Tag Archives: Lake Brandt

Your weekend: Beat the heat with a paddle

Photo courtesy NCAquariums
Photo courtesy NCAquariums

It’ll be toasty this coming July weekend, a weekend that just makes sense to be on the water

Coast / Coastal Plain

It is perhaps the most rewarding type of paddling — and the easiest: paddling the tidal flats and meandering backwaters of the coast. The ill-defined wetlands along the sounds, the narrow tidal creeks enveloped in lush maritime woods that feed into the sounds. So much to see just a paddle-length away. read more

90 Second Escape: More Spring

Monday — never an easy time for the outdoors enthusiast. After a weekend of adventure, returning to the humdrum work-a-day world can make one melancholy. To help ease the transition, every Monday we feature a 90 Second Escape — essentially, a 90-second video or slide show of a place you’d probably rather be: a trail, a park, a greenway, a lake … anywhere as long as it’s not under a fluorescent bulb. read more

This weekend: Winter!

Will this be the scene this weekend at Cataloochee? (Photo courtesy Cataloochee)
Will this be the scene this weekend at Cataloochee? (Photo courtesy Cataloochee)

Yup, that’s right: winter arrives big time in North Carolina’s mountains this weekend, with heavy snow forecast for higher elevations. More important, cold overnight temperatures should support prolonged snowmaking, signaling the start of the Southeast ski season. read more

Ten places for a spring paddle

An adventure begins on Milltail Creek.

Last Thursday on a trip down east  was my first day on the water and it put me of a mind to spend more time paddling. The quiet, save for the birdsong and the occasional gal-lump of a turtle inelegantly abandoning sunny log for murky water. The wildlife, including an alligator that was even more distracted by the sun and warmth. The emergence of spring, with the pastel buds of green, white and crimson giving the world a soft focus field. The unique calm that only paddling flat water can offer. read more

Trails made for a December hike

For the most part, you can hike in the mountains year-round. Hiking in the Piedmont is enjoyable from October into May, and at the coast conditions are favorable for three, maybe four months of the year (the non bug-infested months). Winter, though, is the one time when all regions, from mountains to sea, are in play for a good hike. Here are our recommendations for hikes that seem especially well-suited for December. read more