This weekend: A learning experience

JoeMiller — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:46:57 +0000

A good time for adventure planning at the coast, a great time to get to know a creek in the Piedmont, and a hike that proves you don’t have to go that extra mile for great scenery in the mountains.

Coast

If you live in the Greenville area and bemoan the lack of organized outings in the region, take note of a new Meetup in the region: GetExploring! Greenville. Just so we’re square here, GetExploring! Greenville is sponsored by Great Outdoor Provision Co. and was created as part of GetGoingNC’s Get! division, our effort to become more actively involved in getting you involved.

GetExploring! Greenville began in August with a couple of low-key paddles (lead by yours-truly). It gets going in earnest this Thursday evening with the launch of its Fall Into Adventure program. The launch, to be held at Great Outdoor Provision’s shop in Greenville, features live music, food and a rundown of the eight adventures GetExploring! Greenville has planned for the fall. We won’t spoil the fun, but we will say the adventures include paddling, hiking, cycling, yoga, fly fishing and tai chi.

If you’re in the area, swing by. We promise to make it worth your while.

Logistics: Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m., Great Outdoor Provision Co., 530-D SE Greenville Blvd., 252.321.1308. Learn more about the event and RSVP here.

Thursday forecast: High of 77, mostly sunny.

Piedmont

Ellerbe Creek is one of those spots that a lot of folks in the Triangle have heard of, they just couldn’t tell you where it is. Saturday is your chance to find out exactly where it is.

The First Annual Ellerbe Creek Nature Tour visits four spots along the creek on its way from Durham to Jordan Lake: 17-acre wood, Pearl Mill Preserve, Beaver Marsh Preserve, Creek Smart House. Sponsored by the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, the four-hour tour features short nature hikes that will intimately acquaint you with nature along the creek.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 20, 1-5 p.m., Ellerbe Creek, Durham. For details, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 80, mostly sunny.

Mountains

It doesn’t have to be a long hike to be a worthwhile hike. Case in point: Friday’s Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week on the Bridges Camp Gap Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is, in fact, the sponsor of the Blue Ridge Parkway Hike of the Week.

The hike commences from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook at Milepost 417 and drops about a mile and a quarter to the East Fork of the Pigeon River. A nice walk through a hardwood forest with plenty of nature to enjoy along the way.

Logistics: Friday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m., Milepost 417, Blue Ridge Parkway. More info by calling 828.298.5330, ext. 304.

Friday forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 72.

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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
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

Great Outdoor Provision Co.
Calendar includes three weekly events for each of its seven markets: Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. Search by market.

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.

U.S. National Wildlife Refuges
Rundown, by month, of regular activities at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges in North Carolina.

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This weekend: A learning experience