Outdoors people are opinionated. Tell them how so-and-so mountain is a gorgeous hike, and they'll say that it hardly compares to some other place. Mention a pristine swimming hole, and they'll tell you it's too crowded.

Some of these prejudices are easy to account for. After all, we live in Western North Carolina, a place that's graced with outdoor opportunities like few others. Say "whitewater," and we ask, "What Class?" Say "trails," and we ask, "How long? How much vertical ascent? Balds? Vistas?" It's easy to have favorites when there are plenty of places to choose from.

Still -- and much like a personal-floatation device in this regard -- some places always rise to the surface. This year, several Hall-of-Famers are back, including Bent Creek for mountain biking, the vast, murky French Broad River for paddling, the Blue Ridge Parkway for road-biking and Wolf Laurel for skiing and snowboarding.

For the first time, this year we also asked you to name your favorite cycling and running events, and you did: Hilly Hellacious is the most fun on two wheels, and the Asheville Citizen-Times half-marathon clinched it for running events.

But enough of all this idle chit-chat. See you out there.

Bike Ride: Mountain

Bike Ride: Road

Event: Cycling

Event: Running

Place to Hike

Place to Paddle/Kayak

Place to Picnic

Place to Skateboard

Place to Ski/Snowboard

Place to Swim

Place to Walk/Run