You’re surprised it wasn’t 30 out of 30, right?
Summer has gotten off to a hot start in the Piedmont. The season is already a challenge for adventure lovers: stoke the fire and it’s all most of us can do to pull out a topo and even think about venturing out.
In reality, though, it’s not that bad. It’s all about knowing where to go and what to do, how to have an adventure that embraces the weather without engulfing you in sweaty misery. To wit, our Cool Fun in the Summertime adventure series, today, focusing on the Triad. (We covered the Triangle yesterday; we’ll hit Charlotte Thursday and the mountains Friday.)
Think it’s too hot to go out and play. Take a read and think again.
1. Dan River
Danbury
Paddling, tubing
Here’s a classic way to cool off in the dead of summer: rent a tube on a mountain river, take a trip that mixes some occasional action with a mostly languid float. In the more languid spots, drop out of the tube and into the chill river for a refreshing dip before reassuming the sunning position — all as towering trees and rock outcrops drift by. You needn’t drive to the mountains for such an escape; rather, take a shorter drive to the Danbury area for a trip down the Dan River. Explore the 6.5-mile stretch through the 1,000-acre Hammer-Stern Wilderness Preserve and you’ll think you’re in, well, a wilderness. You can also paddle this stretch; take out at the Dan River Company compound off Flinchum Road and maintain your cool with a local craft beer and live music at the Green Heron,
More information and directions here.
2. Hanging Rock State Park
Danbury
Hiking, swimming
Starting at the bathhouse in front of the pristine 12-acre lake and beach, it’s easy on a hot summer’s day to forgo the hike portion of this escape and just dive right in. Don’t. The climb hiking clockwise up the 4.7-mile Moore’s Wall Loop Trail is a long climb through rock outcrop and mountain pine. The payoff is well worth it: a 360-degree view from 2,579-foot Moore’s Knob that more often than not comes with a breeze. Enjoy your stay, then head down to the beach largely on a staircase that expedites your descent. Back at the lake enjoy the lake’s cooling waters — there’s even a platform in the middle to help you more quickly descend to the deeper, colder layers of relief.
More information and directions here.
3. Pilot Mountain State Park
Pinnacle
Hiking, climbing
Pilot Mountain’s Big Pinnacle, a k a Jomeokee, rises 2,421 feet, towering above the surrounding countryside. Here, you’re in the lazy flight paths of raptors who circle about in search of dinner. Here, you can go short (the 0.8-mile Jomeokee Trail, which rims the Big Pinnacle), medium (the more challenging Ledge Spring Trail, which drops down and visits the rock face popular with climbers), or long (the 9-mile loop made up of the Grindstone, Mountain and Grassy Ridge trails, which ring the entire mountain). And even if you don’t climb, the popular routes on the mountain’s southwest side make for great spectating: sit back in the shade and watch others work up a sweat.
More information and directions, here.
4. Wet’n Wild Emerald Pointe
Greensboro
Water park
Oh, please! Who says a good adventure can’t include a little concrete? Can’t make it to Sliding Rock up in the Pisgah National Forest? Consider these nearby substitutes at Wet’n Wild: the Double Barrel Blast, twin chutes that deposit you four feet above a pool; Raging Rapids, a 450-foot-long manmade river; Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, which includes a 40-foot drop; The Cyclone Zone, in which you “get swept away in a Polynesian riptide …. “ . Granted, with admission starting at $59.99, it’s a bit pricier than Sliding Rock ($2), but there is the variety and the convenience of being in your own backyard. And really, can you put a price on beating the heat?
More information and directions here.
5. Oak Hollow Park
Paddling, swimming
High Point
Two reasons to head to Oak Hollow Park when the heat is on. One, as a kayaker or canoeist, the 800-acre finger lake is divvied up such that you know where the calm water is and where you might find some wave action: there are two sections where water skiing is allowed, one big section for sailing, and four nooks for fishing. (As a paddler, you have open access.) And if you don’t have a kayak, you can rent one from the Oak Hollow Marina: $12 a day for a single, $24 for a tandem. And here’s a bonus third reason: if you become intrigued by the sailboats on the sailing section and note how refreshed those folks look, you can join the venerable (1974) Oak Hollow Sailing Club. No boat needed to join this beginner-friendly group, either.
More information and directions here.
Tomorrow: Cool Fun in the Summertime in Charlotte