You’ll need a wet suit to participate in Saturday’s second annual North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge, you won’t need a firearm to go on Saturday’s gunless deer hunt at Lake Crabtree, and you will need skis or a board but not a lot of money to go skiing in the mountains.
Coast
If you’ve become caught up in stand-up paddleboard fever, then head to Wrightsville Beach Saturday for the North Carolina Surf to Sound Challenge. More experienced paddleboarders will paddle south from the Blockade Runner in the Atlantic, hang a right through Masonboro Inlet, then paddle through the channel. Not-so-experienced paddleboarders will test themselves on the more placid waters around Harbor Island.
Logistics: Starts at 9 a.m., $60 to compete. For more info call 910.256.2251, to register (registration closes at 10 p.m. Friday), go here.
Saturday forecast: High of 57 (wet suit weather), overcast.
Piedmont
Like the concept of hunting — quietly stalking wildlife in the woods — but a little cool to the whole end-game aspect of it? Saturday, at Lake Crabtree County Park you can tag along with a park ranger on a two-hour deer “hunt” — a hunt minus the guns. Says the program description: “Learn how to track deer by looking for signs they leave behind, as well as deer behavior and habitat.” Cameras are permissible.
Logistics: Saturday, 4-6 p.m., Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville. $3 per person or $5 per family. Pre-register by calling (919) 460-3390. Check out the park here.
Saturday forecast: High of 54, partly cloudy.
Mountains
This weekend, Cataloochee, Sugar Mountain and Appalachian ski areas are all expected to be open (Cataloochee and Sugar reopened Wednesday). Conditions aren’t the best and fewer than a handful of slopes will be open at the three areas. But lift ticket prices are reduced and this could be the last time you get to ski without the crowds until the holidays have passed. Our recommendation: Check out the ski report on Friday (see “logistics,” below), then act accordingly.
Logistics: SkiSoutheast.com has up-to-the-minute reports on conditions at the Southeast’s ski areas. Check mid-morning to see what conditions look like for the weekend.
Weekend forecast: Overnight temperatures should accommodate snowmaking while daytime highs in the upper 40s with mostly clear skies should make for decent conditions.
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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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