Things To Do Archives - Page 4 of 5 - Opossum Creek Retreat

We’re Your Free WV Wilderness Guides

Let us be your guide. (For free!)

Why should you put that kind of trust in us?

We have been guides, really, all over the world!

Geoff’s got guide experience in fishing, rafting and other adventures.

Geoff fishing. (He's a pro.) — Geoff’s got guide experience in fishing, rafting and other adventures.

Okay, the whole world is stretching it, but a big chunk of the Western Hemisphere is accurate.

From Montana’s ice cold waters and rugged back country, to the Grand Canyon, to the southernmost reaches of South America on rivers dammed long ago, to that narrow waist of Central America. Yes, raft guiding was very good to me. There was some fly fishing guiding, and there were some pack trips on horseback that took me to places I am sure no one has ever set foot. Keith and his family have led trips to the high plateaus of Peru building schools.

And we choose to make The New River Gorge our home.

Now, we don’t guide anymore, but we know the area well, and we do love to share our knowledge. Take advantage of our free info and ask us some questions! All guides love the sound of their own voice.

We have some fun and informative videos on Youtube that will really help you plan your vacation. Tours of town, trails and restaurants, to name a few.

We also show how to tell temperature based on rhododendron leaves, if you like that kind of thing.

If you visit our website, you will see full-day itineraries for almost every situation.

Let’s just say you want help with some questions about certain activities or the best time of year to come bird watching or to Girls Club. Okay, maybe we are not Girls Club experts, but… well, yes we are. At least the planning part.

Call us. We are good guides.

And did we mention it’s FREE?

Events at Oppossum Creek Retreat & New River Gorge

Bang! Like getting shot out of a cannon! (On my bucket list, by the way.) That’s how we start our season.

The New River Birding and Nature Festival (April 29- May 4) is our Daytona 500. Yes, I just referenced NASCAR in the same sentence as a nature festival. We like doing it this way; it’s like getting smelling salts when you are a little groggy from that long winter’s nap.

Why is this festival such a big deal here at OCR? We love getting together with people who appreciate our woodland home in the Gorge as much as we do. So much so that we provide a daily dinner and nature presentation, which is included in the festival registration. Major media contributors, distinguished authors and nature educators will share their expertise over a delicious homestyle meal.

And just after the New River Birding & Nature Festival, climbers will converge in town for The New River Rendezvous (May 16-19), one of the East Coast’s most loved rock climbing get togethers. Newbies and experts alike will be here sharpening their skills, sharing their tips and taking on the Gorge’s diverse sandstone cliff faces.

This is their 10th event (Rendezvous X), and the VIPs have been staying here with us at OCR since the beginning.

We have lots of other Big Events planned. We have already had two couples share their vows here, and the new Wedding Pavilion in the backyard of The Meadows is going to make even more couples really happy this season.

The Boy Scouts are coming in for the first-ever Jamboree at their new home, The Bechtel Summit, in July. Scouts from all across the globe will be flooding in to adventure through the Gorge and lend a hand with community service projects.

We also have some family reunions and corporate retreats on the calendar as we roll into summer. Never a dull moment!

But even with all of this going on, we still have some great weekends available for people to tie the knot, have a reunion, or just sneak away to a cabin in the woods.

Has your year started off with a bang, too? Hope it’s been as good as ours!

In a Valentine’s Day Panic? Opossum Creek to the Rescue!

Don’t worry, we do Valentine’s Day everyday, all year long.

I really I could read some of the comments in the guest books to you, but I get choked up.

Vday always seems to create a lot of pressure on all sides of the holiday. Who says you have to be at the top of your game on this certain day of the year just so they can sell some flowers and chocolates?

Forget about it! We can rock your romantic world any day of the year.

Relax in your cabin’s hot tub with your sweetheart.

The Cabins are clean and cozy and tucked in the woods. It’s a beautiful romantic drive just to get here no matter where you are coming from.

We have an unbelievably great selection of restaurants, or you can cook in the cabin or on the grill.

