We have a season-appropriate forecast for the weekend: partly sunny with temperatures in the upper 50s! Perfect for getting out and exploring. Perfect for:
Spring Hike, Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs, Saturday, 1 p.m. Spring comes even sooner on the coastal plain, so expect an extra-special treat on this 1-mile hike through a longleaf pine forest. The trail is flat, suitable for a range of hiking abilities. Learn more and sign up here.
Rainy today, partly sunny tomorrow: Isn’t that how the adage goes? Or something along those lines? If not, well, so be it. That’s the forecast we’re dealing with, and it’s a pretty darn good one: clouds and rain move out overnight Friday, partly sunny skies and temps in the low 60s move in — perfect weather for a weekend of exploring60Some options:
Friends of the Bay Lakes Fall Festival
This weekend recognizes two fundamentals of outdoor recreation: One, when it’s hot out, water is an essential element of any activity. And two, sometimes you just can’t wait until the weekend to have some weekend fun.
Coast
Guided canoe trips are great. Sometimes, though, they can be a little staid: Now if we all raft up and be still, we might see the alligator gar surface to feed. Usually doesn’t take more than a half hour, again, provided no one moves or speaks … .”
Sometimes, though, you just need to let loose, to let go and have some good old fashioned water fun. And if you’re having that fun in a kayak, it only makes sense that the resulting activity would be funyaking. Which is just what they’ll be doing Saturday morning at 10 a.m. on the 11-acre lake at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park not too far from Goldsboro. You must be at least 10 years old to participate; no mention of an age restriction on the other end — woo hoo! Prepare to get wet playing games in your kayak.
Logistics: Saturday, June 27, 10 a.m., Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs. Free, but space is limited and preregistration is required, by calling 919.778.6234.
Saturday forecast: High of 86, chance of thunderstorms.
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Planning ahead: Wellness Walk, Saturday, July 11, Smith Creek Park, Wilmington. These monthly walks (every second Saturday) are lead by registered nurses and are a great opportunity to introduce walking into your wellness regimen. More info here.
Piedmont
Here’s a trip that would make any adventure lover jump the weekend starting gun: Friday morning’s Canoe Trip on the Yadkin River at Pilot Mountain State Park. The stretch in question: the 6.5 miles through the Bean Shoals area to Donnaha Park.
An especially great opportunity for beginning river paddlers: canoe, paddle and pfd are provided, as is the guidance of a park ranger. The only things you need to bring to the paddle party: a hat, sunscreen, water, lunch and a way to get from the take-out back to your car (at the put-in).
Logistics: Friday, June 26, 10 a.m., South River Section canoe launch at Pilot Mountain State Park, Pinnacle. Free, but equipment is limited; RSVP in advance by calling the park at 336.325.2355.
Friday forecast: High of 94, sunny.
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Planning ahead: Every toyed with the notion of trying a triathlon? Fit & Able Production’s Plunge Pedal & Plod is the perfect opportunity to test your triworthiness. There’s the Tri A Bit option (50-yard swim, 4K bike, 1.6K run), Tri A Bit More (200 yards/8K/2.4 K) and Tri A Lot (400 meters/12K/3K). It’s Aug. 16 at the Triangle Aquatic Center in Cary. More info here.
Mountains
Lake James may look like a big lake more subject to Piedmont heat than mountain cool, but located at the base of the Blue Ridge Escarpment and fed by the chill waters of the Linville River, its waters are refreshing, especially in the recent heat. And while the goal of paddling is not to become one with the water, worse things can happen.
Still, Lake James State Park Superintendent Nora Coffey promises a refreshing journey in the upright position on Saturday morning’s Canoe Excursion. Pushing off at 9 a.m. in the Paddy’s Creek area of the lake, Super Coffey will show you around the lake she calls home. BYOB, or call in advance for one of six loaner canoes available, for free, for this program. And if you do opt for a park boat, “ … be prepared to share your journey with a new friend if you are a single and space dictates.”
Logistics: Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m. Paddy Creek Area of Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free, but space is limited: 828.584.7728 to reserve a spot.
Saturday forecast: High of 85, chance of afternoon thunderstorms.
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Planning ahead: Looking for a mountain ride? Check out the Blue Ridge Breakaway on August 15 at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Routes of varying distances and difficulty. Investigate here.
