We’ll send you a free New River Gorge road trip guide!
Get your motor runnin’. Head out on the highway! Looking for adventure, and whatever comes my way. I was born born to be wild, like a true nature child. (Admit it, you were singing along!)
We are smack in the middle of a couple thousand miles of windy mountain roads. The kind you see on the tv commercials for sports cars and motorcycles. Now intersperse nice little towns along the way, with some funky restaurants, and end up back at your Cabin in the Woods to soak in the hot tub and relax. Hmmm, now that is a vision. A couple days of scenic road trips, and a day of rafting or a canopy tour.
Just sayin’, if you do not already know how famous this area is for road trips, motorcycle or car, you need to get your motor running!
If you would like one of these new tour maps filled with great routes, we will happily send you one.
Just comment below and we will get your mailing address in a sidebar so not everyone will see it.
I have to say, it is as fun for me to help organize the event as it is to go birding all week. We love doing it. Even the week-long frenzy of chores, like putting the tent up, shopping and gardening, and cooking for 80-90 people per night.
We even have our own version of “Chopped,” without all the stress. Our version involves bringing new recipes/dishes in to share at lunch, then deciding which are selected to be prepared during the festival. This year’s surprise winner was the homemade vegan ice cream! Yep, I just said that. We knew we had a winner when, while staring at 4 great flavors, the kids picked IT for seconds, and thirds, and is it all gone? We saw the same thing happen during the festival, and ended up making it several nights. It was soooo good!
The funny thing: I am not the only one who finds joy in the event as much as or more than the birds. You want to know how I know this?
Enjoying the Birding Festival with small, intimate outings.
There were no birds this year. Yet it was “the best one yet,” according to a long-time repeat guest.
We saw birds. It was not really NO birds, just not what we are used to. The Migration was late. Heck, the whole spring was late. The Amazing Jim McCormac put it at a full 2 weeks delayed. So while we saw some birds and some cool plants, everyone had a great time. A really great time. I was reluctant to mention it, fearing I would jinx something. But by the weekend, it was clear we had just pulled off another amazing week with wonderful guides and guests, and we can’t wait to do it again next year.
The New River Birding & Nature Festival in West Virginia
Hello,
Birding and nature festivals have boomed over the past decade here in the USA. I co-founded the New River Birding and Nature Festival 13 years ago to help boost tourism in our off-season, and raise money for nature-based, hands-on school-age education.
While some events boast up to 5,000 participants, like the biggest day in birding and the Space Coast festival, ours is small and intimate with a back-porch feel. We provide guided trips with no more than 20 guests and 4 guides per trip. We are famous for finding wood warblers singing on-territory.
Get an up-close look at the New River Gorge’s wildlife.
Each day after our field trips, we have 2 presentations: the “popcorn talk,” which is a casual, short program by one of our guides/authors, and the evening keynote after a home-cooked dinner. All of the guides are well-known stars of the birding world, and most of them are authors. We pay a lot of attention to the ecosystem and our area’s rich coal mining history. Most of our trips are in and around the New River National River in Southern West Virginia. This area is under the protection of the National Parks System.
The proceeds from this event are used to fund a 501c3 non-profit organization called the Fayette County Education Fund. This organization sponsors the Fayette County Leadership Program for high school juniors. This is a competitive admission program, and only 12 students are accepted from across the county to take part in the year-long curriculum. All graduates receive a $1,000 scholarship. We also provide hands-on field trips, studying our local environment for hundreds of elementary and middle school-aged children, plus weekend programing for the public.
All of this is made possible because people love spending time together enjoying nature in a fun and informative setting.
You can learn more on our homepage at www.birding-wv.com. Or, feel free to contact me.
Enjoy!
Geoff
(888) 488-4836
Managing Partner, Opossum Creek Retreat www.opossumcreek.com
President, Fayette County Education Fund
Co-founder, New River Birding and Nature Festival
Long weekends soaking in the hot tub? Good for you.
