Surf while you can, don’t pass up a good shower, and there’s a trail run in the mountains — somewhere.
Coast
A regret that needles at me seven years after the fact: Standing on a pier in Kaanapali on Maui watching a beginner surf lesson and not ponying up the $25 or whatever to take the lesson myself. I can still see people far less athletic than I bounding atop the long, spongy beginner boards and riding two-foot swells that went on forever. Looks like fun, I kept telling myself. That bit of melancholy leads to today’s weekend suggestion for the coast …
… Public Group Surfing Lessons, offered daily from 8-10 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. at Wrightsville Beach. “Learn surf board positioning, paddling, safety, etiquette and how to stand up and fall properly,” says clinic offerer Carolina Surf School. It’s a little pricey, at $75, but beats sitting in an office on a Wednesday seven years from now saying, “Looked like fun … .”
Logistics: Offered daily 8-10 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., must call 24 hours in advance to reserve a spot: 910.256.7873. More here as well.
Weekend forecast: High of 88 both days, overcast with chance of rain.
Piedmont
One thing I haven’t regretted: Throwing my kayak on top of my car one frigid November evening in the mid 1990s and heading out to Falls Lake for a midnight showing of the Leonid meteor shower. OK, so it was cloudy and we didn’t get to see a whole lot — but being out on a lake in the middle of the night in winter!? Awesome.
Saturday, the folks at Raven Rock State Park have something similar in mind — minus the freezing temperatures and the boat. They’re be gathering at 8 p.m. near the visitor center for a short presentation on basic astronomy, then it’s lights out to enjoy the August Perseids meteor shower. The park program lasts until 10 p.m., the shower runs later.
Logistics: Saturday, August 11, 8-10 p.m. Free. Directions to the park here. Note: May be canceled due to inclement weather
Saturday evening forecast: Partly cloudy with a chance of rain, low of 68.
Mountains
We love a trail race with some mystery, which would describe Saturday’s Daniel Boone Scramble 15K Trail Run. This much is divulged: the race starts and ends at the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp, a k a the winter entrance to the Shining Rock Wilderness. As for where the race actually goes, the registration site says this: “Beautiful and challenging run in the shadow of Cold Mountain and Art Loeb trail.” A request for a course map on the race’s Facebook page was met with this comment by race organizers: “We are putting one together. It’s kind of difficult being that some of the trails do not show up on USGS maps. One will be made soon!” That was on June 15.
So, will the course go up 3,000-plus vertical feet in three miles on the Art Loeb to Cold Mountain? Show up and find out!
Logistics: $30 if you sign up online here, $35 race day. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., the race at 9 a.m. Directions here.
Saturday forecast: Overcast early, high of 73.
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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.
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.
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