full experience would be ready to go. It was a noticeable disappointment, especially for the little ones. That said, what was available was genuinely enjoyable and we will definitely be back, hopefully with the full lineup next time! read more

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Zoo was a huge disappointment. Only observed two hippos, one tiger, and some flamingos. Was definitely not worth the distance walked when a majority of the enclosures were empty. read more

What. A. Blast! We stumbled upon here accidentally, and have been two weekends in a row now! An aquarium, play areas, dinosaurs, zoo, treehouse, and more! It has something for everyone. My daughter loved the farm animals and the treehouse the most. My children are 3&1, and I think we have many years left of fun here! read more

Greensboro Science Center - Tree house - Zoos Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

It was super hot so being outside for too long was miserable but the wooden play structure was still a highlight for our kids. The zoo piece leaves a lot to be desired so if you're going here for the zoo specifically go down to Asheboro instead. The aquarium was fun and engaged our kids, they also loved the all the dinosaurs. If we lived in the area and our kids were still preschool age we'd have had a membership for sure. Food is very expensive here though, so plan ahead and maybe pack a lunch! read more

I love this staple of greensboro. My family and friends go here periodically over the years to explore and the work they have done on expanding it just makes it all the more interesting! I will continue to be a science center visitor and recommend it to new comers and parents. read more

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Visiting & wanted to take the Grandaughter someplace interesting & engaging. This place was all above and then some. I was pleasantly surprised at all there was too see and do. It was a zoo, and aquarium, and museum with play areas for the kids. The Aquarium was way bigger than expected, it had sharks !!! Really surprised me. The Zoo had a tiger which was amazing and "Huckleberry" the pymy Hippo.The Dinosaur exhibit was engaging, informative, and brought the little kid in me. The Zoo had Red Pandas and we even were able to watch a check-up exam conducted with ultrasound. I cannot say enough about our day, even with the rain, it was an amazing day. read more

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I had a great time with my daughters! Enjoyed the different exhibits, zoo, sea life, spiders, and reptiles. The show in the auditorium was interactive and fun to watch. I also got to meet a robotic dog! The food court has a few options like fresh fruit, burgers, and hotdogs, and was quality food. I would go back again to try their aerial adventure park that lets you zip line over the zoo. read more

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OK! The Winter Wonderlights is definitely worth it! Bring some $$ because they have a hot chocolate stand on the trail outside. My family enjoyed the entire experience, stopping multiple times to capture great family Christmas photos to cherish for years to come! This is a family event, couples event, ladies night out event, and it should be a put-on-your-list YEARLY TRADITION EVENT! Dress appropriately in layers. It starts out inside for a while and then moves outside. Take it slow and really soak it in! There are lights everywhere. Stop and look around often because every angle gives a magical scene! Enjoy! MOST SINCERELY! read more

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This after hours events was amazing. The beautiful light display throughout the center was awesome. We enjoyed walking around the set path and had so many photo opportunities and saw a couple neat interactive displays that I don't want to spoil but posted some highlights. There was a special guest that you can take pictures with and the staff there made it magical They have one cafe open that had hot apple cider, hot chocolate and other treats and the gift shop open during this event. All the bathrooms were open and cleans. There was a lot of walking around to go so recommend comfortable shoes and there was a lot to see and a lot to do and it was bit crowded so plan accordingly. Also parking is hectic so definitely take your time and enjoy it. read more

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I already like coming here, but coming during Winter Wonderlights is so amazing! Everything is so beautiful. I look the creative ways they have lights. I love the music. I love the rooms inside with activities to do as well. It's great holiday fun for the whole family! read more

I lived in Greensboro for almost 5 years before I ever stepped foot in this place and, I have no idea why it took me so long. This place is phenomenal. If it's a gorgeous day, plan to get there early as parking can get really atrocious. We got there around 12:30 and spent 30 minutes driving around for a space. I didn't want to make my own parking space but there were definitely people doing that because there was simply no parking available. Admission is reasonable for everything there is to see and do. I'd gladly pay $21 to visit again. To the right of the entrance was the aquarium, with a plethora of aquatic life and reptiles, penguins and sting rays. My little one is too small for the sting rays but you can line up to touch them, if you're feeling adventurous. We ventured outside next and the amount of wildlife they have is astonishing. We really had no clue about the size of this place but we loved it. There were red pandas, a tiger, flamingos, an alpaca, chickens, Pygmy hippos, goats, sheep, I really cannot remember all of the wildlife we encountered. The butterfly house was closed for the season but we cannot wait to go back and see it. We spent HOURS in this place without realizing it. Stopped for some chicken tenders, fries and popcorn. Very solid, reasonably priced food options. Oh, and there's a carousel, highlighting some of the animals at the science center and local NC schools and wildlife, only $2 per ride. I am really in awe of this place and that it was off of my radar for so long. We will definitely be returning for some special events & the Winter Wonderlights this year!! read more

