In recognition of the fact many of you have a good deal of flexibility through year’s end (no school, no work), we expand the definition of “weekend” to include the rest of the year. And, in accordance with Mother Nature of late, we expand the definition of winter adventure to include polar plunges where you’re more likely to need suntan lotion and a cold drink than a fleece blanket to warm yourself in.

That said …

Coast

Nature Tour, Bald Head Island. If you’re at the coast for the holidays, this two-hour tour of Bald Head Island is a good bet. Beach, maritime forest, salt marsh and the critters associated with these environments identified and explained by naturalists with the Bald Head Island Conservancy.

Admission includes ferry service and let’s you hang out on the island for the day.

Logistics: Monday, Dec. 28, 9-11 a.m., Bald Head Island. $40. More info and to sign up, here.

Monday forecast: High of 69 and overcast.

* * *

Looking ahead: Polar Plunge, Wrightsville Beach, Jan. 1, 10 a.m. More info here.

Piedmont

Nothing like a good old fashioned forest bathing to —

Forest bathing?

Sure, from the Japanese Shinrin-yoku, “a visit to the forest for relaxation, a chance to stroll through nature and take in the atmosphere for one’s well-being; literally ‘forest bathing’,” according to the folks at Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area in Hillsborough, who will host a forest bathing on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Logistics: Sunday, Dec. 27, 1 p.m., Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area, Hillsborough. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Sunny, high of 75.

* * *

Looking ahead: Polar Plunge, Jan. 1, 1:30 p.m., Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. More information here.

Mountains

Got visitors in town who’d like a taste of Appalachian hiking? Take ‘em on Sunday’s Carolina Mountain Club hike at Bent Creek Experimental Forest in Asheville. A mellow (for the mountains) 7.5-mile loop that starts at 9 a.m. Afterward, take your visitors into Asheville for exploring of a more urban nature.

Pretty good day, no?

Logistics: Sunday, Dec. 27, 9 a.m., Bent Creek State Experimental Forest, Asheville. Contact the Carolina Mountain Club here, for details and to sign up.

Sunday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 74.

* * *

Looking ahead: Lake Lure Polar Plunge, noon, Jan. 1, Lake Lure Beach. More info here.

* * *

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

The post This weekend: Hot Yuletide Fun appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Technically, Saturday’s Run Like a Kid 2011 10K Bridge Run (and 5K and family run) is the inaugural Run Like a Kid across the bridge linking Morehead City with Atlantic City. But it’s not the first race across a bridge linking Morehead City and Atlantic City — though it may be the first on a bridge not at the bottom of the Intracoastal Waterway, which the bridge spans. That honor would go to Discovery Diving’s annual 4th of July Underwater Bike Race. That race is now run on the deck of the Indra, a landing craft repair ship intentionally sunk in 65 feet of water off the coast as part of the state’s artificial reef program. But in the early days, the underwater bike race was run atop the old bridge that once linked Morehead City and Atlantic Beach. But I digress … .

The new race across the functioning Morehead City/Atlantic Beach bridge is a fundraiser for the Eastern Carolina Partnership for Children, which does good things for kids. Now, you may have driven over this bridge but chances are you’ve never trod across it. (I’ve ridden my bike over it a number of times, a somewhat spinny-head-making experience.) So just the opportunity to run across this rather high bridge is worth  the sweat equity of the 10K (the 5K and fun run stay put in Morehead City).

10K and 5K begin at 8 a.m., fun run at 8:10 a.m. $35 for the K races, $30 for the fun run. Here for more information.

Piedmont

Looks like we’re into unique races this weekend. You can run over a bridge at the coast, or you can head to the Uwharrie Mountains for Saturday’s Caraway Warrior Run 5K.  It’s a race that doesn’t coddle. Says its Web site: “ … Power through a route designed to take your breath away both physically and visually. You might start out as just a runner, but you’ll finish as a warrior.” No surprise, considering the race is sponsored by Air Force ROTC Det.605 out of North Carolina A&T University and benefits the Wounded Warriors Project.

$45 to race (remember, it’s going to a good cause), $35 if you’re military, a teacher, police or firefighter. Starts at 9 a.m. More info here.

Mountains

Not into running? Then head to the Asheville area for Saturday’s Spring Forest Festival at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. Bent Creek is a well-known recreation spot, its 6,000 acres a popular playground for hikers and mountain bikers. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., you can  learn more about the forest, it’s human and natural history. Guided hikes exploring the research nature of the forest and a plant ID hike, music (featuring the East Fork Gals), percussive flat-foot dancing and more.

The event is free. Learn more about it here.

* * *

Those are GGNC’s thoughts for an active weekend. Find out other ways you can get out this weekend by browsing our super calendar, a collection of events calendars from throughout the state, 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.

Todd’s Calendar

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.

The post The weekend’s coming, the rain is going appeared first on GetGoing NC!.