Hey there, It’s me, Keith from Opossum Creek Retreat. The Historic Fayette Theatre has been a big part of our winter/spring for quite some time. I haven’t been IN a production for the last two years, but still have managed to lend a hand in building sets etc. for the spring show. However, Geoff is enjoying time in the limelight this year, sharing the stage with BOTH of his kids, Erin and Cameron.
Geoff and Keith in Action
The bottom line is it’s a huge commitment. We take giving back to our community (in this case our community theater) very seriously and love to be involved. This is nothing new, and I’ve written about it before.
Last year we offered our guests tickets to the show; they loved it. So once again, this spring we’re offering our guests who would like to see the show (and trust us, you do), free tickets to a performance during your stay here at Opossum Creek Retreat. Mention this offer when you make your reservation and we will include tickets for your group during your stay. The show is playing several dates the last two weeks in March. There are plenty of great places to eat right within walking distance of the theatre, so make an evening of it and enjoy dinner and show!
The Wild, Wild, Wildest West
Warning: Shows are often SOLD OUT! The Spring show, produced by Millie Petersen and her hand picked crew, almost always sells out. It has grown in popularity so much that people come from all over to see these shows.
Past productions include Cinderella, Jack and the Giant, Oz, Way out West in a Dress, Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood, The Lady Pirates of Captain Bree (after my roll in this play, I was recognized 3 states away). All shows are family friendly.
This year’s production is “Wild Wild Wildest West”, directed by Sharon Bibb, produced by Millie Peterson, and featuring a talented cast. Best of all? See our own Geoff Heeter as “Snydly Dastardly”!
Recent guest Clinton Curtis wrote this blog post about his recent stay at Opossum Creek with his family.
Clinton and Megan
My wife and I created a ritual this year – coinciding with the Chinese New Year we would escape to a secluded location in the mountains with our two daughters to reflect on our lives and plan for the year ahead. Theoretically, we could have done this at home, but to retreat from our daily routines and familiar surroundings added energy and excitement to the process.
We rented a cabin at Opossum Creek Retreat where the stars pierce the ink black sky at night and the only distractions are the wildlife and the gurgling stream.
Fun in the Tub
To some, it may seem like a lot of effort to pack and drive to an offsite location for such an event, but many fortune 500 companies send their employees great distances for such ‘offsite’ meetings because of the unencumbered creativity that ensues. For us, however, the trip from our home to the woodland sanctuary of OCR is all of seven miles!
To describe this phenomenon we’ve borrowed the term ‘staycation’ from the 1970’s book Your Money or Your Life. Our staycation has been even better than expected. We have welcomed the Year of the Dragon in fine fashion, nestled in the tree branches of the eastern woods we love so much.
Our cabin exemplified simplicity and royalty simultaneously, and dipping into the hot tub in midwinter added an element of the mystical.
Our family found a wonderful harmony at OCR and a quiet ability to fulfill our goals. As I mentioned, we have created a ritual, and we plan to return to Opossum Creek Retreat in 2013 to bring in the Year of the Snake!
Yes, I have rental cabins in the New River Gorge. Also, I’m a dad.
Here’s some quotes from an exchange I had with my kids last week:
Climbing camp? Wait… you want me to pay so you can sleep in a tent just a few miles from home and climb?
@#$%$% You can do that in our back yard for free! Seriously. There’s a cliff right back there- go climb on it. You can sleep under the over hang were the neighbors used to keep the milk cow. And then you’ll still have time to get some chores done.
Now that I hear myself say it, I can see why he wants to go to camp again.
Let the fun begin for Teen Climbing Camp
Our son is a repeat at the camp only because he loved it enough to put up some of his own money to pay for it. Coming from a 12 year old boy, that’s an endorsement!
It’s too late to get your kids here for this year, butyou should start looking into it for next year. Stone cold (climbing pun) pros run the camp with years of experience and training. Both girls and boys of all ablity levels attend. The kids actually “camp” IE in a tent and make meals over a fire. They do have showers and bathrooms at the camp ground. Each day involves way more than climbing.
If you’re interested (and you should be) check out the camp’s web site and Rock your kids world (another climbing pun). You can also see lots of pics on their facebook page.
