Do it: Hang at the Ridge

You can beat the crowds to Hawk Ridge by visiting before the Sept. 14-16 Hawk Weekend Festival. Take a pair of binoculars and plan to hang out for a couple of hours some day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. That's when most hawks are moving. West-wind days are best. Naturalists will have banded birds to tell you about. Take the kids. The main overlook is about a mile east of Glenwood Street on Skyline Parkway. And it's all free.