3 Best Hotels in Greensboro, Central North Carolina

This employee-owned boutique hotel (named for the renowned short-story writer, who grew up in Greensboro) was constructed in the late 1990s but evokes old-world European charm; expect lots of wood paneling, mohair club chairs, and an extremely friendly staff. Rooms are elegant and spacious, with many featuring dining areas, living rooms, and bathrooms fit for royalty. The period furnishings are complemented by modern luxuries like dimmable lighting and surround-sound speaker systems. A breakfast buffet is served in a sunny pavilion overlooking a small garden. For lunch or dinner, grab a table in the courtyard of the Green Valley Grill, a European-style restaurant with a wood-fired oven. The hotel's checkered cab and London taxis are a fun touch.  O. Henry employs an in-house artist, Chip Holton, whose framed landscapes hang in every room. Look for his murals and embellishments throughout the hotel and restaurant.

With its high ceilings, big windows, and exposed beams, this modern hotel makes you feel like you're in the future—or perhaps just in a loft in a bigger city than Greensboro. A sister hotel to the more traditional O. Henry, Proximity features the same checkered cab and London taxis, but it's much more sleek and modern (the design was inspired by memories of old textile mills). Abstract but approachable large-format paintings hang in each room, balancing the iron-and-wood furniture, much of which is built by the hotel group's in-house craftsmen. Proximity holds the distinction of being the first LEED Platinum certified hotel in the country, a status evidenced in the guest experience by small touches like filtered water dispensers on every floor, as well as 100% employee owned. The on-site restaurant, Print Works Bistro, echoes the eco-sensibility with its farm-to-table sourcing and the healthy creek flowing past the patio seating, a natural restoration project by the hotel's developers.

Overlooking the Appalachian foothills and two world-class golf courses, this resort, spa, and conference center offers a luxurious escape. Rooms and suites are outfitted with sleek furnishings, downy-soft beds, and marble baths with rainfall shower heads. There’s also an Italian restaurant, bar, and relaxed café on-site, as well as indoor and outdoor pools. Golf, spa, tennis and other getaway packages are available.