Outdoors Back to Nature

July is quickly coming to a close, but we have all of August and most of September to enjoy a Variety of summer outdoor activities across North Carolina. On the Coast the fishing will get better as fall approaches. The NC beaches are also the premier location on the East Coast for surfing. Cape Hatteras National Seashore is great for surfers who prefer less company. Wrightsville Beach and other Beachfront Towns along the coast, have good waves but more fellow surfers, swimmers and sunbathers. The NC coastal waters are aslo a great place to scuba dive. While we do not have any barrier reefs, we do have plenty of shipwrecks to exlpore(many are off Cape Hatteras). A popular destination for Sailing Vessels(and crew) is Oriental, NC on the Neuse River and Inland Water Way. In Wilmington, NC the paddle boat Henrietta III offers Cape Fear River Cruises(including dinner cruises)April-December.

Heading inland you can find plenty of watersport opportunities. White Lake in Bladen County is a popular destination for waterski enthusiests. In the piedmont we have many large lakes that can handle waterskiing traffic and still provide quiet fishing in the numerous coves along the shorelines(Kerr Lake, Lake Gaston, Falls Lake, Lake Norman, Jordan Lake, etc.). Largemouth Bass is the most sought after prize. The serious Bass Fishermen(and women) start 30 minutes before sunrise and usually prefer an overcast day. Buzzbait is the lure of choice in the summer months. The bass are more active this time of year and excitement from an explosive strike, can add to the experience. The mountain region of NC is usually cooler during the summer months(than the other regions). It has many great places for the hiking enthusiests, rivers for rafting and kayaking, and trout fishing streams. THE DAN RIVER