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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed 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 coastal 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
Make a mini raft (then ride the real thing), beat the heat with a nighttime search for Saturn, race on mountain trails. That’s what tops our list of thrills this weekend in North Carolina.
Coast
All spring, my stepson and his buddies spent their weekends building a raft — a raft they planned to ride for 35 miles on the Cape Fear River. Having paddled the Cape Fear I was a tad skeptical, what with the seemingly non-raft-friendly Class I-II drops along the way. But these guys being bright and well versed in the engineering arts, I kept my thoughts to myself: They’ll be fine. And after their three-day trip this past weekend, they were.
Their expedition piqued my interest in rafts. That’s no doubt part of the reason this week’s recommendation for the coast is the Rafting Near/On the Lake program Saturday at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park in Seven Springs. First, you’ll make miniature rafts for competition in the Raingutter Regatta. Then, time permitting, you’ll set sail on the park’s pond on a raft made of recycled material. Sounds like a great way to spend part of a day.
Logistics: Saturday, June 9, 8 a.m., Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, Seven Springs. More info by dialing 919.778.6234.
Friday forecast: High of 88 with overcast skies and a 70 percent chance of rain.
Piedmont
The forecast for Saturday calls for our first 90+ weather of the season — with the wetness factor boosting the heat index to 95! And there’s a 60 percent chance of rain during the day. How does that translate to still having adventure fun? By having it at night. Say, at the Wonders of the Night Sky program at the Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center in Four Oaks (near Smithfield). Saturn will be the focus of the evening, a focus provided by amateur astronomers who will bring their telescopes and are only too glad to let you take an extended peek. A great spot to view the night sky since there’s far less light pollution this far from the urban, glowing Triangle.
Logistics: Saturday, June 8, 9 p.m. Free, no pre-registration. More info here.
Saturday night forecast: Low of 72, partly cloudy.
Mountains
We’ve got a fondness for trail races, especially those in the mountains. This week, that fondness brings us to Warren Wilson College for the latest installment of the RiverBound Race Series. Both the 5K and 15K runs will be on the Warren Wilson trails. This is the second of three RiverBound races in the mountains; three others take place in the Charlotte area.
Logistics: Saturday, June 8, 8 a.m., Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa. $30 in advance, $35 race day for the 5K, $45/$50 for the 15K. More info here.
Saturday forecast: High of 77, 50 percent chance of rain.
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Those are our thoughts on the weekend. Find more options at the sources listed 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
Share backcountry cooking tips at Cliffs of the Neuse, run a half marathon at South Mountains, have a rad time on the slopes at Beech Mountain: they’re all options this weekend in North Carolina.
Coast
Joe Jacob, owner of Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co. and longtime guide, once confided to us that the success of any trip he ran hinged on one thing: good food. It’s true. You can have a miserable day on the trail, but all is quickly forgotten if a feast awaits at trail’s end. Which is why we recommend Saturday’s Outdoor Cooking Potluck at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park near Goldsboro. Says the program description: “Show off your outdoor cooking skills! A Ranger will prepare a meal as well.” Sounds like a great way to pick up some campground cooking tips.
Logistics: Saturday, Feb. 23, 11 a.m. Meet at the picnic area and bring what you need to prepare your dish. Free, but registration required, by calling 919.778.6234. More info here.
Saturday forecast: High of 61, 60 percent chance of rain.
Piedmont
We’re surprised that there are still spots open in Saturday’s South Mountains Half Marathon. Maybe that’s because this is the inaugural running — how else to explain a race mostly on foot-friendly trail that began life a century ago as a roadbeds. South Mountains has some elevation, but the fact the trail network is largely on old roadbeds means not so many grueling climbs. And, there’s the scenery.
Logistics: Saturday, Feb. 23, 8 a.m. $45, $65 after today. Sign up here. More info: 828.433.4772.
Weekend forecast: High of 55, 70 percent chance of rain.
Mountains
Time’s running out to enjoy the Southeast ski season: conditions are great right now, but March and warming temperatures are around the corner. You’ve got less than a month to act. And there may be no better time to hit the slopes than this Saturday at Beech Mountain, where it’s retro time. Totally ‘80s Weekend celebrates big hair, non-shaped skis and rad ski clothes. Sounds awesome, dudes.
Logistics: Saturday, Feb. 23. Details here.
Weekend forecast: High in the mid-40s, chance of precipitation.
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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
