A boat demo, a bird hike, an adventure race, a waterfall hike — and they’re all on the same day.
Coast
In Wilmington’s Smith Creek Park on Saturday they’ll be celebrating the warm weekend by land and by sea (by “lake” technically) at the Bird Hike & Kayak Demonstration, a joint effort of New Hanover County Parks & Gardens, Cape Fear Audubon Society, Wild Bird & Garden and Hook, Line & Paddle. In a stroke of good planning, Cape Fear Audubon will lead the bird hike, from 8-9:30 a.m., while Hook, Line & Paddle will handle the kayak demo, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A good opportunity to learn a few new birds and to test out a boat or two.
Logistics: The bird hike is from 8-9:30 a.m., the kayak demo from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Both are free, both at Wilmington’s Smith Creek Park, 633 Harris Road. More info at 910.798.7707.
Saturday forecast: High of 70, partly cloudy.
Piedmont
Looking to jump start your year of adventure? No better way than through an adventure race that includes four of the major adventure groups: canoeing, mountain biking, trail running and orienteering. Race No. 1 in the North Carolina Adventure Race Series is this Saturday and consists of five- and eight-hour versions, at Lake Norman State Park north of Charlotte.
Logistics: Racing begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. Pricing begins at $60 per person for the five-hour solo, $80 for the eight-hour solo. More info by going here or calling 704.528.6350.
Friday forecast: High of 72, mostly sunny.
Mountains
Folks love a themed hike, and there’s probably no theme more popular for a hike than trekking for waterfalls. Saturday, the Swannanoa Valley Museum hosts Hike No. 2 in its new hiking series, Waterfalls of the Valley. This hike features the Swannanoa Valley’s hidden waterfalls. Saturday’s featured secret attraction: “The ‘mythical’ and very hard to reach Blue Sea Falls … located at the headwaters of the Cane River in Yancey County.” Blue Sea Falls is on private property and accessible only when permission has been granted (like on Saturday).
Logistics: Meet at 9 a.m. Saturday (April 13) at the Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 West State St. in Black Mountain, to carpool to the waterfall. $30 for museum members, $50 for nonmembers. Registration is required by emailing swannanoavalleymuseum@gmail.com or calling 828.669.9566.
Saturday forecast: High of 64, sunny.
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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 costal 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
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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