Wet'n Wild, an outdoor water park open seasonally from Memorial Day through Labor Day, attracts families and local visitors to Greensboro, North Carolina. After enjoying the park's water slides, wave pool and lazy river, travelers head back to the area's myriad hotel options. Many familiar chain hotels provide standard rooms for budget-minded guests, while others offer luxury amenities for those willing to splurge. Downtown hotels attract water park guests seeking variety in cuisine or cultural side trips.
Travelers willing to pay a bit extra for nightlife, dining and shopping options might opt to stay at the Sheraton Greensboro, which offers comfortable rooms and family-friendly suites. By day, guests head to the water park or attend meetings at the adjacent convention center; at night, the hotel's three posh bars, dance club, Internet cafe, and American-style Joseph's Restaurant buzz with well-heeled revelers. The hotel is only a short walk from the Four Seasons Town Centre, a large mall with retail stores and restaurants. Wet'n Wild is less than four miles away.
Not to be confused with the Vanderbilt mansion near Asheville, the Biltmore Greensboro is a boutique-style hotel in the downtown business district. Less than six miles from Wet'n Wild, the Biltmore offers guests a charming place to rest from an active day or extend the momentum into the evening. Guests can leave their cars and walk to many cultural venues, theaters, restaurants, and a minor league baseball stadium. The hotel has just 26 rooms, each decorated uniquely with antiques. Amenities include a free breakfast, fitness center, passes to the local YMCA, and classy evening wine tastings.
Less than three miles from Wet'n Wild, the Hampton Inn offers comfortable basic rooms, complimentary breakfast, an outdoor pool, and guest laundry facilities. The hotel has no elevator, so be sure to request a first-floor room if stairs are a problem. Pets are not allowed, and gym facilities are off-site. In addition to Wet'n Wild, nearby Greensboro attractions include the Natural Science Center for children and Castle McCulloch, an architectural treat with a realistic drawbridge, moat and glass-walled garden.
For an alternative to traditional hotel rooms, Greensboro travelers need look no further than Studio 6 extended-stay facilities. Available for longer stays, accommodations include a fully-equipped kitchen with refrigerator, microwave, stove, cookware and a dining table. Families headed back from a day at the water park can spread out with a king-sized bed, pull-out couch, and seating area, or use the guest laundry to freshen clothes, swimsuits and towels. Pets are allowed on-site for $10 per day, with a maximum fee of $50, as of 2011 rates. Dogs must be crated if left unattended in a guest room.