Fresh air is good for you.
Eating well is good for you.
Taking a stroll is good for you.
A good night’s sleep is good for you.
Breaking the routine is good for you.
Cheap easy fun is good for you!
MLK getaway weekend: 3 nights in one of our Ossum cabins is good for you. Only $133 per night is good for your bank account. (3 night minimum.) Other packages are available, including in-cabin massages, meals and more.
Daydreaming is GOOD for you.
Dream guide:
Friday:
Leave work ASAP.
Hit one of Fayetteville’s amazing restaurants.
Pre-bed dip in the hot tub. (Long week, long drive, nice dinner; time to soak it all away.)
Don’t forget the Facebook selfie in hot tub.
Saturday:
Breakfast— late, of course! Yes, sleep in. You deserve it.
Stroll/ hike/ run to Long Point.
Instagram panorama from Long Point.
Did you bring a picnic?
Afternoon nap. (Fresh air makes your brain happy… and sleepy.)
Tonight, we are trying new food, and maybe a new drink from the bar. YUM!
Tweet happy thoughts to your fans.
Sunday:
No plan today. Relax.
Hot tub, fireplace, movie: ahhhh. Happy!
Let’s agree to disagree and move on. Nope, not the election. Nope, not religion.
Romance!
What is “romantic” for some is just terrifying for others.
Relaxing and watching a movie by the fire vs. hiking to a wonderful view.
Not having to cook dinner and clean up vs. preparing a candlelight dinner for 2.
Trying something new and adrenaline-packed vs. soaking in the hot tub watching nature at your fingertips.
The spectrum is broad, and luckily we have a lot to offer here in the New River Gorge and Fayetteville area.
I bet for some of us, it changes day-to-day. What worked last week is not budging the romance meter at all today.
Cabin getaway in WV? That’s romantic.
Very few people would disagree with this one, though:
A cabin in the woods. Yep, a nice, clean, cozy cabin, warm fireplace and a hot tub. That, you have to agree, is romantic. Now just add any or all of the ingredients listed above, and you have an Ossum recipe for a romantic getaway.
You need a plan, but don’t have to stick to it. Well, except when the plan includes a reservation for your in-cabin massage, biplane ride or guided trip.
Opossum Creek Retreat offers a few getaway packages to help give you ideas and make it easy, or make your own affordable romantic getaway package.
Top Climbing Town in Climbing magazine. Photo from Secret Sandwich Society.
Now here is the really amazing thing: Fayetteville, our little town, has been on top 10 lists of all kinds— climbing towns, rafting towns, coolest towns, best small towns.
Reading this list makes me want to hit the road and see them all.
When you add these all up, it makes a very powerful statement about where we call home. If these weirdly diverse groups and categories can all agree (and they do) that’s a lot of fingers pointing in our direction from a bunch of very different angles.
And we are willing to share this wonderful place with you. Okay, when are you going to see firsthand why we are on so many top 10 lists?
Reminds me of a song. “The only way to the top is looking out for number 1, and thats me. I am looking out for number one.” Name that tune and who recorded it for a bunch of ossum free stuff with your next stay.
We hosted a beginner bird banding class last week, limited to 8 people, and sold out early. These folks spent an intensive week learning how to net, identify, band and release birds safely.
Some birds are well-named. This is one. Many have names that have nothing to do with the bird, but that is its own rant I will save till later. This is a yellow-throated vireo. To hear his song, click here.
When I saw this sticker, I knew it was going to be a good week. This is the organization the oversees and provides the training for banders. Edye Kornegaywas the banding instructor that made it come true. She was amazing.
Keith in the hot seat learning the Tools of the trade. Serious work. Big heavy books not only identify, but collect a lot of information on these tiny little birds.
Opossum Creek Retreat provided lodging, meals and a great family feel for the whole group for the whole week. We love hosting our fellow bird lovers.
Quilting bee? Book club? Yoga? Bible study? Writers’ workshop?