Okay, time to come clean: this is not a totally selfless pitch for the camp.
The idea is that, while your kids are at climbing camp you might want to enjoy some vacation time in our area, and stay at one of our cabins.
There. I didn’t want to have to spell it out like that, but doesn’t that sound like a great plan? Sunday afternoon, drop the kids off at camp and then go check into the cabin KID FREE.
Cameron helping counselor Leah and Kurt load safety gear
I don’t mean to sound over excited about it but, well, to me, that sounds exciting. Our own kids camps are all opposite weeks this year so we are not KID FREE at any point this summer. Can you believe it?!
I am going to have to work on that for next year. Even if you are not bringing your kids to climbing camp you might want to find time to get away KID FREE some time soon. Seriously. I know I do.
Hiking with kids in and around the New River Gorge of West Virginia is all about going nowhere fast…
I am a mountain of patience. I am mountain of patience. I am a mountain of patience. Aaand breathe.
That’s how I recommend starting each hike with kids. You can try starting each day that way, too. Best of luck with that.
When they’re little, anything (and I mean anything) will stop them in their tracks and halt the hike. The older they get the more creative the diversions become. They make up games to play, and still later we look at birds and bugs and plants to break up the march.
From the kids we can learn a very important concept to understand and embrace: The destination is secondary to the hike.
The value in going for a hike is not the part where are feet move it is the part when we stop and talk, look, listen, explore, play, snack and wonder. Yeah there is a great view at a beautiful overlook but don’t overlook the value of taking your time. Enjoy the distractions along the way.
Here’s some stuff to make sure you bring:
water
snacks
wipes (hey, they’re not just for babies!)
camera
patience
Ultimately, that last one’s the secret. Be patient. The whole idea is to make sure that you’re somewhere memorable (the trail) with someone you love (the kids).
Here are some things to leave behind, or at least to not use:
phone
temper
phone
watch
phone
True, there’s some safety in having a phone and watch with you. But you have to balance that with how tempting they are to use. If you can keep them in your bag except for emergencies, great.
But if you’re renting a cabin, and you’re just out to spend a little time on the trails around the gorge, consider leaving them back. I can say from experience that you’ll enjoy yourself a lot more if you can devote yourself to just walking around in the woods for a while.
The New River Gorge is surrounded by small towns, and it’s perfect for the 4th of July. I came from a much bigger place, but a lot of the traditions are the same.
Back in the day I can remember weaving red, white and blue crape paper through the spokes of my bicycle.
Like this, but with more fireworks.
A couple baseball cards taped strategically to the rear forks created the sounds of the motor as they slapped the passing spokes. And a couple of American flags attached to the handle bars.
It meant we were ready for the parade.
All the neighborhood kids got together and rode along with the parade as it went through town, displaying our patriotism and cheering on the veterans and others who marched. Back then I knew the definition of the holiday and why we celebrate it. But it wasn’t until much later that I would understand the true meaning, sacrifice, and perseverance that it represented.
The day always ended with a fireworks display of some kind. Some years it was a magnificent display with a grand finale that left us in awe. Other years it was a neighbor with some illegally imported fireworks that they set off in their back yard (sometimes I was the neighbor).
My favorite memories of the 4th of July are when families got together and celebrated together. Kids running around the yard with sparklers (as a parent I would discourage this), marshmallows over a campfire, hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill. You know, the stereotypical 4th of July that you’d see advertised most everywhere. Watching my daughter Alex when she was six or seven years old holding a sparkler, imitating the Statue of Liberty while singing the Star Spangled Banner, still makes me smile.
If you’re in our neck of the woods around the 4th of July, these 5 tips will help you have the best ever.
Make sure you have family and friends around you that you like.
A hike in the Gorge is a great way to start the day.
My daughter and I grew up together, here in the New River Gorge.
We have been exploring it since she was just a tot. We hunt, fish, hike, pretty much anything outdoors. Alex is in College now, but we still get out when we can (I’m looking forward to some time together this summer).
"Just Hanging Out"
Any time you can spend together with your children is quality time. There is a lot to do still, and we’ll eventually get it all in. Eventually.
