Another seven days, another seven days of which one is decent. And, fortunately again, that day falls on the weekend. A few thoughts on how to spend a sunny Saturday.
Coast
Flytrap Half Hell Haul 7K: even if you don’t run, how could you not want to be a part of something with a name like that! And when you discover the Half Hell Haul is on the trails of the Boiling Spring Lake Preserve, well, that’s got to seal the deal.
Boiling Spring is a coastal preserve near Wilmington protected by both the state and The Nature Conservancy. Among it’s rare plants: the Venus flytrap, and it’s one of just 15 Venus flytrap populations remaining in the world. With Venus flytraps being carnivorous, there’s added incentive to log a good time. And the Half Hell in question? That would be the Half Hell Swamp.
Logistics: Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m. $15-$30. More information here.
Saturday forecast: High of 73, mostly cloudy. http://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/US/NC/Wilmington.html
Piedmont
Maybe you’ve toyed with the idea of yoga but are baffled by the options: Ashtanga? Bikram? Kripalu? Power yoga sounds a little aggressive, and what’s the deal with hot yoga: down dog in a 103-degree room? Really?
Saturday, you have a chance to sample different types of yoga and get some of those questions answered, at YogaFest NC, a day-long celebration of yoga at the McKimmon Center at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Various types of classes, meditation sessions, educational programs, exhibitors, complimentary massages. And lunch catered by Neomonde. A daylong affair.
Logistics: Saturday, March 22, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $55. N.C. State University McKimmon Center, Raleigh. More info here.
Saturday forecast: Irrelevant, since it’s indoors (although Saturday’s weather is forecast to be much warmer than Sunday’s.
Mountains
We love hiking. We love hiking at night. So you can imagine how excited we get about hiking in the mountains at night. Pretty darn excited.
And it’s hard to imagine a better place to hike at night in the high country than Mount Jefferson State Natural Area. Mount Jefferson rises more than 1,600 feet above the surrounding landscape, topping out at more than 4,000 feet. In the dark, that translates some pretty cool views of the lit landscape below. This hike, out to Luther Rock, has some challenging climes, so come prepared.
Logistics: Saturday, March 22, 7 p.m. Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. Meet at the park office. For more info call 336.246.9653
Saturday forecast: High of 58, mostly cloudy and according to Ray, you “cannot rule out a few light showers.” http://asheweather.com/Forecast/West+Jefferson
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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
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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