Yup, thanks to Sandy your options for this weekend in North Carolina expand to the snow sports.
Coast
Not sure why, but November is one of my favorite times to paddle at the coast. Perhaps the droves of summer tourists are gone, perhaps because the cold of winter — a cold exacerbated by being on the water — has yet to settle in. In any event, it’s a magical time to be on the water. One of the best places to experience this magic: the peaceful waters of Bogue Sound behind the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.
Saturday, join a naturalist for an Early Bird Paddle Trip beginning at 9 a.m. All equipment — paddle, vest, canoe/kayak — provided, as is the interpretive eye of a trained naturalist who can help you make sense of the salt marsh ecology. A great way to spend two hours on a Saturday morning.
Logistics: 9-11 a.m., $20, ages 10 and up. 800.832.FISH. Here for more details.
Weekend forecast: Sunny, high of 59.
Piedmont
This weekend is probably your last chance to enjoy fall color, so enjoy it to the fullest on a guided hike. Saturday’s Fall Foliage Hike at Historic Yates Mill County Park in Raleigh, for instance. Join a naturalist to learn about what makes the green world explode in color come fall on a hike at this special preserve.
Logistics: 11 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 3. Free, but pre-registration is required. 919-856-6675
Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 57.
Mountains
Can you believe we’re suggesting skiing as an option the first weekend of November? A bizarre mix of Hurricane Sandy and a cold front dumped 11 inches of snow on Beech Mountain, 7 at Sugar and 4 at Cataloochee, all in North Carolina. Sugar and Cataloochee were further capitalizing on the cold by making snow and expected to open today. Temperatures were expected to continue cold into the weekend, supporting at least overnight snowmaking efforts. As of today (Wednesday, Oct. 31), Sugar and Cataloochee. It was unclear whether any additional Southeast resorts would open this weekend, including Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia, which had nearly two feet of snow as of Tuesday morning.
Logistics: Follow the breaking North Carolina and Southeast ski situation at SkiSoutheast.com.
Forecast: From today through the weekend daytime highs are expected to rise into the upper 30s with overnight lows in the upper 20s. With heavy snow expected to leave the region tonight, conditions will remain for overnight snowmaking.
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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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