There are just way too many things to try and do, even on a short visit to the New River Gorge. Here are five things you shouldn’t miss with your kids while you’re here:
1.) Somehow, some way, you need to get on the river. Whether it’s a playful float on the upper New River or thrill filled “white” water excursion on the Lower, you’ll find the day exhilarating and full of great memories. I can remember Alex when she was just seven or eight years old, paddling around and singing “Just Around The River Bend” from Disney’s Pocahontas.
2.) Horseback riding is another don’t-miss experience, especially in Babcock State Park. Babcock Stables offers you a not so usual horseback ride as it is set in the pristine woods in and around the state park. There are high mountain vistas, and plenty of places to stop for a rest and enjoy the wild outdoors. Not your typical gravel road ride. Wildlife abound in the park, so chances are you’ll be seeing plenty during your ride. Years ago on a ride here Alex said, “This reminds me of the old pioneer days, Dad!”
3.) Hiking Long Point trail is a great way to spend an evening with the whole family. A short, moderate trail the ends in a breathtaking view of the Gorge from on high. 3.2 miles round trip and not too difficult, this one makes for another awesome memory-maker. You’ll want to allow enough time to sit and take it all in when you reach the rock outcropping that overlooks the Gorge. It gives you a totally different perspective of the Bridge. Great family trip.
4.) The Tree Tops Canopy Tour is another adventure we love. Zipping along in the hemlock forest ranging from 20 to over 100 feet off the forest floor is now our favorite way to explore the forest and woodlands. Looking down into a blooming magnolia blossom is something you don’t get to experience too often. Watching canopy dwelling bird behavior at eye level is another. Not to mention the thrill of the ride. One zip is over seven hundred feet long! Wow! We’ll be talking about zipping in our family for a long time.
5.) Summersville Lake and Plum Orchard Lake are both great spots for a canoe or kayak excursion. Spend the day playing on the water, casually floating and cruising the steep banks of Summersville Lake. Exploring the hidden pockets of Plum Orchard Lake will give you a perspective not found or seen from the banks. Get out there and show your kids what there is to see!
Having a really cool, clean comfortable cabin to curl up with your clan is a must.
Okay, okay. This post is about the river, not the Cabins rentals. (Biased? Me biased?)
I have my PHD in rivertrip-ology. Really. I guided trips for a living/lifestyle for many years on many rivers in several countries. Rafting was very very good to me. I still occasionally take my family out for a New River Family rafting adventure (they’re still too young to drive or they would take themselves).
WE love taking first timers. This is how we like to go about a day on the river:
Best Family White Water Trip
First and foremost is safety. Gear is checked. The kids deliver the safety talk to newbies, and if there aren’t any new bees, they give it to each other and us. It’s a ritual that takes place before each trip. Commercial or private.
Then we’re off, or, y’know, on, depending on how you look at it. You shove off but are on the river, anyway.
I really believe that everyone should start out with a mellow float trip first. Relaxing into it, getting a feel for the way the raft moves on the current. Becoming comfortable with the vocabulary, the pace, the fun. Feel your paddle move the raft. The buck and the dip as you slip down a wave train into a rapid, the tug of an eddyline as you pull into shore for a break, eating in your lap while sitting on a rock, swimming (floating) in your lifejacket- that’s a PFD (personal floatation device) for you professionals out there, standing up in the raft and not worrying you’re going to fall out.
Family and freinds Rafting the New River
After a while you’ll feel comfortable enough to enjoy the views. All these things make it easier to enjoy the big stuff when you get there, if you ever get there. We rarely get there anymore. Not just because we have kids that are just getting to the point they are big enough to self rescue, but it’s less stressful and more fun on the easy stuff.
Quality time for Father and Son Swiming with Dad on the New River WV
Don’t get me wrong. You can still get in a whole lot of trouble on the easy stuff that’s why we do the safety talk every time.
The industry has taken its cue from the guests and shortened trips to maximize the thrill factor. For my money and yours, you should take the time to start slow and easy. Get warmed up with a day on the Upper New. Then, if the kids are excited and really ready, meaning you don’t have to talk them into it, go for the Lower New.
But take a day’s rest in between. Don’t over schedule your activities plan in some downtime.
Here is the itinerary I would book for my family knowing what I know now.
