Detach your kids from their electronics and get them to live in the present (at least for 45 minutes) at Merchants Millpond; expose them to true culture shock with a look at how kids used to play in Saura times; or, head to the mountains and catch skateboarders on the fast track.

Coast: Coleman Trail Hike

The weather is expected to be great this weekend; why not take advantage and head to the coast! Merchants Millpond State Park is hosting a Kids In Parks Track Trail hike. Come participate in some simple animal exercises, and investigate the plethora of nature to be found along this 2-mile trail. Meet at the Boat Ramp area at the Coleman Trailhead on Sunday.

Sunday forecast: High of 75, low of 49, sunny.

Vital Stats: Kids In Parks Track Trail hike, Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville, Sunday, 1 p.m., meet at the Boat Ramp area of Coleman Trail head. Contact: 252.357.1191 or merchants.millpond@ncparks.gov. For more information, go here.

Looking ahead: Six-mile Nature Hike at Pettigrew State Park, Columbia, Sunday, May 15, 1 p.m. More info here.

Piedmont: Outdoor play in olden times

Ever wonder how people played before hover boards and drones? Or marbles and jacks?

Saturday and Sunday, come see how the Saura Indians played hundreds of years ago at the Saura Indian Games at Hanging Rock State Park. A park ranger will demonstrate how the Sauras kicked back after a long day of hunting and gathering.

Weekend forecast: Daytime highs in the upper 70s under mostly sunny skies both days.

Vital Stats: Saura Indian Games, Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury, Saturday and Sunday, 2-3 p.m. both days. More info here.

Looking ahead: C.A.S.T. Catch A Sure Thing at Lake Jordan, geared towards youth who have minimal experience with fishing. April 30, 9:30am-11am. More info here.

Mountains: North Carolina Downhill Skateboard Race

Downhill skateboard? Racing?

Yep. Mount Jefferson State Natural Area hosts its second annual NC Downhill Race on Saturday and Sunday. Nearly 100 participants are expected to race, catapulting down the steep park road — Mount Jefferson rises 1,600 feet above the surrounding countryside — on skateboards and longboards reaching speeds in excess of 50 mph. Take a look at this year’s promotional video. Food and vendors, too. Meet at the old Lowes Food at the base of the mountain to catch a shuttle up to the spectator area.

Weekend forecast: Saturday: high of 66, low of 43; Sunday: high of 74, low of 51.

Vital Stats: NC Downhill Race, Saturday and Sunday,, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. Call 336.246.9653 for more info. To register to participate, if that’s your thing, and to find more information, go here.

Looking ahead: Wildflower walks at Grandfather Mountain State Park. Saturday May 7, 1:00pm. More info here.

The post Your weekend: Present, Past, Fast appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

At less than a mile in length, the Basin Trail at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area offers about as much bang for the hiking boot as any trail around. The park’s website says it best: “Fort Fisher provides a glimpse of the dynamic ecosystem known as a barrier spit where the only constant is change. Sixteen threatened and endangered species can be found at Fort Fisher depending on the time of year.”

From beach to maritime forest to Spartina salt marsh, there’s so much nature to appreciate. The trail is also rich in human history, passing a bunker built as park of Camp Davis in World War II and later adopted as home by the Fort Fisher Hermit. A worthy hike on several levels, a hike best enjoyed when lead by a knowledgeable ranger, which will be the case this Saturday.

Logistics: Saturday, April 18, 2 p.m., Fort Fisher State Recreation Area, Kure Beach. For more information, call 910.458.5798.

Saturday forecast: High of 70, mostly sunny.

Piedmont

Trail running has a weird mystique about it. Runners accustomed to pavement think you daft when you wax about running through the woods on rocky, rooty, potentially-ankle-twisting terrain; hikers can’t understand why you’d want to go any faster. Logical arguments, granted.

And yet …

Those rocky, rooty trails with every foot-strike different are actually easier on your body and, provided you’re paying attention, less likely to result in injury. And by going that much faster, hikers, you get to see that much more of the forest. It makes sense. Really.

See for yourself Saturday afternoon at Eno River State Park when a park ranger hosts “Intro to Trail Running. Participants should have some experience either running or hiking, and be comfortable with a 12- to 15-minute per mile pace. The run will be on a mostly foot-friendly stretch of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail downstream from the park’s Pleasant Green Access.

Logistics: Saturday, April 18, 3:30 p.m., Pleasant Green Access, Eno River State Park. For more info call 919.383.1686. Wear shoes good for running, bring water and a snack.

Saturday forecast: High of 75 with a chance of light rain.

Mountains

This likely falls into the “spectator” category for most of us, but hey, go, watch and who knows about next year?

NCDH @ Mount Jefferson

This weekend, on the twisty road down from Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, is the Downhill Skateboard Race @ Mount Jefferson. Contestants riding longboards will fly (not quite literally, but pert near) down the road at speeds of 40 mph or more. You’ve seen the videos, now see it live. To prepare for the event, we suggest you check out this profile of contestant Kevin Shelton in the Asheville Citizen-Times.  Shelton is 49.

And check out the video … .

Logistics: Saturday and Sunday, April 18-19, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. More info here.

Weekend forecast: High of 74 with a chance of rain Saturday, high of 57 with a real good chance of rain Sunday.

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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed below.

Coast

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The post This weekend: A unique trail, a trail run, a run downhill appeared first on GetGoing NC!.