It’s supposed to be sunny and cool at the coast for a trail run, likewise in the Piedmont for a hike. And in the mountains, the ski areas have so much snow it probably doesn’t matter what happens. (Unless it rains.)
Venture forth. And good luck.
Coast
It’s early in the season, you’ve been cooped up by the weather and haven’t had a chance to get many miles in. Still, your competitive side is yearning for a race. If only there were a non-timed, not-so-competitive trail race, perhaps on terrain I’m not familiar with … .
As luck would have it, this is your weekend. Saturday, the NC Rainbow Run will take place at Old River Farms in Burgaw, not far from Wilmington, closer still to the Holly Shelter Game Land. The course meanders through this working farm, which has an emphasis on herbs, vegetables and flowers, is put on by the Hoggard High School (Gay-Straight Alliance), and benefits the Open House Youth Shelter of Coastal Horizons.
Logistics: Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m., Old River Farms in Burgaw. Race fee: $15-$35. More info here.
Saturday forecast: High of 55, sunny.
Piedmont
Tuesday, a couple hundred people crammed into The Frontier in Research Triangle Park to check out the Triangle Land Conservancy’s Wild Ideas for Getting Outside symposium: five speakers discussing the great opportunities to explore in the Triangle, 20 local outdoor groups participating in the Outdoor Expo that followed.
To hold such an event and whip people into a frenzy of what they could do without actually letting them do it, would be inexcusable. So the Triangle Land Conservancy wisely designated Saturday as Wild Ideas Goes Outside Day, for the purpose of letting all those stirred up adventure hormones loose. Eleven events total, including paddle trips, hikes, birding expeditions, bike rides and more. The weather looks promising Saturday, you’ve got your pick of events.
Logistics: Triangle Land Conservancy’s Wild Ideas for Getting Outside, Saturday, March 7. For a complete rundown of the 11 events scheduled, head here.
Saturday forecast: High of 52, sunny.
Mountains
North Carolina’s ski areas have likely benefited the most from the recent run of intense winter weather, and SkiSoutheast.com reports the regions slopes are in great shape in early March. Great conditions won’t last forever, take advantage while you can.
Logistics: For the latest ski conditions in the Southeast, check here.
Weekend forecast: Sunny skies, highs in the mid- to upper-40s.
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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.
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
Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.
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.
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