Here are 5 events for the weekend that mark a great way to kick off the season:

Spring Flowers, Saturday, 10 a.m., Carvers Creek State Park (or not), Spring Lake. Or not? Indeed, this hike will gather at the nearby Smith Lake Recreation Area- Q, 5144, Smith Lake Road in Fort Bragg, the “start location.” We’re guessing this is the case because the hike leader wants to focus on the area with the best spring flower bloom at the time, not the area they suspected would have the best bloom when they scheduled the hike. Show up and be surprised. More info here. 

Barrier Island Beach Hike, Sunday, 11 a.m., Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. What’s so special about a beach hike? I mean, don’t we all do it when we vacation at the beach? True, nearly everyone walks the beach on holiday, but not a beach that’s undeveloped and that can’t be reached by car. This hike commences from the Bear Island Bathhouse and covers a half mile in search of “evidence of past storms, fossil rock outcrops, geology, and barrier island migration.” You’ll either need to paddle out (see photo) to the island or take the ferry ($6 for adults, $4 for kids 3 to 12 or 62 or older). More info here. 

Slippery, Slidey, Slimy Salamanders, Saturday, 10 a.m., Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh. Have trouble getting your little kids excited about going outdoors? We’re guessing that’s part of the marketing strategy behind the name of this event aimed at kids 5 and up. Part of the park’s Family Wildlife Series, the focus here is to “Find out how these special amphibians compare with their reptile cousins and learn about the amazing adaptations that have let them remain relatively unchanged for 150 million years!” Also: “…kids are not required to attend.” Learn more and register here.

Guided Canoe Adventure, Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Staunton River State Park, Scottsburg, VA. Just over the state line in Virginia’s Staunton River State Park, you can satisfy your curiosity about canoeing on this ranger-led adventure on Edmund’s Lake. All paddling equipment provided, you just need to dress appropriately and wear sunscreen. There is a small fee for this event. Learn more and register here.

Fairy Stone Hunt, Saturday, noon, Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart, VA. Also just over the state line there’s a treasure hunt, of sorts, on Saturday. Fairy Stone State Park gets its name from the curious Stauroilte crystal in the shape of a cross found throughout the park. This event starts with a short presentation covering the stone’s legend and what to look for before heading out in search of said stone. Parking fee applies. Learn more here.

As for the weather, a delightful melange of spring and summer is on tap: temperatures in the low 80s under mostly sunny skies.

GetOut! And Enjoy.

* * *

Planning ahead

Summer Weekends Hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. We have three weekend hiking trips, all in the mountains on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Each weekend includes about 20 miles of guided hiking, camping, and meals. The trips are:

• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Doughton Park, June 10-12, go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Mount Pisgah, July 22-24, go here.
• Summer on the MST Weekend Escape to Price Lake, Sept. 9-11, go here.

The post 5 Memorable Events for this Memorial Day Weekend appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Vade Mecum Trails Open, Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. The first weekend of every month, Hanging Rock and the Friends of Sauartown Mountains open the trail network at the park’s Vade Mecum addition. The 716-acre former Camp Sertoma 4-H Educational Center, with miles of trail, was added to the park in 2014. Learn more and sign up here.

Bear Island Eco-Hike, Sunday, 10:15 a.m., Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. If you’re spending Labor Day weekend in the Crystal Coast area, head over to Swansboro Sunday morning and hike the dunes of a barrier island with a ranger. Learn more and sign up here.

Hike at Naked Creek Restoration Site, Monday, 11 a.m., Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. Another opportunity (see Vade Mecum) to explore new terrain at a North Carolina State Park. Says the program description: “We will start at the park office and drive to the newest park access. Once there, we will begin a relaxing saunter through a kaleidoscope of wildflowers and butterflies. Bring your cameras and wildflower books. Learn more and sign up here.

You can find more opportunities this Labor Day weekend here:

• North Carolina State Parks have a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
• North Carolina Environmental Education Centers has an extensive calendar of what’s happening at its affiliates; check it out here.
• You can also find more adventures right here, at GetGoingNC.com.

And learn more about where we spent last weekend, featured in the video, by visiting the web sites for Little River Regional Park and Eno River State Park.

The post Getout! Your Nudge to Get Out This Labor Day Weekend appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast: Bear Island Eco-Hike

There’s a lot going on at Hammocks Beach State Park in the next few days, from a shoreline cleanup on Sunday, to an eco-hike on Monday. At 10 a.m. Monday, take the ferry over to Bear Island and join a ranger to learn about one of North Carolina’s hidden treasures. You will have the chance to explore and enjoy some of nature’s wonders that can only be found during the cooler days of winter. Dress appropriately for a boat ride in addition to the weather. BYOB (binoculars).

Monday forecast: Sunny with a high of 67 degrees.

