Rainy today, partly sunny tomorrow: Isn’t that how the adage goes? Or something along those lines? If not, well, so be it. That’s the forecast we’re dealing with, and it’s a pretty darn good one: clouds and rain move out overnight Friday, partly sunny skies and temps in the low 60s move in — perfect weather for a weekend of exploring60Some options:
- State Park Days at the Coast, Saturday, daylong, Dismal Swamp, Jones Lake, and Merchants Millpond state parks. The last weekend in October appears to be the time to celebrate our coastal state parks, for three of them are having their Days: Dismal Swamp State Park (including a 5K as part of Dismal Day) from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Jones Lake State Park (with Friends of the Bay Lakes Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Merchants Millpond State Park (with Millpond Day) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click the links for details.
- State Park Day into Dusk Hikes, Saturday, Carvers Creek and Cliffs of Neuse state parks. Here’s another apparent State Park theme: hikes at dusk. At Carvers Creek near Fayetteville a 3-Mile History Hike leaves at 6 p.m., in the waning light of day, to explore the park’s historic farm buildings and wide-open coastal plain terrain. At 6:30 at Cliffs of Neuse State Park near Seven Springs, they’re waiting ’til after sunset to embark on their Ghost Hike.
- Fall Foliage Hike, Sunday, 2 p.m., Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. Fall color makes its way to Hanging Rock. Check it out on a 1-mile hike around the lake.
More options
You can find more opportunities this weekend here:
- North Carolina State Parks have a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
- North Carolina Environmental Education Centers has an extensive calendar of what’s happening at its affiliates; check it out here.
- You can also find more adventures right here, at GetGoingNC.com.
Interested in the stars of today’s 49-second feature attraction? Learn more about them below:
- Umstead State Park
- Falls Lake State Recreation Area
- Duke Forest (Note: The section in the video is in the Korstian Division, accessed via Gates 24 and 25. And if you plan to explore Duke Forest, we highly recommend getting the $8 Trail Map.)