Happy Valentine’s weekend! Whether you are married to a human or the outdoors, this weekend is full of festivities surrounding the holiday of love.
Coast: ‘We LOVE Frogs!!!’
For everyone who is either boycotting the spirit of this weekend’s holiday, or who is single and ready to mingle, hop on over to Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, and take part in the kick-off event of the Disappearing Frogs Project. This new project is aimed at raising awareness for the alarming disappearance of frogs and other amphibians. Various DFP observances will be held at Weymouth Woods through February; this event will focus on learning about the different species of frogs (and toads) of the Sandhills.
However, you won’t totally escape Valentine’s Day, as you will get to take part in a mating call matching game! That’s all I’ll say about it, you’ll have to attend the event to find out more!
Vital stats: We LOVE Frogs!!! Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve Visitor Center Auditorium, Southern Pines, 910.629.2167, or here for more info.
Sunday forecast: a comfortable 68ish degrees, as the event will be indoors.
Looking ahead: Outer Banks Earth Fair, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Apr. 23. More info here:
Piedmont: RUNNING 4 LOVE
Ever heard of a virtual 5K? How about a virtual 10K?
Charlotte is participating in a statewide virtual run that supports Heart Health Awareness! How it works: you decide the race details: where you run, when you run, your pace, everything! When you sign up you will get two medals and a custom race bib shipped to you. One medal for you, one to give to someone you love; even better, run the race together!
After you complete your run, (by Feb. 29) report your finishing time to Moon Joggers. At least $5 of every registration will be donated to the American Heart Association!
Forecast: Since you get to pick the day, make sure you check the weather ahead of time by Googling “hourly forecast for [insert your location here]” to make sure you dress appropriately!
Vital stats: RUNNING 4 LOVE, greater Charlotte area, $0-$35, ends Feb. 29. More information here; click “register” to find out even more details and the varying registration prices!
Looking ahead: Beginner Orienteering Class on Feb. 20 at Falls Lake State Recreation Area 11 a.m. More info here.
Mountains: Bring your sweetie to Chimney Rock for free!
Everyone loves a great deal, and what better day to love a deal, than the day of love itself! During Valentine’s weekend, Chimney Rock State Park is offering a free ticket for your significant other, when you buy one ticket at regular price! (Even though Chimney Rock became part of the State Parks system in 2005, there remains a fee to enter most of the park.)
Download the ticket here or here. If you go, don’t forget to hike the Skyline Trail to Exclamation Point, the highest point in the park with 75 miles of amazing views.
Vital stats: Feb. 12-14 Chimney Rock State Park, Rutherford County $13 for two park admission tickets. More info here.
Saturday/Sunday forecast: Mostly sunny, anywhere between 18-41 degrees depending of day and time of visit.
Looking Ahead: Sign up for the DuPont 12K Trail Run by Feb 14 to participate! Race is on Mar. 26 More info here
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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed 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 coastal 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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