Father’s Day is Sunday. A thought or three on how to appropriately celebrate this weekend.
Coast
Perhaps you’re conflicted about what to do with Dad this weekend. On the one hand, he likes a good challenge. On the other, he likes to kick back and relax. What to do, what to do?
What to do, is sate both sides of Dad by entering him in Saturday’s Good Hops 5K Beer Run at Carolina Beach State Park. Dad gets to run 3.1 miles through this enchanting (and flat!) coastal state park, then kick back and enjoy the fruits of the sponsor’s thirst-slaking labors (which will happen outside the dry state park, we presume), for not only does Dad score a t-shirt, he also gets — provided he’s over 21 — a coupon for a pint of brew. Live music, food trucks and door prizes as well.
Logistics: Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m., Good Hops Brewery/Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. $30. More info here.
Saturday forecast: Race time temperature of 73, slight chance of rain.
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Looking ahead: O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest, July 15-17, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.
Piedmont
Remember when Andy and Opie would go fishing, usually in a row boat, sometimes in a row boat that leaked? Didn’t that look like the ideal Dad/Kid activity?
Even if you’ve never touched a rod, you and Dad can capture some of that Mayberry magic Sunday (Father’s Day, btw) at Falls Lake State Recreation Area. And not just fishing, fishing and crafts. Equipment is limited, participation limited to the first 15 kids who sign up.
Logistics: Fishing with Dad, Sunday, June 19, 1-3 p.m., Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest. Free, but preregistration is required, calling the park office at 919.676.1027.
Sunday forecast: High of 80, sunny skies.
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Looking ahead: Fort Mill Bootlegger 5K, Saturday June 25, Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, S.C.. More info here.
Mountains
A triathlon typically isn’t something you decide to do at the last minute. But if you’re in reasonable condition, you’re prone to whims and you find you’re calendar blank this weekend, then you might consider Saturday’s Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake in Enka. It’s a sprint — 750 meter swim, 17.8-mile bike ride, 3-mile run — which, even without a boatload of training, might seem doable — especially with the great weather forecast for the weekend.
Intrigued? You can sign up on site; details below.
Logistics: Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m., Enka Triathlon, Biltmore Lake, Enka, fees range from $80 to $115, depending on how you appoach the event (individual, team, aquabiker). Add another $15 for a one-day USAT license if you aren’t a member. More info here.
Saturday forecast: High of 79, sunny.
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Looking ahead: Naturalist Niche: Big Basswood Hike into a hidden cove where the state’s largest basswood tree lives, July 16, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chimney Rock State Park. 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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