Wings Over Water is underway at the coast, there’s a family bike ride through the autumnal Piedmont and there’s a chance to view the high country’s peak color from a peak.

Coast

If you’re into nature, and especially the nature of the coast, then drop what you’re doing and head to the Outer Banks region, where the annual Wings Over Water celebration is underway (it started yesterday and runs through Sunday). On tap: guided birding trips, art and photography workshops, tram tours of National Wildlife Refuges, guided kayak and canoe tours, a visit to an ancient maritime forest and more. Programs are scheduled in Dare, Currituck, Tyrrell and Hyde counties.

Logistics: Programs daily, Tuesday, Oct. 22 through Sunday, Oct. 27. Find a full rundown of events here.

Five-day forecast: Mild temperatures in the mid-50s to low 60s, slight chance of rain today and Friday.

Piedmont

Usually we think of taking a hike to enjoy fall color. But on a bike ride, you can see even more. A bike ride such as Saturday’s Mayo Park Family Fitness Bike Ride originating out of Mayo Park in Person County. Two ride options: a 25K and 50K, both of which are supported and take in the largely bike-friendly roads of Person County.

Logistics: Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m. $25. More info here.

Saturday forecast: Partly cloudy, high of 55.

Mountains

We’re hitting peak season for fall color in the high country, and what better place to take in the show than from atop a peak. At Mount Jefferson State Natural Area you can get a 360-degree view of the action in the northwest corner of the state (and into Virginia and Tennessee). And Sunday, you can take in the color and get a little education to boot on the ranger-led Fall Season Mountain Hike.

Logistics: Sunday, Oct. 27, 2 p.m., Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, West Jefferson. More info by calling 336.246.9653. More on the park by going here.

Sunday forecast: Mostly cloudy, high of 55.

* * *

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

The post This weekend: Wings, wheels, fall foliage appeared first on GetGoing NC!.

You know you should walk more. The evidence for what it can do for your health is overwhelming; Walking for as little as 30 minutes a day can lower your blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (bad) cholesterol, raise your high-density lipoprotein (good) cholesterol, reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes (or help you manage it if you are already afflicted), help you control your weight, put you in a better mood. Everyone from the Mayo Clinic to Martina Navratilova says you should walk.

Yet sometimes you just can’t find the proper incentive. Like something to get your mind off the fact you’re walking. Like time travel, for instance.

A number of communities in North Carolina have self-guided historic walking tours. Pick up a pamphlet featuring a map showing key historic points and you’re off. Raleigh has one. Charlotte, Chapel Hill and Wilmington, too. In fact, Google “historic walking tour” and a town of interest and chances are you’ll find something.

Or, you can get lucky and stumble upon a historic walking tour.

That’s what happened to us Saturday during a stop in Roxboro. Nosing around on Main Street we found the Historic Uptown Roxboro Walking Tour, a 1.5-mile loop taking in 39 historic sties. Most are homes dating back to Roxboro’s hey day, but there are also stores, churches, a movie theater, a grist mill … .

Sound interesting? Tag along on our quick slideshow. We suspect you’ll be inspired to do something you may not be crazy about.

Go for a nice walk.

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

GetGoingNC.com

Promote Your Page Too

The post A healthy walk into the past 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!.

There’s a 5K at the coast,
Umstead’s got a paddle trip.
They’ll be hiking up at DuPont
Where the views are bright and crisp.
It’s the first week-end in April,
Spring is firmly underway …
Plan to get out and pla-ay

Coast

I’ve always found that the more festive the 5K, the more enjoyable it is to run (and the better I seem to do). Sometimes mere size makes an event more festive: Did I ever tell you about the time back in ’84 I ran the Bolder Boulder with 20,000 other runners? (Since I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned it a time or two, I’ll demur.) A 5K as part of a larger event also seems to make the run more fun and go  faster. The larger the event the funner and faster, which is the allure of Saturday’s 2nd Annual Cape Fear Volunteer Center/Big Buddy 5K, part of the 5-day 2011 North Carolina Azalea Festival, a celebration of the flowering shrub that defines spring for many North Carolinians.

Run the 5K — a 10K and fun run have been added this year — at 8 a.m., then stick around for the Azalea Festival’s parade, art show and sale, street fair, garden tour Cole Bros. Circus, boxing, shag contest (if your legs are still up for it) and the day-ending fireworks.

Race fee is $35 (the race benefits the Cape Fear Volunteer Center’s Big Buddy program); Registration is from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Go here for more information on the race, or to save $5 and preregister.

Piedmont

Warm weather heralds the return of one of our favorite activities — group paddling. Late Saturday afternoon on Umstead State Park’s Big Lake join a ranger for a tour of this lake off the park’s Glenwood Avenue/U.S. 70 entrance in Raleigh. Canoes, paddles and life jackets are provided, check the weather for appropriate dress before heading out. And, in a true sign of the budding season, the park advises that you bring insect repellent.

The paddle begins at 5:30 p.m., runs until about 7. It’s free, but limited to 10 participants: call 919.571.4170 to preregister for the Big Lake Boat-A-Bout.

Mountains

Contemplating a hike through the 10,400-acre Dupont State Forest between Hendersonville and Brevard can cause a bodacious brain freeze. About 80 miles of pathways, mostly old gravel roads, explore the forest, most of which passed hands from the DuPont Corporation to the state in 1996. So many trails, so much to see. But what if you only have an afternoon?

That’s when you want to be in the company of someone who knows the lay of this diverse land (four major waterfalls, numerous exposed granite domes, lots of rugged land ranging from 2,300 to 3,600 feet in elevation). Sunday you’ll have two chances, one beginning at 8:30 a.m. on a guided hike that will take in three waterfalls and two lakes, a second commencing at 12:30 p.m. on FS 816 to Skinny Dip. For more details and directions on the 8:30 hike, call 828.698.7119 or email ashok.kudva@att.net; for the 12:30 hike call 828.885-2152

GGNC’s weekend plans

If you’re in a chatting mood Saturday, head up to Mayo Park in Person County, where I’ll be holding forth on backpacking in North Carolina (as part of my current Piedmont tour promoting my new book, “Backpacking North Carolina”). We’ll start at 10 a.m. As enticement, I’ll be making camp coffee and serving a traditional camp breakfast of Pop Tarts.

If greenways are more your thing, then swing by the Wake County Public Library’s Cameron Village branch at 2:30 where I’ll talk about Biking the Greenways, specifically on the Triangle’s rapidly expanding greenway network.

* * *

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.

Photo at top: Paddling at Umstead State Park. Photo Courtesy N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

The post This weekend: Run the coast, paddle the Piedmont, hike the mountains appeared first on GetGoing NC!.