Saturday

Carnivorous Plant Hike, Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. 10 a.m. If you can’t make this Saturday’s hike on the Flytrap Trail to learn about the various carnivorous plants in this coastal park, worry not: this hike will run every Saturday at 10 a.m. through Nov. 6. If you have a trip to the beach planned for this year, work it into your schedule. More info here.

Occoneechee Mountain Geology Hike, Occoneechee State Natural Area, Hillsborough, 2 p.m. Again, already got plans? This hike lead by local geologist Jean-Michel Margot is conducted monthly, year-round. On this hour-and-a-half hike you’ll learn geology on the mountain from A (andalusite) to Q (quartz). Learn more here.

Hike with a Ranger on a Nature Hike at Eagle Rock Access, Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock, 2 p.m. According to the State Parks post for this hike: “This moderate 2 mile hike should provide excellent exercise  in the crisp winter air of the Hickory Nut Gorge.” It should also be fun on Saturday, the first day of spring. Learn more here.

Sunday

Hike with a Ranger on a Nature Hike at Rumbling Bald Access, Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock, 2 p.m. Rumbling Bald is located on the north side of the Hickory Nut Gorge, in a wild setting away from the from the touristy portion of Chimney Rock. Great views. For more information go here.

To check on upcoming hikes and events at North Carolina State Parks, go here.

Hike on your own

Weatherwise, it’s a good looking weekend. Rain leaves the region Friday ushering in cooler temperatures — highs mostly in the 50s — and mostly sunny skies. Three hikes we particularly like for this weekend, from our hiking guide arsenal:

• Brumley Forest North Nature Preserve (pictured at top), Chapel Hill. Just over 3 miles of trail takes you through a variety of terrain, including several open areas — meadows, farm ponds — where you can take in the warming sun. Check out our guide, here.

• 

  Confluence Natural Area, Hillsborough. Where the east and west branches of the Eno River meet you’ll find this 200-acre preserve operated by the Eno River Association. About 2 miles of trail, much of it along the Eno’s more intimate beginnings. Check out our guide, here.

• Eno River Fews Ford 7-Miler, Eno River State Park, Durham. We crafted this hike out of five trails in the park’s Fews Ford Access with the goal of quickly escaping weekend crowds and enjoying a quieter, more laid-back Eno. Check out our guide, here.

Need more incentive to get out? Saturday is the first day of spring. It kicks in at 5:37 a.m.

The post GetOut! Enjoy the first weekend of spring appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

The snow and bitter cold are gone. Time to get back out and explore!

Coast | Coastal Plain

There’s something extra special about the Coastal Plain in winter. The still air, the open views, the absence of flying biting things. All of which makes it a great time for a hike, to learn, perhaps about the phenomenon known as Carolina Bays.

What are Carolina Bays? you inquire.

Sorry, you’ll have to head down to Jones Lake State Park Saturday morning and find out from a ranger on a hike that circles the park’s namesake lake.

Logistics: Intro to Carolina Bays, Saturday, 10 a.m., Jones Lake State Park, Elizabethtown. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 52, mostly sunny.

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Looking ahead: 9^th Annual Cold Stroke Classic, Jan. 21, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.

Piedmont

One of the many great things about winter outdoors: you can see things. Like birds, who in warmer months are shielded amidst a mass of greenery.

Now, seeing birds is one thing. Knowing which ones they are is another. Learn to put names to beaks Saturday morning at Eno River State Park, when an experienced birder leads a hike in search of the park’s avian residents.

Logistics: Saturday Morning Birds, Saturday, 8:30 a.m., Eno River State Park/Fews Ford Access, Orange County. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 45, cloudy.

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Looking ahead: Silent Hike (no talking!), Jan. 29, 2 p.m., Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. More info here.

Mountains

“What does a forest look like after a wildfire?” That’s the question to be answered Saturday, when a ranger at Chimney Rock State Park leads in the Rumbling Bald area of the park. Rumbling Bald was part of the 7,154-acre Party Rock Fire that burned in late fall. On this hike, various experts will be on hand to explain what happened, and what happens from here. A great opportunity to learn first-hand about the role of fire in the forest.

Logistics: Four Seasons Hike: Rumbling Bald Trail, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 51, 30 percent chance of rain.

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Looking ahead: Snowshoe Hike, Jan. 29, Grandfather Mountain State Park. More info here.

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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 week after Thanksgiving, for some reason, is always a tough one to push through. Even more the reason we are so grateful that the holiday season is providing us a plethora of options to get out for what’s going to be another beautiful weekend.

