Coast

You’re in pretty good shape; maybe not midseason form, but you feel you could take on a good challenge. The Carolina Beach Double Sprint 2016, perhaps?

It’s a pentagon, of sorts: swim 375 meters in the Atlantic, run 1.5 miles, bike 11 miles, run another 1.5 miles, swim another 375 miles. No individual distance is too daunting. Again, provided in you’re in “pretty good” shape. Sound like fun? Get out your calendar for some pertinent facts …

Pertinent facts: Carolina Beach Double Sprint 2016, Saturday, 7 a.m., Carolina Beach. $60-$95. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Racetime temps in the low 80s, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Kayak Eco-Tour, Halyburton Park, Wilmington, Aug. 16. More info here.

Piedmont

Too hot for a race during the days of summer? Maybe. But not during the nights.

Saturday, for instance, the temperature is expected to hit a steamy 90 during the day. But by 8:55 p.m., it will have cooled into the more exercise-tolerable mid-80s. Minus the sun, it will seem that much cooler. Good news if you’re planning to run the Fort Mill Bootlegger 5K in Fort Mill, S.C., on the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Run 3.1 miles in the dark (with a headlamp, of course), then cross the finish and celebrate “with cocktails made from handcrafted moonshine and a live bluegrass concert!” And you get to keep the Mason jar the aforementioned celebratory libation comes in.

Vital Stats: Fort Mill Bootlegger 5k, Fort Mill, S.C., Saturday, 8:55 p.m. $43. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 90, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Night Paddle, Lake Higgins, Greensboro, July 13, 27, Aug. 10, 24. More info here.

Mountains

Sometimes all it takes to join one of the non-profits you admire that makes our outdoor experience a better place is some good incentive. In the case of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network, that incentive would be Friday’s Members Hike on the Little Cataloochee Trail. It’s described as a moderate-easy hike of 4.7 miles exploring the natural and cultural history of the Cataloochee area of the Smokies.

Vital Stats: Members Hike to Little Cataloochee, Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free to members of the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network. More on how to become a member by contacting Charlotte at BRNNetwork2013@gmail.com.

Friday forecast: High of 79, partly cloudy.

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Looking ahead: Lake Lure Olympiad, Chimney Rock State Park, Aug. 12-14. More info here.

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

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The post Your weekend: A sprint pent, a night run, a hike for good appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

This weekend in North Carolina you can paddle into the Revolutionary past, you can paddle at night, or you can go camping a mile up.

Coast

Like a paddle with a little history? Thursday’s Moores Creek Kayaking History Adventure paddle on Moores Creek, which meanders through the Moores Creek National Battlefield, is just the ticket. The 88-acre park “commemorates the battle between Patriots and Loyalist militia on February 27, 1776,” according to the Halyburton Park (Wilmington) program guide.  “This battle was the first major victory for the Patriots that lead to Cornwallis’ withdrawal from North Carolina.  Join us and paddle this historic creek and watch history come alive after your kayaking adventure with a ranger-lead tour of the battlefield.” Fives mile roundtrip.

Logistics: Thursday, June 20, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. $45 if you need a kayak, $30 if you’re packing your own. More info here, by calling 910.341.0075 or by emailing info@halyburtonpark.com

Thursday forecast: High of 84, 20 percent chance of rain.

Piedmont

One of the coolest summer activities? A night paddle. Such as the one planned for Lake Higgins in Greensboro tonight from 8-10 p.m. It’s guided and a great opportunity to see the sun set on the water, then linger for some night paddling.

Logistics: Wednesday, June 19, 8-10 p.m. $8 if you have your own boat, tack on another $15 if you need a single kayak, another $22 for a tandem. More info here.

Wednesday evening forecast: Low of 64, partly cloudy.

Mountains

It’s time once again for the Great American Backyard Campout at Elk Knob State Park on Meat Camp Road outside of Todd. Basic camping equipment is provided, call (you have to anyway, to register) to see what you need to bring to this Saturday event. Great opportunity for first time campers.

Logistics: Saturday, June 22, starting at 3 p.m. and trickling over into Sunday morning. Call 828.297.7261

Saturday forecast: High of 75, 50 percent chance of rain.

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

Like us on Facebook and get health, fitness and outdoors news throughout the day.

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The post This weekend: Paddle through history or into the night appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

It’s one of the cheapest recreation deals going: for as little as $5 an hour you can captain your own ship on any number of waterways throughout North Carolina. These bargain basement deals are offered at various county, municipal and state parks throughout the state.

We ran a preliminary list of such places in June; today, we offer a significantly more comprehensive listing (though if you notice an omission, let us know and we’ll be sure to plug it in). We’ve broken your options down by geographic region and included only the basic info: venue, type of boats offered and how much a rental will run you. Note that we’ve either included a range of prices or the minimum; boat houses often have complicated rate structures that you can learn more about at the Web sites provided.

