Warm weekend most welcome

Enough with the bad news. Here’s some good news: It’s a beautiful weekend.

Seriously. One week after a freak March snowstorm, and amid the dreary economic prognostications, Mother Nature is giving us a break. Even better: Thanks to this weekend’s time change, you’ll get an extra hour of daylight Sunday to enjoy the late-winter warmth.

START YOUR TAN

Today: Mostly sunny, with high temperatures in the 70s and a low around 50. Sunday: ditto, with maybe a few more clouds.

SPRING AHEAD

It’s time to spring forward. Set your clocks an hour ahead when you go to bed tonight and look forward to extra daylight hours until fall. The change officially occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday.

COMMUNE WITH NATURE

Looking for some ways to get out in the sunshine?

> Explore history: The Atlanta Preservation Center kicks off Phoenix Flies, a 16-day celebration of living landmarks, with guided walking tours of downtown, Druid Hills and other locations. Free. More information at www.phoenixflies.org.

> Take a hike: Nature hikes at 1 and 3 p.m. today and Sunday. $5; $4 senior citizens; $2 ages 3-12; 2 and younger free. ChattahoocheeNature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055, chattnaturecenter.org

> Climb a tree: Explore the forest canopy at Fayette County’s Lake Horton. 2-5 p.m. Sunday. $12, no reservations needed. Antioch Road at Brooks Woolsey/Fletcher Ford, Woolsey. 770-487-6929.

> Get scientific: The zoo holds its first Sparks Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today to highlight science education. Free with zoo admission. 800 Cherokee Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-624-9453, zooatlanta.org.

> Scale a mountain: Climb one of metro Atlanta’s mountains. Kennesaw Mountain is free and open from dawn until dusk. 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw. 770-427-4686, www.nps.gov/kemo. It costs $8 to park at Stone Mountain, but walking up the mountain is free. Exit 8, U.S. 78. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com.

> AJC.COM/METRO: See and send warm weather photos