Head to the beach (safely), eat fair food and 12 Best Bets to get you through the pandemic

It’s the unofficial start to summer, and lifelong memories of beach trips and barbecues abound. As we prep these Best Bets, it’s uncertain when Phase One will turn into Phase Two — when restrictions are eased on businesses and gatherings. Here is what we know now.

NC Beaches

“I got my swim trunks and my flippie-floppies!” The beaches are open, y’all. Rules vary by town. Public restrooms may be closed, for example, and social distancing is still in effect. Whether it’s for a day trip, an overnight stay or the traditional Memorial Day weekend/weeklong mass exodus to the coast, the beaches are (mostly) back just in time to save the unofficial start of summer. Get all the info in our coverage at newsobserver.com.

Drive-Thru Fair Food Days

Get a taste of the State Fair without leaving your car. Head to the State Fairgrounds May 22-25 and May 29-31, from 12 noon to 8 p.m. for funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried Snickers, candy apples and Dole Whip floats, among other decadent treats. Enter the fairgrounds parking lot via Trinity Road and order from your car. Drivers are asked to remain in their vehicles, and servers will come to you. Note that this is cash-only. Prices vary from $2 to $10. For a menu and prices, go to twitter.com/NCStateFair. Items may change for May 29-31.

Kayak/Canoe Launch Points

Let’s go row a boat! If paddling is your paradise, there are a handful of local spots to launch a kayak or canoe from this holiday weekend (or anytime), via Visit Raleigh’s intel. Look for launch spots at Lake Raleigh, Lake Crabtree County Park, Robertson Millpond Preserve, Neuse River Canoe Trail and Harris Lake County Park. See ya ’round the river bend.

Virtual Discover Downtown Tour

Peep a sneak peek of myriad downtown destinations via Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s Discover Downtown Tours. On May 28 (4 p.m.), go behind the scenes with host Heritage Properties Inc. Vice President of Development and Acquisitions Ryan Blair for an online tour of One Glenwood and the Bloc[83] development for insight into its design, construction, history, features, tenants and more. Registration closes May 28 at noon. Registered attendee’s will receive a Zoom link to join. Bring your questions! downtownraleigh.org/dra-programs/discover-downtown-tours

Lions @ animalparknc

ICYMI, four lions have joined The Animal Park at the Conservator’s Center in Mebane — and they are pumped about it: The Center is “thrilled to announce the arrival of … three male cubs and their mother, Naomi, [who] arrived from another facility May 11, in the late afternoon. All of them are currently settling into their newly renovated habitat. These lions will be an exciting breath of fresh air and a welcomed spark of energy to the #AnimalParkNC.” Clearly, plenty of roaring good times ahead. Follow its website at animalparknc.org and socials for new photos and all the deets.

Juniper Level Botanic Garden

Life’s a garden — dig it. Planting the seed of more outdoor fun, one of our country’s most picturesque gardens is Juniper Level Botanic Garden at Plant Delights Nursery, dubbed by the The Washington Post as an “Eden of rare plants.” Per Visit Raleigh, the southern Raleigh 28-acre garden oasis will feature free-admission spring open house days May 21–24, showcasing 27,000-plus myriad “native perennials, exotic plants and unusual specimens of trees and shrubs not found many (or any) other places on Earth.” Note: Greenhouses will be open for plant sales only on Saturday and Sunday, and social distancing guidelines will be enforced. plantdelights.com

Spilling the Quarantea

Get local. And #SaveOurServiceIndustry. A win-win. The Instagram Live interview series, hosted by Raleigh native Marshall Sandman, features chats with buzzworthy chefs, actors and influencers. This week is Raleigh Week to raise money for the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund featuring Triangle newsmakers. They’re sharing how they are optimizing life during quarantine while demonstrating at-home recipes, workouts and more. The guest list includes Raleigh Mayor Mary Ann Baldwin (May 18); NBA and former Duke basketball player Shavlik Randolph (May 17); Garland owner, chef and James Beard Award finalist Cheetie Kumar (May 19); “West Wing” and “CSI Miami” actress Emily Procter (May 20); and entrepreneur Cindy Eckert (May 22). The show has attracted more than 10,000 live viewers for one of its episodes. Listen live or later to interviews for the week at instagram.com/spillingthequarantea.

Dogwood Deck Day Cocktails

Missing libations on one of your fave local decks? Dogwood’s got ya covered with Dogwood Deck Day Cocktails. Join the popular pour house Thursday, May 12 (7 p.m.) for a cocktail class with one of your favorite bartenders. dogwoodraleigh.com

Backyard Science

“Stay bumble” and get the backyard buzz on bees with North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Storytime Online: Whiteville Story Time: Backyard Buzz (May 20, 10 a.m.). Get schooled on NC bumblebees and see if you can spot some near your home in the post-story adventure with museum education specialist Meredith Morgan.

Then, expand your backyard horizons from bees to birds Thursday (May 21, 7-8 p.m.) as you drink in the Science Café: What It’s Like to Be a Bird. Birders and nonbirders alike can tune in live to gain a new and deeper understanding of what the wide variety of common backyard birds are doing … and why as author and illustrator David Allen Sibley describes his observations of familiar backyard birds highlighted in his new book, “What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing” (a No. 1 new release in bird field guides). Your backyard will never seem the same again. livestream.com/naturalsciences

Girls on the Run

“Who run the world? Girls!” Taking Queen Bey’s lyric literally, run it (or walk it, or roll it) with the Girls on the Run Virtual 5K, hosted by Girls on the Run of the Triangle. The organization gives girls and community members the opportunity to meet their limitless potential by setting goals (aka this 5K) and meeting them by cranking out those kilometers any time, anywhere up through May 25. Registration is free, with a suggested donation. “GOTR Girl, you’ve got this.” facebook.com/gotrtriangle/

Adult Night: Game Night

Adult Nights are going virtual. Cocktail chemists, social scientists and late-night naturalists, come one, come all Friday, May 22 (7–8:30 p.m.) — and come play with the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciencesas to explore the uncensored science of games: engage with local gaming experts, synth your own game sounds, play trivia and more! Register here. facebook.com/events/724688144938518; naturalsciences.org

Cook With Us Live

Cook it up with this week’s Cook with Us Live on @raleighmagazine’s Insta, featuring chef guest Drew Smith of ko.an prepping summer salad with Asian pears and ginger vinaigrette with a Ume Spritz cocktail. Cheers! Future Friday special guests will include ‘s Vidrio’s Andrew Williams (May 29).

This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 2:53 PM.