Coast / Coastal Plain

A lot of folks like the idea of going on a group hike or walk. Trouble is, the vast majority are long and geared toward more advanced hikers. The opportunities to test the trail waters on shorter, friendly hikes are few.

That’s why we like Saturday morning’s Wellness Walk at Smith Creek Park in Wilmington. It’s a friendly distance (1.3 miles) on a friendly surface (pavement) in a most friendly environment. Enjoy the woods and lake, hike with others who aren’t heck-bent on setting a speed record, and discover why walking/hiking is the most popular — and one of the most beneficial — forms of exercise.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 13, 9 a.m., Smith Creek Park, 633 Shenandoah Street, Wilmington. Sponsored by New Hanover County Parks and Gardens. More info by calling 919.798.7275.

Saturday forecast: Sunny with temperatures in the low 80s at hike time.

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Looking ahead: Paddle the Millpond, Saturday, Aug. 27, Merchants Millpond State Park, Gatesville. More info here.

Piedmont

We all have that one adventure on our list that, for no good reason, we’ve yet to try. Nope, hard as we try, we can’t figure out why it’s yet to be checked from our list.

If fly fishing is that thing for you, then check out Saturday’s Stone Mountain Trout Fishing Guide, at — Anyone? Anyone? — Stone Mountain State Park. A ranger will discuss trout species in the park’s designated trout waters, and will also discuss seasons, creel limits and bait restrictions. The program is just 45 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to explore Stone Mountain’s scenic — and challenging — 23 miles of trail.

Logistics: Saturday, Aug. 13, 1:30 p.m., Stone Mountain State Park. For more information, go here.

Saturday forecast: High of 79, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Ascent of the Century, climb Mount Mitchell with N.C. State Parks and the N.C. Museum of Natural Science, Aug. 26-28, $75. More info here.

Mountains

Are you having a stellar season on the bike? Riding three or four times a week, putting in the miles, crushing the climbs?

Then you’re probably up for a good challenge. Such as Sunday’s Race to the Rock, at Chimney Rock State Park. It’s a 25-mile bike race that gains 900 vertical feet in the last three miles alone (the grade ranges from 7 to 9 percent), finishing at the base of Chimney Rock. Part of the Lake Lure Olympiad.

Logistics: Sunday, Aug. 14, 7:30 a.m., Chimney Rock State Park. $45. More info here.

Sunday forecast: Race time temperature of 81, chance of thunderstorms.

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Looking ahead: Asheville Duathlon, 10K off-road run, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m., Biltmore Estate. More info 828.684.0812, or go here.

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

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Test a kayak, try a new wildlife refuge, tread (quickly) some stellar trail. There’s lots to do in North Carolina this coming spring weekend.

Coast

Been thinking about getting into flatwater paddling but confounded by the various boat options? Rec kayaks, touring kayaks, sea kayaks, sit-on-tops, inflatables … . Where’s a budding paddler to start?

If you’re in Wilmington Saturday you can start at Smith Creek Park, where from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. they’ll be hosting a Kayak Demonstration Day. All variety of kayaks (as well as canoes and stand-up paddleboards) will be available for you to take for a spin on friendly Smith Creek Lake. Certified instructors will be on hand to help and to answer questions.

Logistics: Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Smith Creek Park, Wilmington. Free. More info: 910.798.762 or jdellinger@nhcgov.com

Saturday forecast: High of 64, chance of rain.

Piedmont

When you think of the National Wildlife Refuges in the region,  your thoughts tend toward the coast: Alligator River, Pea Island, Mattamuskeet, Pocosin Lakes … . But just across the state line in South Carolina is a 46,000-acre preserve dedicated to restoring the longleaf pine/wiregrass ecosystem. the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge consists of 30 lakes and various creeks and tributaries, which help support 190 species of birds, 42 species of mammals, 41 species of reptiles and 25 species of amphibians, in addition to more than 750 plant species. It’s an area ideal for exploration.

Which is what the Reedy Creek Nature Center in Charlotte has in mind Saturday. As part of a monthly series, the center will spend the day exploring the refuge on a hike covering 6 to 8 miles of uneven terrain.

Logistics: Saturday, April 19, 8 a.m., Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge, Chesterfield County, S.C. Lead by the Reedy Creek Nature Center of Charlotte. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. $12. 18 and older. For more info and to register: 704.432.6460.

Saturday forecast: High of 71, 40 percent chance of rain.

Mountains

DuPont State Forest has about 100 miles of trail confined to a little more than 10,000 acres. And that’s a good thing, because just about every inch of this playground between Hendersonville and Brevard is view-worthy. That makes it a great spot to hike, to mountain bike, or to hold a 10K trail run.

The latter is the recreational transport of choice Saturday as the forest hosts the 2014 Morris Broadband 10K Trail Race. Beginning from Guion Farm in the forest, the race will utilize approximately 6.2 percent of DuPont’s trail network. Considering the up-and-down nature of the terrain, that will be just enough for many runners. Fletcher Parks and Rec hosts.

Logistics: Saturday, April 19, 9 a.m. (packet pickup is from 7:30-8:30 a.m.), Guion Farm, DuPont State Forest. $40. More info, call 828.687.0751 or g.walker@fletchernc.org.

Saturday forecast: High of 70, sunny.

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

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A boat demo, a bird hike, an adventure race, a waterfall hike — and they’re all on the same day.

Coast

In Wilmington’s Smith Creek Park on Saturday they’ll be celebrating the warm weekend by land and by sea (by “lake” technically) at the Bird Hike & Kayak Demonstration, a joint effort of New Hanover County Parks & Gardens, Cape Fear Audubon Society, Wild Bird & Garden and Hook, Line & Paddle. In a stroke of good planning, Cape Fear Audubon will lead the bird hike, from 8-9:30 a.m., while Hook, Line & Paddle will handle the kayak demo, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. A good opportunity to learn a few new birds and to test out a boat or two.

Logistics: The bird hike is from 8-9:30 a.m., the kayak demo from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Both are free, both at Wilmington’s Smith Creek Park, 633 Harris Road. More info at 910.798.7707.

Saturday forecast: High of 70, partly cloudy.

Piedmont

Looking to jump start your year of adventure?  No better way than through an adventure race that includes four of the major adventure groups: canoeing, mountain biking, trail running and orienteering. Race No. 1 in the North Carolina Adventure Race Series is this Saturday and consists of five- and eight-hour versions, at Lake Norman State Park north of Charlotte.

Logistics: Racing begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 9 a.m. Pricing begins at $60 per person for the five-hour solo, $80 for the eight-hour solo. More info by going here or calling 704.528.6350.

Friday forecast: High of 72, mostly sunny.

Mountains

Folks love a themed hike, and there’s probably no theme more popular for a hike than trekking for waterfalls. Saturday, the Swannanoa Valley Museum hosts Hike No. 2 in its new hiking series, Waterfalls of the Valley. This hike features the Swannanoa Valley’s hidden waterfalls. Saturday’s featured secret attraction: “The ‘mythical’ and very hard to reach Blue Sea Falls … located at the headwaters of the Cane River in Yancey County.” Blue Sea Falls is on private property and accessible only when permission has been granted (like on Saturday).

Logistics: Meet at 9 a.m. Saturday (April 13) at the Swannanoa Valley Museum, 223 West State St. in Black Mountain, to carpool to the waterfall. $30 for museum members, $50 for nonmembers. Registration is required by emailing swannanoavalleymuseum@gmail.com or calling 828.669.9566.

Saturday forecast: High of 64, sunny.

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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

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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