Coast

December, when neighbors become a little more chatty, trees go up, houses become swathed in creative light designs. While all this excitement is in the air don’t forget to continue exploring, lest the stress of the season catch up to you.

One way to de-stress this weekend is on one of the numerous boat rides taking place at Hammocks Beach State Park. Whichever day works best for you — Friday, Saturday or Sunday — you’ll be able to enjoy a boat ride. Travel over to one of the unique islands of Hammock Beach and learn from one of the park rangers first hand what has shaped the area’s marine life, habitats and different ecosystems.

Logistics: Huggins Island History Hike, Friday, 10 a.m. to noon; Jones Island Eco-Tour, Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon; Bear Island Eco-Hike, Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon. All at Hammocks Beach State Park, Swansboro. Find out more, here.

Weekend weather: Highs in the 50s all three days, sunny on Friday, a little less sunny Saturday, downright cloudy Sunday.

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Looking ahead: Nature on the Queens, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Hammocks Beach State Park. More info, here.

Piedmont

Can a park be all things to all people? Hagan-Stone, just southeast of Greensboro, gives it a heck of a shot. And you’ll get to see so much of what this park has to offer – from playgrounds and camping to fishing and general natural beauty — on this hike that piggybacks on one of the most popular high school and college cross-country courses in the region. The hike is an easy way to get in four miles and offers beauty everywhere along the way.

Logistics: GetHiking! / Hike NC! at Hagan-Stone Park, Saturday, 1 p.m., Hagan-Stone Park, Pleasant Garden. Find out more, here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 53.

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Looking ahead: Holiday Hike and Baked Goods Jamboree, Sycamore Trail at Umstead State Park, Raleigh. Dec. 10, 10 a.m., 7.2 miles. More info, here.

Mountains

It’s a time of year where the curiosity of our young ones seems to be at its peak: they have questions and we do our best not to take the magic away! Helping with this is the Santa on the Chimney — Chimney Rock State Park that is.

Besides, haven’t you wondered as well how Santa magically gets up and down millions of chimneys around the world, all in just one night? Included in the admission to Chimney Rock you and your family can enjoy the magic of the holidays as you watch Santa practice climbing one of the world largest “chimneys,” with multiple 200-foot rappels. Live music and hot chocolate, too.

Logistics: Santa on the Chimney, Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Chimney Rock State Park, Chimney Rock. $13 for adults, $6 for kids. Find out more, here.

Sunday forecast: Partly Cloudy, high of 52.

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Looking ahead: Instant Replay: Santa on the Chimney, Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Find out more, here.

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

Coast

The post Your Weekend: It’s the most wonderful time of the year appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Since it’s never too early to start making weekend plans, we give you our weekend planner a day early.

Coast

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock —

Scratch that — been spending too much time on all-Christmas-all-the-time radio. Make that Jingle Bell Run, as in the third annual 5K sponsored by the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History this Saturday in Wrightsville Beach. Speed is good, holiday costumes are better in this race that takes in historic WB cottages, “beautiful winter marshes,” and popular Wrightsville Beach hot spots. Registration is from 7:30-8:45 a.m., the race commences at 9 a.m. $30 for adults, $20 for runners 12 and younger.

Register here,  more info here.

Piedmont

Lately, I’ve been touting the virtues of winter paddling. Saturday, you can tap a little of this virtuousness at Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville on a ranger-led Winter Canoe Hike. Learn about park history, local wildlife, the fact that even if your boat does flip this is a really shallow lake … . All gear is provided, but it is almost winter so make sure you have appropriate clothing.

$5 per adult, $10 per boat (you can squeeze three in). Pre-registration required: 919.460.2723

Mountains

The Hickory Nut Gorge area near Lake Lure is one of the more happening spots in North Carolina in terms of growing opportunities for public lands. Chimney Rock, the long-time privately held tourist attraction, recently became part of the State Parks system, and more additions are in the offing. That’s thanks in part to the work of groups such as the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, which is working to protect this unique area.

So, you may be wondering, what makes it unique? Learn for yourself on Saturday at 9 a.m. when the CMLC leads an off-trail hike to Pool Creek Falls at World’s Edge in the gorge. The hike is only 2.25 miles, but it is off trail, there are some challenging stream crossings as well as downed trees. Experienced hikers only. It’s a CMLC Members-only hike, but considering the future of hiking in Hickory Nut Gorge depends on groups such as the Carolina Mountain Lands Conservancy, that shouldn’t be a problem, right? Find out about memberships here,  more about the hike here.

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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 A run, a paddle, a hike — this weekend, whatever it takes to survive the holidays appeared first on GetGoing NC!.