Coast

Attention triathlon junkies: Looking to get just one more event in before the season ends? Check out Saturday’s Wilmington YMCA Triathlon, a sprint tri broken down as such: 1,500-meter swim, 12-mile bike ride, 5K foot race. And if you’re looking for redemption on your times, even better: this tri is at Wrightsville Beach (based at the Blockade Runner), which has an elevation of about 1 (foot).

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 21, 7 a.m.  More info here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 82.

Piedmont

Water-based festivals are the best: they typically have three of the main

ingredients for a good time — food, live music and water play. In the case of Saturday’s 10th Annual Catawba RiverFest, the latter involves canoe and kayak races and, for those without canoes or kayaks (let alone the desire to race them), there will be demo boats on hand for you to take for a spin. In addition to the aforementioned, there will also be educational exhibits and a live raptor release. It all happens in the Paddy’s Greek Area of Lake James State Park near Nebo.

Logistics: Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Lake James State Park, Nebo. Free. More info here.

Saturday forecast: High of 75 (good news), 90 percent chance of rain (not-so-good news).

Mountains

Time is also running out this year for event bike rides, especially of the mountain century variety.  There’s one this weekend, though, the Hilly Hellacious, which offers 100-mile and 62-mile options, as well as a shorter route that’s 20 to 25 miles, give or take.  The rides all start and end in Fletcher (at the Fletcher Valley Natural Food Store, just across from Park Ridge Hospital). The  ride benefits Asheville Youth Cycling.

Logistics: Sunday, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m. $45 for the 62- and 100-mile rides, $20 for the 25(ish)-miler, kids 12 and under ride free. More info here.

Sunday forecast: High of 68, which is perfect for a long bike ride; 90 percent chance of rain, which isn’t.

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

The post This weekend: A weekend of last chances appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

I’m a sucker for paddling at Merchants Millpond State Park, so if I’ve recommended this kayaking program before, forgive me. It’s just that one activity you should do before time expires is paddle this marriage of coastal pond and southern swamp forest, where escape is just a draw stroke away. In fact, based on a conversation with one of my Ultimate Hikers on a recent outing, escape and a call to 911 may be just a draw stroke away, because it’s pretty easy to get turned around in a swamp and have no idea where you are.

That’s why a ranger-led trip is an especially good idea in a place such as Merchants Millpond. Saturday’s expedition will begin at 2 p.m. at the visitors center. Boat, paddle, PFD are provided, you just need to, according to the park, “Bring bug spray, something to drink, and a set of extra clothing just in case.” (That “just in case” suggests there’s still a good bit of adventure to be had on this trip.)

Free, but preregistration is required, by calling 252.357.1191. More on the park, including how to get there, here.

Piedmont

Did you know there’s a greenway loop of downtown Greenway in the making? Possibly not, which is part of the reason behind Saturday’s Run 4 the Greenway, intended to raise awareness (and a little scratch) for the Downtown Greenway. This 8K (5 miles American) will roughly trace the route of the greenway, construction for which has commenced. The race begins at 5:45 p.m. (there’s a 1-mile fun run at 5:15 p.m.), followed by a downtown festival at Center City Park. $25 for individual runners, $15 for the 1-miler (no charge for the 12 and under set).

For more on the race, go here. For more on the Downtown Greenway, here.

Mountains

Up for a bike ride this weekend? A long (100 miles) ride with more than 10,000 feet of climbing?

Not everyone’s idea of a leisurely weekend ride, perhaps, but if you’ve been riding all summer and are up for a challenge, the WNC Villainous Viper would seem to qualify. The race begins at the YMCA in downtown Asheville, heads out to the Blue Ridge Parkway and does some serious up-and-down while exploring Buncombe County. Haven’t been riding that much? There’s also a metric century (62.1 miles American) option.

$45 if you register at the ride (proceeds benefit Child Abuse Prevention Services), $40 if you register online by end-of-business Friday. Ride begins at 7:15 a.m. (metric at 7:30) with a police escort out of town (that’s a good thing, for those of you unfamiliar with group rides).

More info here.

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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.

The post Fall in North Carolina: So much to do, so little time appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Sail the not-so-high seas, run with the lions and tigers and bears, take a long bike ride in the mountains. You’ve got all sorts of options in North Carolina this weekend.