Note, too: A deposit is often required, some boat houses take only cash, rentals are usually seasonal and some only rent on weekends. A good idea to call ahead before heading over.

Coast

Emerald Isle

Hot Wax Surf Shop, 252.354.6466
Boats: kayaks
Rates: $35 for five hours, $55 full day.

North Topsail Beach

Adrenaline Rush, (910) 934-3422
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: Call.

Onshore Surf Shop, 910-328-2232
Boats: kayaks, standup paddleboards (surfboards, bodyboards, bikes)
Rates: $40 for four hours, $75 full day.

Oak Island

Oak Island Recreation Center,  910-278-5518
Boats: kayaks, canoes.
Rates: $15-$21 for four hours.

Swansboro

Barrier Island Kayaks, 252.393.6457.
Boats: various kayaks, standup paddleboards
Rates: $30 for two hours to $70 a day

Second Wind Tours,  910.325.3600
Boats: various kayaks, standup paddleboats, bikes
Rates: $25 half day (kayaks), $20 half day (bikes)

Salty Dog Kayak Rentals & Tours, 910.338.1541 or 252.515.1181
Boats: various kayaks
Rates: $15 for one hour to $55 a day

Coastal plain

Elizabethtown

Jones Lake State Park, 910.588.4550
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour

Gatesville

Merchants Millpond State Park, 252.357.1191
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour

Seven Springs

Cliffs of the Neuse State Park, 919.778.6234
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour

South Mills

Dismal Swamp State Park, 252.771.6593
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $5 an hour

Piedmont

Albemarle

Morrow Mountain State Park, 704.982.4402
Boats: canoes, rowboats
Rates: $5 an hour

Person County
Mayo Park, 336.597.7806
Boats: canoe, kayak.
Rates: $10 for four hours

Charlotte area

Charlotte

U.S. National Whitewater Center, 704.391.3900
Boats: various kayaks, whitewater park
Rates: See Web site for rate structure

Kings Mountain

Crowders Mountain State Park, 704.853.5375
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour

Troutman

Lake Norman State Park, 704.528.6350
Boats: canoes
Rates: $5

Triad

Brown Summit

Lake Townsend Watershed Park , 336.373.3694

Boats: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats
Rates: $10

Danbury

Hanging Rock State Park, 336.593.8480
Boats: rowboats, canoes
Rates: $5 an hour

Greensboro

Lake Brandt Watershed Park, 336.373.3741
Boats: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats
Rates: $10

Summerfield

Lake Higgins Watershed Park , 336.373.3739
Boats: rowboats, kayaks, sailboats
Rates: $10

Winston-Salem

Salem Lake Park , 336.727.8000

Boats: canoes
Rates: $4 an hour
Note: Call before heading out; dam construction may affect boat rentals

Triangle

Cary

Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 919.469.4100
Boats: canoes, kayaks, sailboats, rowboats
Rates: $5 per hour.

Durham

Lake Michie (919.477.3906) and Little River Lake (919.477.7889)
Boats: canoes, “flat-bottom boats”
Rates: $6 for six hours (Durham residents, higher for non-residents).

Holly Springs

Bass Lake Park, 919.557.2496
Boats: canoes, rowboats
Rates: $5 an hour

Morrisville

Lake Crabtree County Park , 919.460.3390
Boats: canoes, kayaks, sailboats, rowboats
Rates: rowboats $5 an hour, canoes & kayaks $7 an hour, sailboats $10 an hour

Orange County

University Lake, 919.942.8007

Boats: canoes
Rates: call

Cane Creek Reservoir, 919.942.5790
Boats: canoes
Rates: call

Raleigh

Lake Johnson, 919.233-.2121
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $5 an hour

Lake Wheeler, 919.662.5704
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $5 an hour

Paddle Creek,919.866.1954

Boats: canoes, kayaks

Rates: $45-$55 per day

Saxapahaw

Haw River Canoe & Kayak Co., 336.260-6465

Boats: Canoes, kayaks

Rates: Starting at $30, including put-in on Haw River.

Umstead State Park, 919.571.4170

Boats: canoes
Rates: $5 an hour

Madison

Dan River Adventures

Boats: Canoes, kayaks

Rates: $25 for 3 hours

Stokes County

Dan River Company
Boats: Canoes, kayaks

Rates: $35 for 3 hours

Mountains

Blue Ridge Parkway

Julian Price Park, Milepost 297
Boats: canoes, kayaks
Rates: $12 per hour, plus tax

The post 35 places to rent a canoe/kayak in North Carolina appeared first on GetGoing NC!.