Vital Stats: Bear Island at Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro, Monday, Feb. 29, 10 a.m.-noon. Seating is limited; registration is required, by contacting 910.326.4881

Looking ahead: Dismal’s Day of Service, Dismal Swam State Park, South Mills, March 5, 11 a.m. More info here. http://www.ncparks.gov/nc-state-parks-week

Piedmont: Guided nature walk

Join a naturalist at the Charlotte Nature Museum on a guided educational walk around the Paw Paw Nature Trail. The 100-year-old forest is alive with trees, seasonal wildflowers, and wildlife. During this short hike you will have the opportunity to discover the beauty and diversity of a bottomland forest habitat. Hikes occur on the fourth Saturday of every month.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, around 40 degrees at 10 a.m., high of 53.

Vital Stats: Charlotte Nature Museum, Charlotte, Saturday, Feb. 27, 10:15-11:15 a.m. included with Museum admission. Contact: 704.372.6261, ext. 300. More info here.

Looking ahead: Rumba on the Lumber;10K, 5K, fun run, Lumberton, March 4 – 6 More info here:

Mountains: Lake James State Park

To celebrate N.C. State Parks Week, plan to spend a day exploring a park. At Lake James State Park near Nebo there’s plenty to do: wildlife watching, hiking on an extensive trail system, paddling, mountain biking and more! The Holly Discovery Trail is a nice, easy trek with 18 interactive information stations and fun activities and facts for all ages. In fact, it is a national award-winning interpretive trail. Try this trail and many others this weekend to take part in N.C. State Parks Week.

Weekend forecast: Sunny, high in the mid 60s.

Vital Stats: Lake James State Park, Nebo. Opens daily at 8 a.m., currently closes at 6 p.m., will be open until 8 p.m. starting March 1. Contact 828.584.7728, or visit the park website for more information.

Looking ahead: Valley History Explorer Hike #1: Day long hike on the Riceville-Warren Wilson Trails near Black Mountain. March 12. Advance registration required. More info here.

The post Your Weekend: Celebrate North Carolina State Parks appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

We’re often asked, “GetGoingNC, why aren’t there more free opportunities for us to get out on the water with paddle in hand?” In our quest to get you moving and keep you moving, we’re working on that. In the meantime … .

Saturday is one of the best no-cost options going for an entertaining and informative guided kayak trip: a two-hour guided kayak tour at Hammocks Beach State Park. Led by a park ranger and with all key equipment (kayak, paddle, pfd) provided gratis, you’ll explore the salt marsh separating Hammocks Beach from the state park’s key attraction: Bear Island, a three-mile barrier island. The water here is protected, shallow, well-suited for beginning paddlers and wildlife viewing enthusiasts alike.

Logistics: Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m., Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. For more information and to register — because space is limited — call the park office at 910.326.4881.

Saturday forecast: High of 69 with a high chance of rain that drops precipitously as the 11 a.m. start nears.

Piedmont

Again, we find ourself in the position of humping our own GetHiking! hike. But really, this promo has little to do with us and everything to do with the hike venue: the Triangle Land Conservancy’s Horton Grove Nature Preserve.

Horton Grove, at 708 acres TLC’s largest preserve, sits atop the Piedmont north of Durham. It’s a mix of mature upland oak-hickory forests, beech slopes and mixed pine and hardwoods, as well as open meadows and grasslands, including two small native plant meadows. The terrain means lots of opportunity for wildlife viewing and, considering the season, wildflowers in bloom.

We’ll hike about eight miles, with options for shorter hikes. We’ll get underway at 10 a.m.

Logistics: Sunday, April 12, 10 a.m., Horton Grove Nature Preserve, Durham County. For more information and to sign up, visit GetHiking! Triangle.

Sunday forecast: Sunny skies, high of 71.

Mountains

Eager to kick off the mountain festival season, but not crazy about waiting another couple months to do so?

Elk Knob State Park and the Elk Knob Community Heritage Association have you covered, with Sunday’s Elk Knob Headwaters Community Day. Live music, games, nature activities, hikes, wagon rides, craft and cultural demonstrations, hands-on activities, history and a potluck — six hours of mountain fun in a meadow at the entrance to the park, located just outside Todd.

Logistics: Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Elk Knob State Park, Todd. For more information, call 828.297.7261

Sunday forecast: High of 65, mostly sunny.

* * *

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

The post This weekend: NC Smorgasbord appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Come summer, with its 90/90 days (heat/humidity) the last thing on most of our minds is a long hike in the woods. Oceans of sweat, acres of trail-clogging cobwebs, no hydration pack big enough to sate your insatiable thirst. Very understandable, this hike aversion — if you don’t know where to go. For if you do, there are plenty of trails — from North Carolina’s steamy coast, to the stuffy Piedmont to the sun-drenched high country — ideal for summer exploring.

At the coast, you’re wise to incorporate a really large body of saline water in your hike plan. Water is likewise a key ingredient in the Piedmont, though the occasional alpine anomaly also offers relief. In the Appalachians, refreshing waterfalls and elevation combine to offer escape.

We’ve compiled a list of 25 hikes that are especially well-suited to a North Carolina summer, five at the coast, 10 each in the Piedmont and the high country. You can find additional information on each at the links provided and in the references mentioned, “100 Classic Hikes in North Carolina” and “Backpacking North Carolina.”

Let your summer hiking adventure begin here.

The post 25 North Carolina hikes tailor-made to beat the heat appeared first on GetGoing NC!.