Explore Cherry Point via a triathlon, participate in the VIII Lake Lure Olympiad or try your hand (and feet and sense of balance) with yoga on a paddleboard. Just another summer weekend in North Carolina.
Coast
I’m partial to events on military bases, in part because it gives civilians such as myself access to the otherwise inaccessible, to a world we otherwise don’t get a chance to see. That exposure is compounded when the event is a triathlon, which lets you run and ride through these forbidden lands.
Saturday is your chance to explore the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point near Havelock as part of the MCAS Cherry Point Spring Triathlon (and relay triathlon). You may not see much unusual (or at all) on the 400-meter swim, but the 10-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run should be revealing. Awards to the top three finishers in each age category and everyone who survives gets a medal. $45 to race, $120 for teams.
Logistics: Race starts at 7:30 a.m. More info here.
Saturday forecast: High of 84, 60 percent chance of rain.
Piedmont
Yoga Paddleboarding: Now that’s something I’d pay to see. And, perhaps, participate in if the water temperature is above 80.
Yup, it’s exactly what it sounds like: Paddle out on a Stand Up Paddleboard and downward dog you go. An interesting mix, guaranteed to keep you in line, balancewise.
Logistics: Saturday at Lake Norman, 4-6 p.m. Sponsored by Gotta Yoga and Stride Stand Up Paddleboards. $89 (includes board). 540.315.4441 to sign up, here for more information.
Saturday forecast: High of 84, 40 percent chance of rain.
Mountains
Hickory Nut Gorge is the place to be this weekend if you’re into any of the following: running a 10K (the 10K Dam Run), doing a triathlon (the Lake Lure Triathlon), a one-mile open water swim, running a 5K (the Race to the Rock 5K) or doing a 25-mile bike race. They’re all part of the 8th Annual Lake Lure Olympiad, sponsored by the Rumbling Bald Resort and Rutherford Regional Health System.
Logistics: Events begin Friday and run through Sunday. Go here for more information.
Weekend forecast: Highs in the low 80s, partly cloudy Saturday and Sunday, 20 percent chance of precip Friday.
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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.
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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