Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business High Point is a city in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina known as the Home Furnishings Capital of the World. Twice a year, the High Point Market, the largest furniture trade show in the world, fills its downtown showrooms with buyers from more than 100 countries.
This guide covers the best places to visit in High Point, from its furniture landmarks and history museum to its parks, ballpark and nearby historic sites, with tips on food, where to stay and when to go.
High Point was founded in 1859 at the highest point on the North Carolina Railroad between Goldsboro and Charlotte, which gave the city its name. Plentiful hardwood and the railroad turned it into a center of furniture and hosiery making by 1900.
Visitors come for the furniture heritage, quirky landmarks and a growing downtown built around a new ballpark. It is also an easy base for Greensboro, Winston-Salem and the Quaker history of nearby Jamestown.
Furniture is everywhere in High Point, even in its landmarks.
Built in 1926 and redesigned in 1996, this 38-foot-tall building shaped like a dresser, with two socks hanging from a drawer, is the city's most photographed landmark.
The giant chest of drawers is High Point's best-known landmark. Photo: Cmalaspina, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Downtown's huge showroom buildings, including the massive International Home Furnishings Center, host the High Point Market each April and October. The market is open to the trade only, but the buildings show the scale of the industry.
High Point and nearby Jamestown are full of furniture galleries and outlets open to the public, including Furnitureland South, one of the largest furniture stores in the world.
The city's museums tell the story of its people and industries.
This free museum covers local history, furniture making and the hosiery industry, and its historical park includes the 1786 Haley House and a blacksmith shop with demonstrations.
In nearby Jamestown, this 1811 Quaker farmstead includes a house, barn and a rare false-bottom wagon used to help enslaved people escape on the Underground Railroad.
The Mendenhall Homeplace is an 1811 Quaker farmstead. Photo: 336photog, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
High Point University's campus is known for its landscaped gardens, fountains and sculptures, and visitors are welcome to walk the grounds.
TAG, in the High Point Theatre building, shows changing exhibitions of regional art.
Green space and lakes surround the city.
Truist Point is the ballpark of the High Point Rockers, who play in the Atlantic League. It anchors a revived downtown district with a children's museum and a park.
Truist Point is home to the High Point Rockers. Photo: Milbpics, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
City Lake Park has a large swimming pool, paddle boats, a miniature train, picnic shelters and fishing on Oak Hollow Lake's neighbor, High Point City Lake.
On the shores of High Point City Lake, the Piedmont Environmental Center has miles of wooded hiking trails and a nature center.
Oak Hollow Lake has a marina, campground, tennis center and a highly rated golf course.
High Point sits in the heart of Piedmont barbecue country, and Lexington-style chopped pork with red slaw and hushpuppies is the local favorite. Southern cooking, biscuits and sweet tea are everywhere.
Downtown and the area around Main Street and Lexington Avenue have a growing number of restaurants and breweries, many busy with visitors during market weeks.
Downtown High Point is closest to the market district and Truist Point.
Wendover Avenue and Interstate 74 have many chain hotels with easy road access.
Jamestown is a small town between High Point and Greensboro with inns and furniture outlets.
Greensboro is about 20 minutes away and has more hotel choices, especially during market weeks.
Dunwell Structural Repair is a foundation and waterproofing business serving High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem, NC. It provides foundation repair, water...
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Beco Inc. is an electrical contractor serving the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, providing residential and commercial electrical services including maintenan...
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Spring is mild and green, but hotels are booked solid during the April market.
Summer is warm and humid, ideal for baseball and lakes.
Fall is pleasant and colorful outside the October market week.
Winter is generally mild and quiet.
By air: Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) is about 15 minutes north.
By train: Amtrak's Carolinian and Piedmont trains stop at the downtown High Point station.
By car: Interstates 74 and 85 pass the city.
Getting around: A car is the easiest way to get around; High Point Transit runs local buses.
Photograph the World's Largest Chest of Drawers, visit the High Point Museum and walk past the market showrooms downtown. In the afternoon, stroll the High Point University campus, and end with a Rockers game at Truist Point.
Hike at the Piedmont Environmental Center or enjoy City Lake Park, then visit the Mendenhall Homeplace and the furniture outlets in Jamestown.
Looking for a furniture store, barbecue or a coffee shop downtown?
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