Birds and Opossum Creek Retreat have a long history.
A warbler from the nets at the New River Birding and Nature Festival.
For twelve years now, Opossum Creek has hosted the New River Birding and Nature Festival,which has evolved into an event that has a wonderful “back porch” kind of feel— like a family reunion with a family you would hand pick for yourself.
From the very beginning, bird banding has been a part of the festival. This year, we are taking it to another level: Opossum Creek Retreat and the Institute for Bird Populations are teaming up to offer our first ever “Beginner Bird Banding Class” Aug. 18-24 here in The New River Gorge.
Bird banding helps us learn more about the birds we love, understand their behavior and their habitat needs. With the information gleaned from banding, we are able to address environmental issues that have an impact on our feathered friends.
Now, there’s a whole lot more that we learn from the info gathered, but you can read more about that from a more accurate source, like the Institute for Bird Populations.
You too can learn more about our feathered friends! There are still a few spots left. For info on the class, call Keith at 888-488-4836.
Beginner Bird Banding Class details
August 18th- 24that Opossum Creek Retreat $1,800.00 per person; includes all class materials, instructors’ fees, lodging and meals.
At Opossum Creek Retreat for the Birding & Nature Festival
The class will begin on the afternoon of Aug. 18 and end after banding Sunday, Aug. 24.
Each day, we will be in the field at sunrise and work the nets for 5-6 hours. Then, we will have lunch (1 hour), and a 2-3 hour classroom session, followed by a break and then dinner.
There will be some “homework.” Information and details of course materials can be found at the IBP website.
Proper field attire is necessary. (Mud boots and rain gear, too). We are in the woods. Mosquito and ticks are present.
FACILITIES & LODGING
Opossum Creek Retreat is nestled uniquely just minutes from theNew River Gorge National River in South-Central West Virginia.
Interacting with the birds at the festival
Classroom activities will be held in the 1,000 square-foot meeting /great room of the Meadows Cabin. Lodging in the Meadows Cabin is included in the registration fee. Each registrant will have his/her own private room (all linens and towels are provided). There are 3 full bathrooms to share.
There are several other privatecabins available at an additional fee if you would like your owncabin.
There is a guest laundry available for your convenience during your stay.
Also included in the registration fee is a continental breakfast, lunch and a home-cooked dinner each day. Please let us know of any dietary needs or issues upon registration.
REGISTRATION
Class is Limited to 8 people, with a minimum of 6. Full payment is due upon registration. To register, contact Keith at 888-488-4836. Please do not book your flights until the class minimum is met.
The B__________ are coming! The B__________ are coming!
Well, that is very patriotic of you, and yes, it is that time of year, too. But I am talking BLUEBERRIES!
Yes, it is Blueberry Month! I prefer mine small, tart and wild, like the ones from my youth. (Yes, still talking blueberries.)
I can recall stopping on the side of the road wanting to buy one of those funky rake picker things from the family selling berries. It is a specialty tool used when picking or harvesting wild blueberries. (Did you just salivate? I did.)
They are the real prize, those low, tiny bushes high on a ridge in some wild place. How the berries pack so much into such a small package is one of the wonders of Nature! Alas, completely unattainable for most of us. Don’t despair.
“You pick” farms to the rescue! We have couple in our area, and wow are they Ossum! You really ought to plan a morning while you are here in Blueberry Month to pick, and pick and pick. Take a pick-a-nic: spend some time in blueberry field eating, picking and talking about blueberries
I understand why most of these places grow the big fat juicy sweet ones. Hmm… that kind of describes me, too. We even planted hybrids in our garden. They are great. Big tall bushes, no stooping necessary. You can fill a bucket in no time, and they freeze perfectly, or make great preserves and crumbles, even pies. Well, sort of. I mean, it’s a great pie, but if you ever get the chance to pick those teeny tiny wild berries way up north, high on a ridge, and manage to get enough back to the kitchen, then make a pie!
Have you been blueberry picking?
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