A biathlon with running and standup paddleboarding, a half marathon on a NASCAR track, a hike in the snow — can a weekend get more North Carolina than that?
Coast
Running and standup paddleboarding — that’s a combination you don’t often see under the biathlon umbrella. But you will Saturday at Wrightsville Beach for the 4th Annual Wrightsville Beach Biathlon. Four miles of standup paddleboarding on a flatwater course followed by a 4-mile beach run, all in the hopes of scoring “the soon-to-be-coveted Masonboro Trophy.”
Logistics: Competition begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning from near the Blockade Runner in Wrightsville Beach. Individual $45, teams $250. More info here.
Sunday forecast: High of 61, 70 percent chance of rain.
Piedmont
Not all of Sunday’s North Carolina Half Marathon takes place on the track at Concord’s Charlotte Motor Speedway — you get to run on the nearby drag strip, too! The chance to start and finish on this 1.5-mile oval alone should inspire thoughts of a PR (though don’t expect to match Elliott Sadler’s qualifying record of 193.21 miles per hour).
Logistics: 7:30 a.m. Sunday, March 24, Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord. $85, here.
Sunday forecast: High of 55, 60 percent chance of rain.
Mountains
When I think of Kitsuma Peak near Old Fort, I think of mountain biking, specifically the Off-road Assault on Mount Mitchell. Sunday, though, the focus will be on hiking as the Carolina Mountain Club takes on Kitsuma and Young’s Ridge for its great views of Graybeard Mountain, Green Knob, Mount Mitchell and the Swannanoa Valley. A 10-mile hike with 1,150 feet of total climbing.
Logistics: Sunday, March 24, 9 a.m. Details, contact hike leader Lenny Bernstein at 828.236.0192 or lsberns@att.net
Sunday forecast: High of 37 with a 60 percent chance of snow.
* * *
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.
U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.