Watch a movie, read a book.

Soak in the hot tub.

Go for a walk, hand-in-hand or even get a massage in your cabin from our super star massage therapist.

Yes, we do any and all of this everyday, and we are really good at it too.

So relax: you can make up for Vday any time, any day here at OCR.

Yoga Retreat Returns to Opossum Creek Retreat in 2013

Yoga is not for everyone; neither is Opossum Creek Retreat. And I don’t think they should be.

The local Yogis here in the New River Gorge and from Kula Yoga Studio in beautiful downtown Fayetteville are really excited about having another yoga retreat at Opossum Creek. It has been a long time in between. Too long, in fact.

This weekend has some big things going for it. A famous name, Todd Norian, and a fancy title, “stepping into the current of grace”, both make me nervous. So does going into Walmart at the first of the month and I still do it.

If I can do yoga, you can too.

I am also nervous about doing yoga Friday night, all day Saturday, and again on Sunday. That will be more mat time than I usually do in two months. “Baba Ranboyd”, my yoga teacher, laughs when I tell him this. “You’re ready, you will be fine”, he says. Knowing that there are going to be some Ossum yoga practitioners attending from near and far, raising everyone’s level to new heights and inspiring the rest of us. This helps put me at ease.

So if you are a middle-aged, overweight, sometimes yoga person like me, or a yoga guru like Erin Larson, join us at Opossum Creek Retreat for what will be a very special weekend. (This is a big confession you know, not that I am middle age and overweight, but that I do yoga). So if I can come out in public and say this, you can surely find the courage to join us.

Starting at $245 pp. Two people have told me this is a great price! The first person to book and an old buddy from out west who emailed to ask “Is that $245 for 2 nights and the yoga? That’s a pretty good deal.”

We already have some folks brave enough to trek to wild and wonderful West Virginia from near and far for a Yoga weekend.

Are you?

What I’ll Be Doing on Bridge Day

Are you this excited about Bridge Day?

You could not possibly be this excited about Bridge Day. Could you?

Everyone should have traditions. Like a Bridge Day tradition of Funnel CAKES for breakfast!

Too slow. Yep they got me. I will be helping the Chamber of Commerce again this year and be in the thick of it all. See our recent immersion or aversion blog and you will get how hard this is for me.

The fun part is while I am volunteering for the greater good, I will be reporting to you from the Bridge Day Festival Event Live. Do you have any requests of something you would like to see or have me do this year?

The weather looks good for this weekend’s Bridge Day Festival and the trees are proving me wrong, again, by putting on a great color show.

See ya out there on the Bridge.

The Best Kept Secrets of Bridge Day

Bridge Day, West Virginia’s largest one-day festival, is almost here. It’s on October 20, to be exact. And since we’re just a stone’s throw from the Bridge, we know all about it.

Here’s what we’ve learned: there are people who are all about Bridge Day, and then there are people (like Geoff) who’d rather avoid it altogether.

Which one are you?

Either way, we’ve got the skinny on what you can do if you’re here during Bridge Day.

Full Immersion

We have a secret or two for you if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t want to miss a minute of that Bridge Day excitement. Here’s your itinerary:

Right Now: Reserve your spot on one of the Bridge Day shuttles that take you under the Bridge to watch the action from below. Into the Gorge Shuttles will take you under the Bridge for $20. You do need a reservation.

Friday, October 19: Go to Taste of Bridge Day at Adventures on the Gorge. It’s truly a wonderful atmosphere with a world class sunset. Here, you’ll get to try sample plates from area restaurants and rub elbows with other Bridge Day faithful.

