Fall color is spreading across the state. Here are three ways to take advantage.
Coast
Sometimes, all it takes is the alignment of the right stars to kick-start an active lifestyle. Perfect weather — sunny skies, highs in the mid-60s. A challenging, but not overly so, adventure. A supportive environment. Beer.
All of those conditions will be in play Sunday when our GetExploring! Greenville affiliate hosts “Bike & Brew, Whoo!” Meet at Winslow’s Deli in Greenville, take a guided bike ride for an hour or so, return to Winslow’s for an amber libation. Could put you on the road to health and happiness. It’s part of the Great Outdoor Provision Co.-sponsored group’s Fall Into Adventure series.
Logistics: Sunday, 2 p.m., Winslow’s Deli, Washington & 5th streets, Greenville. More info and to sign up, go here.
Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 67.
Piedmont
Technically, you should have signed up for this by yesterday (our apologies). But Sunday’s opportunity to hike new trail is just too good not to acknowledge. And even if you don’t hike this trail when it officially debuts Sunday, make a note to hit it this fall.
The trail: the final 4.9-mile link of Mountains-to-Sea Trail between Penny’s Bend and West Point on the Eno city park in Durham. The stretch creates 105 miles of continuous MST in the Triangle, from Orange County east to Clayton in Johnston County.
The trail gets its official baptism Sunday, with a 1 p.m. dedication followed by a hike. Details can be found below.
Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m., West Point on the Eno City Park, Durham. More information here.
Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 67.
Mountains
Lots of places to go see fall color in the mountains this weekend. (For the latest on where the color is especially good, visit VistiNC.com’s Foliage Reports.)
If you’re looking for a little context for the fall show, head to Gorges State Park Saturday where a ranger will talk about why some leaves turn yellow, some red, some orange, some purple. Then, after the presentation, he’ll tip you off to where the color is especially good right now.
Logistics: Saturday, Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m., Gorges State Park. More info: 828.966.9099.
Sunday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 62.
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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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