The Weekender: The Great Outdoors

This weekend is a great time to get outside, and what better way than with a hike? On Saturday there will be a guided hike brought to you by the South Mountain Conservancy through the Turtle Back Trail. Participants should meet at the Turtle Back Rock picnic grove, which is off of Walker Road. The hike will be about four miles and should last from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Not really a hiking person, but still want to enjoy the great outdoors? How about a bike ride? On Sunday there will be a Family Bike Ride brought to you by the South Orange-Maplewood Bicycle Coalition. The ride will be a relaxing jaunt to Supreme Bakery in West Orange from the Baird Center. The ride will be about two miles each way on mostly flat terrain. Riders should meet at the Baird Center and the ride should last from 10-11:30 a.m. For more information visit here.

This weekend is Kick Cancer in Springfield. It's a charity kickball tournament hosted by Balanced Wellness to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LiveStrong) as well as the Valerie Fund. The tournament will be held at Ruby Park in Springfield on Saturday at 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The event will have a range of activities including children's activities, sports clinics, raffles and prizes. Entry to the event is $5 and children under 12 are free.

South Orange will see Downtown after Sundown concerts on both Friday and Saturday. In addition, Stony's has live music for your dining pleasure. South Orange has more outdoor eating than you might realize; this is the weekend to discover the pleasures of dining al fresco in town.

Want to enjoy some live music while eating some Sunday lunch? Head to St. James Gate Publick House in Maplewood Sunday. At 2-5 p.m. Cat and Fiddle Session will be playing live Irish music.

Want to do something unique with your Sunday afternoon? Head to the Railway Museum in Whippany. The museum is open on Sundays from noon to 4. Admission is $1 for an adult and $.50 for children under 12. The collection at the museum includes many old and historic rail carts from New Jersey history.

Up for some shopping this weekend? Well, as it is August, it's  now prime time for end-of-season and back-to-school sales in Maplewood Village. There are savings at Little One & Co. offering 10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent off purchases of  $50+, $100+ and $150+, respectively. Village Belle is continuing its summer clearance of with all summer clothing 50 percent off (and an additional 25 percent off if you are a fan on Facebook). Bee & Thistle is celebrating the launch of its new website by offering a 30 percent off sale on shore/beach items, butterflies, and lamps. Shed Home has Lafco candles on sale as well as summer acrylic tableware. Restaurant Lorena's is celebrating its selection as "Best of the Best" (NJ Monthly, July 2010) with a $32 prix fixe meal this Sunday.