When you dream of a summer weekend in the dead of winter, you dream of a summer weekend like the one forecast for this Saturday and Sunday: high around 90 (in the Piedmont, at least), slight chance of thunderstorms. A weekend, in other words, made for dreamy adventure.

Snakes, snakes, snakes, Chimney Rock, Jordan Lake, New River, Hammocks Beach on Saturday; Chimney Rock, Pilot Mountain, Jordan Lake, Sunday. It’s the Year of the Snake at your neighborhood North Carolina State Park, and rangers and naturalists are out in force trying to help you better understand and appreciate our no-legged friends. There are seven snake programs this weekend, at the parks listed above. Check out the one nearest you by going here.

Guided Canoe Trip, Sunday, 1 p.m., New River State Park, Laurel Springs. What better to do on a hot summer Sunday afternoon than be on the water, and what better water to be on than a mountain river that’s novice friendly and cool to the touch. That better water, in this case, is the New River as it makes its way through North Carolina: it’s wide, it’s relatively shallow (but no bottom dragging) and it is cool! Canoe, paddle, pfd and guide are free, there’s a small fee for the shuttle. Space is limited; reserve your spot by calling 336.982.2587. More info here.

Nature at Night, Saturday, 8-10 p.m., Lake Crabtree County Park, Morrisville. You finish a hike shortly before sunset, you go home — yet part of you remains on the trail, wondering, What’s going on after I leave, in the dark of night? Answer: a lot. Come prepared to find out what all is going on on this two-hour adventure with a naturalist who will help you identify the sounds, the smells, the sights of the night woods. Free, but preregistration required, by going here.

GetHiking! this weekend

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

GetHiking! Charlottesville: Petites Gap to Apple Orchard Falls,Saturday, July 13, 8 a.m. Fontaine Research Park, Charlottesville. Strenuous. 10.8-miles. High highlights: Petite’s Gap, Thunder Ridge Wilderness, Appalachian Trail. Learn more here. GetHiking! Triangle: MST Birthday Season at Falls Lake,Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m. Shinleaf Campground, Wake Forest. Moderately Easy. 5.2 miles. Celebrate the Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s 42nd birthday along rolling terrain at Falls Lake. Learn more here. GetHiking! Triad: Piedmont Environmental Center,Sunday, July 14, 9 a.m. 1220 Penny Rd, High Point. Easy. 3-mile loop through a variety of flora and blazed trails. Learn more here.

Live the video

We go back a ways, almost five years to the day, for this adventure, a classic adventure for summer: paddling at the coast. Or, more accurately, almost at the coast: at Goose Creek State Park, just east of Washington, N.C. Paddle with us for a couple minutes, then visit the Goose Creek State Park website

More options

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