Coast

You’ve taken the local learn-to-sail class on the local lake, and it was fun. It also made you wonder what it would be like to sail the high seas. Or if not “high” — because, frankly, that sounds a little scary — then at least the salty spray, because that taste in your mouth is what tells you you’re really sailing. Sunday, you have a chance to get a sense of that Columbusian sense of adventure at the North Carolina Maritime Museum’s Adult Learn to Sail program. “Learn the basics aboard stable sailboats” — doesn’t get much more reassuring than that. The course runs from 1-5 p.m. $95. Reservations are required.

Sign up or call for more info, at 252.728.7317.

Piedmont

Frankly (again), few things would give me more incentive to set a 5K PR than running amid lions

and tigers and bears. In this case, fortunately, the lions and tigers and bears and other denizens of the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro will be unable to give chase as you make your way from the North America section then into Africa. According to the race organizers, “… you may hear the morning howls of our red wolves or the wake up roars of our lions.” Sub 20, here I come!
The race is Saturday, with onsite registration beginning at 6:30 a.m., the race at 7:30. $25 if you register online, $30 race day.

More info on the Run Wild 5K — a race that has been in hibernation since 1994 — here.

Mountains
When it comes to “cycling events” (they aren’t races, really!) in the mountains, not everyone is up for a full century (100 miles), a metric (62 mile), or even a 40-mile ride. Sometimes, especially when big hills are involved, 24 is just right. That’s one of the nice things about Saturday’s Blue Ridge Breakaway out of Lake Junaluska — you have your option of supported rides, from the mellow 24-miler to the 100-mile assault-on-sanity. It’s a day of cycling that, depending on the distance you chose, will take in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Pisgah National Forest and, if you opt for the Century, 30 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Ride starts at 7:30 from the conference center. $54 for the Century, Metric and 40-miler, $35 if you’re going for 24.

More info here.

* * *

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.

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.

The post This weekend runs wild with options appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

Coast

I love exploring and I love a good map. But sometimes you get a hankering to go terra incognita; that is, to a spot on the map where trails are sparse and successful navigation depends upon your ability to use a map and a compass to get around. Good skills to have regardless, and skills you can pick up Sunday during an orienteering course at Lake Waccamaw State Park. If you have a compass, bring it, if you need one the park has a few loaners. Definitely bring bug spray, though. It’s an hour-long class, from 4-5 p.m.

More info: Call the park at 910.646.4748 or visit here. Directions, go here.

Piedmont

Our family loves to kayak. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough boats in our quiver to go around. Our best (meaning least expensive) bet for getting everyone out on the water is to hit a local park with a lake. There, we can either rent boats for about $5 an hour, or we can participate in a program. Like the Family Kayaking programs Saturday at both the Latta Plantation Nature Preserve and the McDowell Nature Center in the Charlotte area.

Equipment and guidance is provided, bring water and snacks. Cost is $11 per person. The trip at McDowell, on Lake Wylie, is from 8:30-10:30 a.m., at Latta (Mountain Island Lake) there’s a morning trip (9-11 a.m.) and an afternoon trip (1-3 p.m.).

For more info on the McDowell trip, call 704.588.5224; for info on the Latta trip dial 704.875.1391. More details and directions can be found here.

Mountains

The problem with most mountain-based bike events is that they cater to a more hard-core crowd — cyclists capable of tackling 64 or 100 miles while climbing 10,000 feet or more. Not everyone’s idea of a pleasant weekend bike ride. Saturday’s Blue Ridge Breakaway is different. To be sure, if you’re into the mountain century thing there’s a route for you, a 105-miler (dubbed the Hawk) that covers 105 miles and 9,600 feet of climbing. But there’s also to the 66-mile Trout (3,100 feet of climbing) as well as the 40-mile Panther (2,600 feet) and the 24-mile Rabbit (1,200 feet). Challenging routes, to be sure. But not routes you have to be George Hincapie to finish, either.

All routes begin and end at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Start time is 7:30 a.m., there’s a post-ride meal from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The rides are all supported. Because we’re into late registration fee territory, the 105-, 66-, and 40-mile rides are $49, the 24-mile Rabbit is $29.

More info: Learn more here, register online, by going here.

* * *

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.

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.

The post Weekend plans? Wayfinding, kayaking, bicycling appeared first on GetGoing NC!.