Saturday, October 20: This is the Big Day! Here’s what you want to do:

Get up early. As in, no later than 7am. Have breakfast in your cabin.
Between 8 and 8:30, head towards the Bridge. There are many ways to get there, but if you plan to drive, be prepared for a possibly longish walk from your car to the event entrance.
The gates open at 9am. Your first stop should be at the Official Bridge Day Booth, where you can pick up souvenirs like the official Bridge Day t-shirt and poster. These items have sold out the past couple of years, so get them first.
Take a walk towards the Bridge and check out all of the cool vendors lining the path. Stop for coffee and a funnel cake (no, it’s not too early).
Make your way to the jump platform and check out the BASE jumpers parachuting towards the river. You might even catch a glimpse of one of the catapult jumps, which are new for this year. Yes, we said catapult.
Catch your shuttle to head under the Bridge. You’re going to want to spend some time watching the action from this vantage point. A very cool experience that every Bridge Day fan should have at least once.
Head out of the Gorge and back up on top of the Bridge. Check out more vendors, or go into the town of Fayetteville. They are hosting a Chili Cookoff, a car show, live music, and more during and after Bridge Day.

Sunday, October 21: Grab the last ride on the Gauley River for the year. Rest up and head home.

Full Aversion

Your version of Fear Factor is negotiating a huge crowd and eating funnel cakes while walking on concrete all day and watching people jump of a bridge. Are you and Geoff twins?

Yes, you’d rather avoid the Bridge Day crowds. You’ve been there, done that.You’re looking for a different kind of adventure this weekend.

Now, your ‘aversion’ can be as simple as ‘stay at the cabin’. Check in and don’t leave the cabin until you check out on Sunday. But if the thought of that gives you cabin fever, we’ve got some suggestions.

Friday, October 19: Get to town and head straight to Fayetteville for dinner. You’ve got a ton of choices: Pies & Pints, Gumbos, Diogi’s, Secret Sandwich Society, The Vandalian, Dirty Ernie’s. End the evening in the hot tub or lounging by the fireplace.

Saturday, October 20: Get up early and head out for your rafting trip. Hit the New River and catch the fall leaves from the water. Coolest part? Your trip might end right under the New River Gorge Bridge. So yes, you could potentially float right past all of the Bridge Day excitement.

Skip the Bridge Day crowds and head north for Babcock State Park. It is close by, won’t be crowded, and is Ossum. Photos of the park’s iconic Grist Mill grace the pages and walls of publications and homes across the world. (Seriously, we know someone who spotted a Babcock Grist Mill photo hanging in their hotel room in Scotland). Check out the mill, take a hike or horseback ride, and then stop for lunch.

Next make your way to Richwood for lunch or just dessert and coffee at a little hole in the wall called Mumsy’s Iron Skillet. It is not to be driven past. In either direction. After lunch, you could head further north to Cranberry Glades. These bogs and wetlands are perfect for hiking, nature-spotting, and autumn leaf viewing.

We’re not the only ones who know how amazing fall in the New River Gorge is – National Geographic thinks so too.

So there you go – your Bridge Day itinerary. Whether you actually go to the Bridge or not.

You Are Leaving? So SOON?

“Honey, I am leaving!”

“Again? So soon?” (with glee in his voice). “We will miss you, have fun.”

Because if Momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy!

Groups fill The Meadows for lots of reasons. One of the best reasons is Boys or Girls Club Weekends. That’s our nickname for vacations where groups of gals or guys take a trip with just their friends. You know, ditch the significant other, line up some pals, good food maybe a high adventure. Stay at a comfortable, inviting place to relax and catch up at the end of the day like The Meadows.

Imagine this:

First the “guys from work” got together. Yee haw, THE GAULEY (said with a roar)! They went home with such a great attitude, fun stories, and more things they wanted to try here in the New River Gorge, that their families wanted in on the action.

You guessed it.

The next summer, not all, but some of the guys brought the families back. Again, so cool. So much to do, young and old thrilled to no end. With still more stuff on the to do list.

Next up is Girls Club.

I really like the way women go about this. Us guys must have SOMETHING to do, i.e., a high-adventure, manly endeavor. Fears to conquer. Women, ha. They don’t need the pretense to have a grand time. They can have fun just chilling out, painting nails, fixing food, long hot tub sessions. No need for the events of the day to stimulate conversation but they make great Facebook posts.

Girls Club getaway weekends make Mamma and everyone else happy.

