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:

• State Park Days at the Coast, Saturday, daylong, Dismal Swamp, Jones Lake, and Merchants Millpond state parks. The last weekend in October appears to be the time to celebrate our coastal state parks, for three of them are having their Days: Dismal Swamp State Park (including a 5K as part of Dismal Day) from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Jones Lake State Park (with Friends of the Bay Lakes Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Merchants Millpond State Park (with Millpond Day) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click the links for details.
• State Park Day into Dusk Hikes, Saturday, Carvers Creek and Cliffs of Neuse state parks. Here’s another apparent State Park theme: hikes at dusk. At Carvers Creek near Fayetteville a 3-Mile History Hike leaves at 6 p.m., in the waning light of day, to explore the park’s historic farm buildings and wide-open coastal plain terrain. At 6:30 at Cliffs of Neuse State Park near Seven Springs, they’re waiting ’til after sunset to embark on their Ghost Hike.
• Fall Foliage Hike, Sunday, 2 p.m., Hanging Rock State Park, Danbury. Fall color makes its way to Hanging Rock. Check it out on a 1-mile hike around the lake.

More options

You can find more opportunities this weekend here:

• North Carolina State Parks have a variety of adventures planned for the weekend. Check those options here.
• North Carolina Environmental Education Centers has an extensive calendar of what’s happening at its affiliates; check it out here.
• You can also find more adventures right here, at GetGoingNC.com.

Interested in the stars of today’s 49-second feature attraction? Learn more about them below:

• Umstead State Park
• Falls Lake State Recreation Area
• Duke Forest (Note: The section in the video is in the Korstian Division, accessed via Gates 24 and 25. And if you plan to explore Duke Forest, we highly recommend getting the $8 Trail Map.)

The post GetOut! Your Nudge for Weekend Adventure appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

Perhaps you’re conflicted about what to do with Dad this weekend. On the one hand, he likes a good challenge. On the other, he likes to kick back and relax. What to do, what to do?

What to do, is sate both sides of Dad by entering him in Saturday’s Good Hops 5K Beer Run at Carolina Beach State Park. Dad gets to run 3.1 miles through this enchanting (and flat!) coastal state park, then kick back and enjoy the fruits of the sponsor’s thirst-slaking labors (which will happen outside the dry state park, we presume), for not only does Dad score a t-shirt, he also gets — provided he’s over 21 — a coupon for a pint of brew. Live music, food trucks and door prizes as well.

Logistics: Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m., Good Hops Brewery/Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach. $30. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Race time temperature of 73, slight chance of rain.

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Looking ahead: O’Neill/Sweetwater Pro-Am Surf Fest, July 15-17, Wrightsville Beach. More info here.

Piedmont

Remember when Andy and Opie would go fishing, usually in a row boat, sometimes in a row boat that leaked? Didn’t that look like the ideal Dad/Kid activity?

Even if you’ve never touched a rod, you and Dad can capture some of that Mayberry magic Sunday (Father’s Day, btw) at Falls Lake State Recreation Area. And not just fishing, fishing and crafts. Equipment is limited, participation limited to the first 15 kids who sign up.

Logistics: Fishing with Dad, Sunday, June 19, 1-3 p.m., Falls Lake State Recreation Area, Wake Forest. Free, but preregistration is required, calling the park office at 919.676.1027.

Sunday forecast: High of 80, sunny skies.

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Looking ahead: Fort Mill Bootlegger 5K, Saturday June 25, Anne Springs Close Greenway, Fort Mill, S.C.. More info here.

Mountains

A triathlon typically isn’t something you decide to do at the last minute. But if you’re in reasonable condition, you’re prone to whims and you find you’re calendar blank this weekend, then you might consider Saturday’s Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake in Enka. It’s a sprint — 750 meter swim, 17.8-mile bike ride, 3-mile run — which, even without a boatload of training, might seem doable — especially with the great weather forecast for the weekend.

Intrigued? You can sign up on site; details below.

Logistics: Saturday, June 18, 8 a.m., Enka Triathlon, Biltmore Lake, Enka, fees range from $80 to $115, depending on how you appoach the event (individual, team, aquabiker). Add another $15 for a one-day USAT license if you aren’t a member.  More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, sunny.

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Looking ahead: Naturalist Niche: Big Basswood Hike into a hidden cove where the state’s largest basswood tree lives, July 16, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Chimney Rock State Park. More info here.

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

The post Your weekend: Make a date for Adventure with Dad appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Today’s 90-Second Escape: GetPaddling! at Falls Lake

Our GetHiking! group took a break from the trail Saturday and instead paddled the calm (and motorboat free) waters of the Beaverdam section of Falls Lake. Tag along for Saturday’s paddle.

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The post 90 Second Escape: GetPaddling! at Falls Lake appeared first on GetGoing NC!.