OK, I’ve heard enough kvetching of late about the weather. Or did I mean to say I’ve done enough kvetching of late about the weather? Either way, the weather of late has been less than inviting.

However, as it is wont to do, the forecast that midweek called for rain and cold throughout the weekend has changed. Today is now supposed to be sunny and seasonal. Based on the tinge of early morning sunlight I see over the treetops, it appears to be illuminating a near-cloudless sky: Bravo to the new forecast. And since the forecast still calls for rain tomorrow, it’s imperative that we make the most of today and get out and move. A suggestion or five:

1. Hit the beach. It’s supposed to hit 56 today in Wilmington, not exactly sunning weather, granted, and at 49 degrees at Wrightsville Beach, the water’s a tad cool for a dip. But it’s a perfect day for walking the winter beach, a beach with just a smattering of people, your choice of shells, and crisp, blue skies.
2. Hit the trail. But I live closer to the mountains, you protest? Then take advantage of North Carolina’s abundance of mountain hiking and take a hike. The mountain forecast, according to Ray’s Weather, is a bit less optimistic, calling for clouds and some drizzle (and possible icing at higher elevations). Ideal conditions for hiking. Seems like the lower elevations at South Mountains State Park south of Morganton and the northern portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway are especially good venues for today. (Note that the parkway is closed north of Asheville between mileposts 393.6 and 405.5 conditions due to mudslide concerns. Call 828.298.0398 for the most recent info on parkway closures.)

   

3. Hit the trail, II. You don’t have to go to the mountains to take a hike on a day like this; We’ve got plenty of good state park hiking across the state. Hike the Pinnacle Trail at Crowders Mountain, hike out to Moore’s Knob at Hanging Rock, do the Buckquarter Creek/Holdens Mill figure eight at Eno River, walk through the swamps at Goose Creek. Explore other options here.
4. Hit the park. Why waste time driving when you can simply hit your neighborhood park? Take a soccer ball to kick around, a Frisbee to toss around, a Whiffle ball to smack around or hit the playground’s monkey bars and just hang around. Nothing like a park and playground to make you feel like a kid again.

   

5. Explore your neighborhood. We tell the kids to pick the wheeled contrivance of their choosing (in our arsenal we have bikes, rollerblades, skateboard, longboard, RipStickTrikke ) and a helmet for a trip through the not-so-mean streets of our suburban neighborhood. There’s usually lots of trading off, usually a scrape or two, always a good story to emerge for years down the line.

Time’s a waistin’, people, the sun is officially up.

Go! Git!