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Really loved the experience! I believe my ticket as a non member was $21. There was a line when we walked up but it moved pretty quickly, once another cashier appeared to assist the two the were there. I thought it was going to be over crowded and it was, in the aquarium area but once you get outside, of course it opens up. I'd never seen such a huge lobster or octopus! We got snacks halfway through at the hungry hippo and they were cheap! I was skeptical about going but glad I went. However, you'll should post signs when an enclosure is closed or an animal is unavailable, save folks time standing around waiting. read more

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Love coming here for the exhibits, but the way the animals are kept worry me sometimes. Some enclosures seem very small There is a parrot tucked in the back who is very afraid of people and is seemingly alone in the cold. Parrots are flock animals and require multiple birds. Other than that, it's nice to visit. Lots of room to see different animals . Love coming here read more

What a perfect way to spend the day with your little ones. My grandson had so much fun exploring all the different areas. The aquarium was my favorite. He liked the playrooms!! And mazes. Most of the outdoor animals were not available to see on our visit- and downstairs didn't have very much going on. However, we had plenty to do to fill the afternoon. read more

Greensboro Science Center - Zoos Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

Other than entering & exiting the center, we had a pleasant visit. However, the blonde young man at the welcome desk is so aggressive that he ruined the entire experience. I drove an hour each way & spent $254 for two of us (myself & a preschooler - including entrance, food & toys). The rest of the staff were perfectly fine (the cafe staff were great), but this guy was so awful that I don't know if we'll ever return. Upon entering, he thought I was sneaking my preschooler in, even though his name and birthdate are on the membership and the sole purpose of our interaction was to activate that membership by getting his picture taken. There are only two of us so it should not have been confusing. His behavior was aggressive, dismissive, rude, and annoyed. I don't understand why leadership assigned someone with such an off-putting personality to assist visitors at the front desk. As we were leaving, my son began putting yellow plastic coins in a large maze-type structure near the front door. You put a coin in & watch it flow down one of the three paths to the bottom. There are very similar structures in other museums where you learn about gravity & paths. Indeed, there is a similar play structure inside this center's 'SciPlay Bay'. As my son took a handful of the yellow coins & began putting them in, I examined the different paths & began reading the educational material. Just as I realized this contraption was some way to vote for different conservation efforts with the words 'one token per person please', I heard a loud accusatory 'EXCUSE ME!!! EXCUSE ME!!! HOW MANY TOKENS HAS HE PUT IN!?' The same warm, helpful front desk soldier who thought my son was sneaking in earlier, now noticed he had inserted multiple tokens. This could have been handled so much better - perhaps by approaching calmly and simply explaining/pointing out this was a voting mechanism - not a gravity track. Really any calm interaction would have been reasonable, but I swear this man would have tasered us for putting extra tokens in if he could have. I told my son to leave with me. As he did, he put the last 2 tokens in his hand in the track. I heard the man yelling after us, 'HE'S DONE ENOUGH!!! HE'S DONE ENOUGH!' as we walked away. He is unhinged! Greensboro Science Center, I paid you nearly $300 of my hard-earned money for two of us in a single day. We deserved to be treated with respect. How will this young man react if somebody actually DOES try to sneak in ... or if a young child breaks something instead of merely putting in extra tokens? You have embraced unnecessary liability by placing an employee who instinctively escalates situations on the front line. read more

I had an amazing time at the science center this past weekend. The aquarium was awesome and we even spotted Dori and Nemo! The treehouse was amazing and the children appeared to be entertained playing. My favorite animals were the peacock, flamingo and the RED PANDA! We visited the gift shop but did not find anything I wanted to get. The parking lot is spacious but it was really crowded. There are picnic tables and seating area downstairs too to accommodate families. read more

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Beautiful and amazing experience, we have gone several years. Parking is crowded and it is a little expensive. read more

Greensboro Science Center - Zoos Near Me - Greensboro, North Carolina

I love this place. I have been coming here for over 30 years & watched it grow to the exciting place it is today. I especially love coming in the winter to see the outside lights with my grand daughter. read more

This is such a fun place. There's things to see and exhibits to explore for every age. During the Christmas season we make sure to go to the lights show and it's fantastic. read more

I love the Greensboro Science Center! The animal exhibits are fantastic, so many interesting species! The annual membership is a steal, sometimes I wound just go to take stroll through the zoo and aquarium on lunch break for an interesting change of pace! There are educational displays, changing exhibits, and a ropes course! read more

Such a fun place for kids, took our grandson and we loved the aquarium, the zoo, the dinosaurs. So much more to see, we'll need another day to see the rest! read more

My wife and I bought have yearly passes for us and our two year old granddaughter. We love to go here and our granddaughter loves it even more. There's a nice aquarium, a zoo, a petting zoo, children's play areas, hands on science experiments, a gift shop, cafeteria, and large carousel. Be sure to also check out the dinosaurs, the flamingos, and penguins. Prices are reasonable, too. Plus it's always clean and all of the employees are polite and helpful. Parking is easy, too. Highly recommended read more

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I know I have left a review for the Greensboro Science Center in the past. Probably three years ago. For some reason my review disappeared. This has happened to me before, but I don't have any evidence to prove it. Okay, here is take two. Great place for adults and kids to visit. It has a nice aquarium, small zoo, and a lot of other attractions that your kids are going to love. It took me 18 years living in the Piedmont Triad to come here but glad I did. Been here twice now and love this place. Parking is free. Highly recommend that you get your tickets online. read more

