No plans yet for the weekend? Perhaps we can help.

Coast

By “coast” this week, we mean the coastal plain, of which Fayetteville, home to Saturday’s Lake Rim Paddling Festival, is firmly a part. There’ll be canoe and kayak racing for more accomplished paddlers, and rentals for newcomers to the pursuit. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. Lake Rim Park is at 2214 Tar Kiln Dr. in Fayetteville.

More info, call (910) 424-6134.

Piedmont

Last weekend it was Race at the Reactor cross-country mountain bike race, this weekend at Harris Lake near Raleigh, it’s The Nuclear Swim (must be something about a cooling tower that makes us want to push our limits).

The Nuclear Swim is the fourth and last in the Triangle Swim Series, one- and two-mile open water swims held at Triangle-area lakes. In just it’s second year, the series is proving a popular draw for distance swimmers: there were 150 swimmers at the Jordan Lake race in June and nearly 200 at last month’s Vista Point (also at Jordan Lake) swim. (Last year’s Nuclear Swim attracted 233 swimmers from six states.) For newbies, there’s a 20-minute open water swim clinic at 7:30 a.m. (at which you’ll learn there are no lines on the bottom to follow in a lake swim), the races start at 8 a.m. You must be a member of USA Triathlon, and if you aren’t you can buy a one-day $10 membership on site. Day-of registration is $35.

More info may be found here.

Mountains

Those of us in the Piedmont tend to think of wildflowers more as a spring phenomenon (with a few stragglers in the fall). But they’re around throughout the summer in North Carolina’s high country. At 5,520-feet, Elk Knob in Watauga County qualifies for summer-long wildflower status.

Elk Knob State Park is a recent addition to the state park system; One of the benefits of membership to this august club is that it puts on regular events, such as Sunday’s Wildflower Program and Hike. After a short Powerpoint in the park office, head out for a hike on this rugged mountain with stellar views to see what’s in bloom. Program starts at 4 p.m.

More info on the program, call (828) 297-7261; on the park, go here; and for directions, try here.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, below.

Coast

CapeFearCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar for the Cape Fear/Wilmington/southern N.C. coast searchable by date and event name.

Coastal Guide
Comprehensive calendar including nature programs from a variety of costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs. Covers the entire coast.

Crystal Cost Tourism Authority
Comprehensive calendar focusing on the Crystal Coast. Good source for programs offered by N.C. Coastal Federation, Cape Lookout National Park, N.C. National Estuarine Research Reserve and other costal conservation and research agencies that offer nature programs.

NCCoast.com
Comprehensive calendar including programs for the Outer Banks and Crystal Coast.

North Carolina Coast Host
Comprehensive calendar for the entire coast that lets you search for events by day, by region, by county, by city or by event (based on key word).

This Week Magazine
Primary focus is the Crystal Coast (North Carolina’s coastal midsection).

Mountains

Asheville Citizen-Times
From the main page, click on “Outdoors,” then WNC Outdoors calendar.

Blue Ridge Outdoors
Searchable calendar lets you extend your reach to events throughout the mid-Atlantic and Southeast (or you can just limit it to North Carolina). Also lets you search a boatload of categories, ranging from Hiking, Mountain Biking and Climbing to Trail Running, Triathlon and Road Walking.

The Mountain Times
From the main page, click on “Calendars,” then Main Events.

Piedmont

Charlotte

Charlotte Observer events calendar
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including Nature, Recreation, Recreation & Wellness, Running

Charlotte Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triad

GoTriad.com
Comprehensive calendar includes a Sports & Recreation category.

Piedmont Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Triangle

Triangle.com
Comprehensive calendar searchable by category, including: Birding, Boating, Cycling, Nature, Rec & Wellness, Recreation, Running, Swimming, Tennis, Yoga.

Carolina Parent
Comprehensive calendar concentrating on things the family can do together.

Statewide

Office of Environmental Education
One calendar for the numerous Environmental Education Centers statewide.

North Carolina State Parks
Lets you search for programs at the state’s parks, recreation areas and natural areas by location, by month, by topic. To reach the calendar from the home page, click on “Education,” then “Fun & Free Programs at Parks.”

National Forests in North Carolina
From the home page, click on Carolina Connections for news updates on the state’s four national forests as well as hints on recreational opportunities and a detailed rundown of recreation areas and the amenities at each.