Another summer weekend, meaning hot, sunny and a chance of thunderstorms. Get out and enjoy!

Paddle with a Ranger, Sunday, 10 a.m., Lake Norman Site Park, Troutman (Charlotte area). Afternoon temperatures reaching into the upper 80s, chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon — it all says morning paddle to us. And that’s what Lake Norman has in mind on this hour-long paddle that begins behind the Visitor Center. Boats, PFDs and minor instruction provided: a great opportunity for the first-time paddler. Learn mire and sign up (space is limited) here.

Natural History Hike, Saturday, 10 a.m., New River State Park, Laurel Springs. Another good option for beating the heat: if you can’t be on the water on a summer morning, at least be next to it. And as compensation, make that water in the mountains. That’s what you’ll have on this Saturday morning excursion at New River State Park, when a ranger takes you on a walk along one of the oldest waterways in the world and tells you about its uniqueness. Learn more and sign up here.

Festival for the Eno, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., West Point on the Eno city park, Durham. Live music, crafts, food, paddling on the millpond, hiking on several miles of trail in the park. It’s a melange of everything you like to do outdoors, and your pass ($23 for adults, $11 for teens) goes to the work the Eno River Association does to protect the Eno River Valley. (Their work, fyi, is the reason we have Eno River State Park.) Learn more and buy tickets here. 

GetHiking! this weekend

What are our GetHiking! groups in North Carolina and Virginia up to this weekend? Plenty, thanks for asking …

GetHiking! Charlotte: Kings Mountain,Friday, July 5, 8:30 a.m. Kings Mountains National Military Park, Blacksburg, S.C.. Moderately difficult. 16-mile loop with high heat through Kings Mountain National Park. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlottesville: Thornton River Hike,Saturday, July 6, 8:15 a.m. UVA North Research Park, Charlottesville. Strenuous. 10.5-miles. High highlights: Elkwallow Wayside, Appalachian Trail, Piney Ridge Trail. Learn more here. GetHiking! Charlotte: Backpacking in the Virginia Highlands,Monday, July 8, 10 a.m. to Wednesday, July 10, 3:45 p.m. Grayson Highlands State Park, Charlottesville. Easy. 40-mile trek through wilderness and beautiful scenery. Learn more here.

Live the video

This week you truly can live the video! This 50-second visit was from our trip to the Wilson Creek area of the Blue Ridge Mountains in early June. We’ll be returning Aug. 2-4 on a trip that will include lots of time in the water (Lost Cove Creek, Hunt-fish Falls and Gragg Prong), lots of time ogling the water (South Harper Falls), a great hike (the Timber Ridge Loop), and one awesome sunrise and sunset (Big Lost Cove Cliffs). Learn more about the trip and sign up to join us, here.

More options

Looking for more options for weekend adventure? Check out our GetOut! Find An Adventure resource page here.