We visited the Greensboro Science Center on a whim while traveling and were pleasantly surprised! The massive parking lot was nearly full when we arrived, so I expected the center to be slammed with people. However, because the center is so vast, the crowds are manageable. The aquarium, zoo, and butterfly garden are well-maintained, and there are staff members stationed through the exhibits to answer questions and to ensure safety. My kids, even the squeamish one, LOVED "petting" the stingrays. The penguins were also a big hit. The zoo is not huge, but it has a nice collection of animals. Unlike large zoos, the animals here have large enclosures that give them the freedom to roam and even hide from nosy humans. The butterfly garden is lovely, too. The tickets are valid until the closing the day of your visit, so you could theoretically go off site for lunch and return. We ate at the Meerkat Cafe, which offers decent food at a reasonable price. My kids keep asking if we can return to Greensboro just to visit the science center. That counts as a win in my book! read more

LOVE THE MUSEUM! It's the hours and the insane gift shop policy that is not worth returning for. Their job is to raise money for animals and research by way of tickets and merch sales. If you are in the museum exiting they do not let you complete a purchase upon leaving if it's a minute after 5pm. I have been to hundreds of museums, zoos and rescues and never once had them refuse money at the end. The staff was rude beyond belief. Surrounded by multiple families kids crying wanting to give them money for over priced merch and they legit said no. As they stood there. Waiting 15 min for the people in there to complete. They lost a min of $300 max $1k in sales in the 5 minutes someone didn't want to finish their shift. God help them if they ever work in a restaurant. They might have to actually stay at work until their tables finish eating. read more

The Greensboro Science Center is where I recently spent the day. I signed up for two behind the scenes tours. One of the tours was of the zoo and the other of the aquarium section. I enjoyed the zoo behind the scenes tour more than the aquarium as it was more hands on. I got to learn about and feed lemurs; a cassowary; two trumpeter hornbills and two tortoises. It was an experience I will not forget. I was familiar with lemurs but couldn't touch or feed them in Durham. So I really enjoyed being so close and feeding them here. I'd never seen a cassowary before but they are similar to emus and ostriches and considered the world's most dangerous bird. So after I heard that I was wondering why I'd be feeding one. I was scared each time it took the food from my hand. It never hurt when the beak snatched it up but it always made me flinch. The trumpeter hornbills were noisy. These I got to throw frozen blueberries into their mouths which wasn't the easiest to do. One of them moved closer to me as I wasn't doing so well with my throws. I did better with the plumper berries than the smushy ones. The last stop was my favorite with the aldabra tortoises. I didn't expect them to be my favorite but they were just remarkable creatures. I could feed them with large tweezers and give them lettuce. Then I was also told I could rub the shell and they got so excited they got taller as that was something these tortoises enjoyed. The center has a place for lunch with a variety of options. If the area to dine upstairs is full just go down a level as there is more seating as well as a room for those that brought their own food from home to eat. My second tour was of the aquarium and we learned about the food the aquatic animals eat then went to feed sting rays. From there we got to touch jelly fish and see the room they were in and learn about the different types. We saw some seahorses. We went to the top of the shark reef and fed some fish and got a different viewpoint of the tank. This tour was still a unique experience just not as hands on as the previous tour. I want to go back and feed the penguins on my next visit. read more

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Lots of fun and worth the trip from Chapel Hill! It's a bit pricey per person but you have a lot to see. Check their website as there are different types of discounts (student being one) Highly recommend read more

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It's always a treat to take a trip to the science center. Been coming here for years. Aquarium, zoo, kids play area, perfect field trip location, maze and dinosaur exhibit. My son loves coming here. PLENTY of free parking and have a lil cafe with food options also. read more

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First visit on my own (translation - without two preschool-aged grandkids) so I could see more of the center and pause to take photos. If you have never visited, here is the first thing you need to know. Every parent and daycare in the Greensboro area knows about the place and goes there, especially on weekends and summer days. If you need proof, just look at all the SUVs in the parking lot! This was a light rain day, The only downside to that is that many of the zoo animals were not on display. I was able to see the pigmy hippo and its recently born baby via an indoor area display window, As long as it's a light rain and you don't mind a little water, there are enough trees and covered seating areas to make a nice stroll in the outdoors. This was my first time seeing the butterfly garden, and really enjoyed this area. The aquarium is of course a main draw, and I find it an impressive facility for the area. I look forward to going again the see the tigers and other Zoo animals I didn't see this time. read more

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Watched the laser light show here when we recently moved to Greensboro. This time, we went to the Aquarium - saw the penguins, enjoyed the colorful fishes, and got mesmerized by the jellies. The little kids definitely enjoyed the SciPlay Bay area; another kid made me play with them and had me "drive" the vintage car - LOL! It's a good spot during the summer if you want to escape the heat and have the entire family bond. We got snacks and ice cream from the MeerKat Cafe; tricked the little ones to go downstairs so the adults can chat while they were playing with the interactive displays ;) You just have to be a little creative to convince the little kids when it's time to go! read more

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