Well, bummer. I wasn’t planning on doing a Weekend Plans this week because I assumed there wasn’t going to be a weekend. Wiley Mayans! So I’m both gullible and slack. Since it appears the weekend will happen, since it isn’t the end of the world as we know it, some last-minute thoughts on how to celebrate life going on.

Coast

It’s a great time of year for a walk in the woods, it’s an especially great time for a walk in a maritime woods. Saturday afternoon, partake in a one-hour hike through the Currituck Banks National Estuarine Reserve for an intimate look at the plant and animal life of the Outer Banks. Commences from the reserve’s parking lot a mile south of the N.C. Wildlife Commission’s Wildlife Education Center on N.C. 12.

Logistics: Saturday, 2-3 p.m., free but reservations required because space is limited. Do it by calling 252.453.0221, ext. 1, or by going here.

Weekend forecast: High of 50, partly cloudy.

Piedmont

Of course, the Piedmont isn’t a bad place to hike this time of year, either. Learn about the plant and animal life around Lake Crabtree County Park in Morrisville on a two-hour hike, from 1-3 p.m. Could be sobering if you’re one of those folks who complains about it being chilly out when you have to dash from your heated car into the heated mall.

Logistics: Saturday, 1-3 p.m. Free, registration appreciated by going here.

Saturday forecast: Sunny, high of 48.

Mountains

And there’s never a bad time to hike in the mountains. One of our favorite places in winter is the Mountains-to-Sea Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Asheville. On Sunday, The Asheville Hiking Group will hike the MST for 7.2 miles, from the Pisgah Inn east to Pigeon Gap. That’s an 1,100 foot drop followed by an 800-foot climb. Great scenery along the way.

Logistics: Carpool leaves the Ingles at 863 Brevard Road in Asheville at 9 a.m. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Clear to partly cloudy, high of 50.

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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.

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The post This weekend: We survived! Get out and celebrate! appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Today: An educational walk

Did you know there are about 200 environmental centers throughout North Carolina, from the Agape Center for Environmental Education in Duncan to the YMCA Camp Hanes in King? And all of these centers, dedicated to enlightening us about the world around us, have public programs not just on weekends, but daily? Between now and the end of the year, there are 24 programs on the calendar, the majority aimed at kids.

Today, for instance, if you happened to be on the Outer Banks at 11 a.m. you could take a Maritime Forest Walk through the Currituck Banks National Estuarine Research Reserve, courtesy the Corolla-based Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education. Like many EEC programs, it’s free.

Find out what’s going on through year’s end at an environmental education center near you, by going here.

The post Holiday escapes: An educated walk appeared first on GetGoing NC!.