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.

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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!.

So we’ll focus on Saturday and Monday this week, with Monday being the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Our thoughts … .

Saturday

Waterfowl Hike, 9 a.m., Lake Norman State Park, Troutman. One of the many joys this time of year is the great waterfowl migration along the Atlantic Flyway. And on the long trip from Canada south, these migrating waterfowl need to stop to rest and refuel every once in a while. It’s a bit like stopping at South of the Border on your way to Florida. For migrating waterfowl, it turns out that Lake Norman’s Park Lake is the Pedro’s of the waterfowl migration. Join a ranger for a walkabout to see what who’s migrating. Learn more here.

Winter Bird Hike, 9:30 a.m., Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. Another program for the birds, this one primarily focused on the park’s permanent residents. Bring ‘em if you’ve got ‘em (binos, that is). Learn more here.

Oh, Deer! 2-3 p.m., Blue Jay Point County Park, Raleigh. In this installment of the park’s Family Wildlife Series you’ll learn about the neighbors we all have today — deer. Why are they everywhere? Come find out. Free, but registration is required. More info here.

Monday

George Washington Carver Memorial Hike, 10 a.m., Lake James State Park., Nebo. We love a hike with a little history, especially if it’s history we’re only vaguely familiar with. On this hike, for instance, you’ll learn about crop rotation and the scientist who pioneered the concept, George Washington Carver. Learn more here.

Next weekend

The forecast for next weekend is winter perfect for being out in the woods. Good to hear, since we’ll be holding our first GetHiking! Weekend Escape of the year, at Jones Lake State Park southeast of Fayetteville. Two days of hiking around Jones Lake, two nights of stargazing under one of the least light-polluted skies in the state. Learn more and sign up to join us here.

Parting thought

Another possibility for Saturday: chopping firewood and stocking up on provisions. The forecast appears to be trending away from powder, more toward power outage.

The post GetOut! A moving target of a weekend appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Since 1993 we’ve been setting aside the first Saturday in June to celebrate the nation’s more than 200,000 miles of trail. Throughout the year, our trails give us so much: a place to run, a place to ride, a place to escape to our thoughts. It’s only fitting that we set aside one day to give something back.

According to the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day Web site, there are currently 23 events scheduled in North Carolina. I’ve include the list by location below; just click on the event and it will take you to the event-specific NTD site where you’ll find the what, the when, the where, the whatever (“whatever” including whatever incentives and enticements may be involved).

Incentives? Enticements?

Sure. For example, if you attend the Carolina Mountain Club’s workday on the MST along the Blue Ridge Parkway, you could win door prizes offered by the Mast General Store and the American Hiking Society. Pitch in at Blue Jay Point County Park and sponsor REI will provide water, snacks and lunch.

You could discover something new on NTD as well — like Carvers Creek State Park.

Carvers Creek State Park?

Carvers Creek State Park, a park-in-the-making near Fayetteville that will be the North Carolina’s 36th state park and eventually include more than 4,000 acres. Help build trail at the park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., then get a sneak peak of the property, not yet open for public exploration, on a ranger-led hike.

Not all NTD events involve rolling up your sleeves and and waking up Sunday with a sore back. In Greensboro, there’s an NTD Festival at Bur-Mil Park that includes geocaching, hikes, kayak demonstrations, bike clinics and rides, a vendor fair, live music, and a 5k trail run. In Lexington, you can hike or paddle Abbotts Creek and get an education in water quality. And in Black Mountain, you can explore this very cool town on a hike of their greenways.

Get out your calendar and make a date with a beloved trail for this Saturday, June 4. As an added perk: you needn’t bring flowers for this date. They’re already there.

Know of an National Trails Day event not on our list? Fill us in and we’ll add it to the list.

Mountains

Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Invasive Plant Removal
Robbinsville

Black Mountain Greenways Commission
Greenway Walk
Black Mountain

Carolina Mountain Club
MST Trail Building Work Day
Asheville

Carolina Mountain Club
MST Trail Construction
Waynesville

Friends of Panthertown, Inc.
Panthertown Valley Hike with Friends of Panthertown
Cashiers

Grandfather Mountain State Park
Grandfather Mountain State Park
Banner Elk

Jackson County Recreation/Parks Department
Breakfast at Pinnacle
Sylva

Montreat Conference Center
Trail Work
Montreat

The Swag Country Inn
Celebrate National Trails Day at The Swag
Waynesville

Piedmont

Alamance County Recreation and Parks
National Trails Day Hike
Elon

High Rock Outfitters, City of Lexington and Piedmont Triad COG
Finch Park Trails Day
Lexington

Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc.
Gold Hill Rail Trail Hike
Gold Hill

Yadkin River Greenway Council/Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
Yadkin River Bank and Trails Cleanup
North Wilkesboro

Charlotte

Reedy Creek Nature Center
Reedy Creek Trail Days
Charlotte

Fayetteville

Carvers Creek State Park
Carvers Creek- National Trails Day
Fayetteville

Triad

City of Greensboro
National Trails Day Festival
Greensboro

Triangle

Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department
Grand Opening Morgan Creek Trail
Chapel Hill

FMST – Falls Lake
Falls Lake MST Workday
Raleigh

Friends of The Mountains To Sea Trail, Eno River Section
Eno River State Park Trail Construction and Maintenance
Durham

Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve
NTD Volunteer Workday
Cary

REI-Raleigh
Blue Jay Point County Park Trail Re-Route
Raleigh

Triangle Greenways Council
Walnut Creek Greenway Hike
Raleigh

Coast

Friends of Mackay Island, Inc.
Name the Eagle
Knotts Island, NC

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