We know you have some people in mind for one of these weekends. We are happy to help you plan.

Bucket List: You Can Do it All Here in the New River Gorge

I took a quick look at all the fun stuff we did during our reunion. Here’s what I realized:

Some of the people in the group will never need to make a bucket list because they have done any and everything that pops up.
Others have slayed dragons so large and scary most of us could not comprehend them.
Others overcame fears that paralyzed them for years.

Your reunions may not be like this; however it sure makes for great dinner table conversation.

And so we begin the story of stuff our family did during our famial”ish” reunion.

The New River Gorge area became famous for white water rafting 30 some years ago, and it is still the mainstay of high adventure activities in the area. That said, we are just as famous for rock climbing. Mountain biking is growing in stature and recognition. Several ziplines have popped up in the past few years. You can skydive here and roll down a hill in a ball. Golf is all around us. Smallmouth bass fishing is world class. I am sure I am missing something, so let’s tell the story and see if we find it.

Dutch, who is one of the “ish” parts of the famial”ish” reunion, had actually made a bucket list. He has been tweaking it since retiring a few years back.

Dutch put 4 check marks on his bucket list in 5 days.

Zipline
White Water Rafting
Bridge Walk
SKY DIVING

He also golfed, visited historic sites, and was all-around up for anything, including passing initiation into the clan. He is welcome to come back.

Even more impressive, Aunt Chrissie checked one off her list. A Giant one. She is absolutely terrified of water. Like, won’t do dishes except in the dishwasher terrified! YES, she went Rafting!

Aunt Chrissi (on left) and Aunt Gay Gay with the littles.

I would not say she relaxed but she did calm down enough to look around take some pictures and really enjoy herself. I doubt she will ever do it again. And that is not the point; she did something so huge so scary and so far out of her comfort zone that she may never find her way back. And for that she should be very pleased and proud.

Yes, others slayed some dragons too. My Mom took a Biplane ride and did a Barrel Roll. Several folks with a fear of heights got up in the trees and had a blast on the zip line or went on the Bridge Walk.

Surprise! My Dad ambushed my Mom and son with a Bi-Plane ride. What a great idea and the both loved it.

Some people had just never had the opportunity to do some of the many adventures we have here. My little brother got to hop on a horse’s back for the first time and go for a ride.

Lots of people even did two different activities in one day. Rafting first thing in the morning gets you back about 2 or 3 PM, leaving plenty of time to get in nine holes or take a hike or bike ride or rappel or heaven forbid just kick back and relax. For some of us everything was new and different.

How cool is that?

It is not about how scared you are of the activity or how dangerous or expensive it is; instead it’s being open to a “NEW” experience, stepping out of your normal routine and trying something. Even if you don’t end up loving it, you will have something to talk about at dinner (and will have attained new heights in your mind’s eye and everyone else’s too).

We are here to help you slay some dragons! Big or small, let us help.

What did you cross off your bucket list when you visited the New River Gorge?

The New River Gorge – Your ‘Bucket List’ Destination

If you have a “Bucket List”, this is a great place to fill it up! I might not always remember that though.

It’s kind of like when I worked at Disney. I had all of these awesome activities right at your fingertips, but ended up taking it for granted every day.

So when Geoff told me that one of his family members here for their family reunion ticked off 4 items from his bucket list, it got me thinking.

There really are some great and unique things to do here at the New River Gorge National River! For a lot of people, the things you can do here are “Bucket List” items. For example:

Doing a Barrel Roll in a WWII Bi-Plane!
Rock Climbing!
Get on the catwalk of a REALLY tall bridge!
White Water Rafting!
Learn to kayak!

These are just a few of the awesome adventures you’ll find in the Gorge. And remember, bucket list items don’t only have to be extreme adventure. Maybe your bucket list includes seeing an eagle in the wild, or trying a West Virginia craft beer. Maybe it’s been your lifelong dream to see The Mystery Hole.

So if you have a list, c’mon over and we’ll start helping you cross those tasks.

What’s on your bucket list?