Pull into The Gorge area before dark and go to the bridge over look check out the NPS visitor center. Get a feel for the area our history and culture. It’s well worth it. Then, go check in at the cabin, cook something on the grill, and soak off the day in the hot tub.
Day 1: Book the earliest trip you can get on the Upper New. Enjoy the day with your family. Swim, laugh, and relax. Take in the views.
Day 2: Back on dry land. Take a hike go out to eat. Rest up with a book or movie in the cabin. If you’re feeling adventurous, go rappel with New River Mount Guides or canopy tour (there are several in the area).
Day 3: Dinner trip. It’s not much more money, so just do it. It’s not the food that makes it worthwhile; it’s the fact that you’re on the water after everyone else has taken off. You have the place to yourselves, mostly. Definitely the right time to be on the water.
Day 4: Head home. Sure, there’s a lot more great stuff to do that could keep you busy all week, but this is a blog about the raft trip. The best white water vacation ever. And know going in that that’s impossible to obtain even in a month. I had the best raft trip ever, and it took me years to accomplish it.
Have questions? Let me know in the comments. See you on the river!
Don’t get me wrong; I love the games and the cheering and visiting with the other parents. Plus the kids need the exercise and really seem to get a big kick out of it. As a sport, I think it’s kind of awesome.
Finial game of U-12
But soccer sucks up the time. It eats away at valuable family vacation time that you could be spending in our cabin rentals in West Virginia. Which is, of course, where you should be spending time (I’m a little biased).
There. I said it. You could be relaxing in a rental cabin in West Virginia. Instead, you’re driving kids from practice to game to camp and back, eating up every weekend from March to mid June and Labor Day to Thanksgiving.
Let’s just say you have a little family vacation planned for a weekend of rafting and hiking in the New River Gorge National Park, and then your kids’ team wins two games in a row for the first time in years and bang you’re in the championship game on the weekend you booked your family cabin. It’s great, but at the same time, ARRRRGGGHHH!
I know I am being selfish. I want you and your families to come and stay with us. The Big Game is very important (I know: I have had the good fortune to have both my kids play in the finials several times). It’s a great experience for them.
Or is it?
Devoted fans in the rain
Most of the rest of the world teaches soccer to their children in a very different way. There are no teams. You just sign up and show up. Dads and Mom still volunteer to do the coaching there just aren’t any games no winners no LOSERS! No referees to yell at. Just skill building fun having no pressure drills of all kinds. Individual drills, group drills, ball handing, foot work, set plays, drills to learn the rules all are studied and practiced.
When they do go into a game situation or live scrimmage the coaches pick the teams and ref the action. This allows them to stop and start the game to point out key strategy and opportunities. The next practice may have more or less in the way of live scrimmage but they never have set teams or keep score until well into their teens.
Not to change the subject, but since it’s my blog, I can do whatever I want. WVU had a football coach named Don Nehlen. I didn’t really like his style, but he got us lot of W’s and a shot at the National Championship.
One day I heard him on the radio. He said something to this effect: “We should not be keeping score until college. Everyone should be practicing skills and drilling, and there’s too much emphasis placed on winning and losing. There’s not enough emphasis on skills sportsmanship and teamwork.
Pizza and ice cream help wash away the taste of Defeat
WOW! A coach of his caliber saying something so unAmerican?! No losers, no kids crying, no parents embarrassing themselves and their kids, yelling at the referees and coaches. No kids quitting because they never get on a “winning team”. We could eliminate those agonizing car rides home after a loss, and you would not have to miss the weekend getaway in the mountains of West Virginia. It’s win-win.
If we followed Coach Neilen’s advice, and the rest of the world’s example for youth sports, we’d be better off. Until then, we’ll see you after the championship.
That’s why we’re beginners, right? We like things easy. The easier it is, the more comfy we are when we fall on our faces. Easy makes things, especially outside things, better.
Check out this video we made last year…
So, with a trip like that in mind, here are 5 things that are absolutely indispensable to a New River Gorge mountain bike ride:
A bike.
Water. Skip the snacks and go out to lunch or dinner after the ride. You don’t even need to go back to the cabin to change- dirty mountain bikers aren’t unusual around town at all. Plus, it fits in with #4.
Lazy pump/co2 thing (see video).
Kids. They make it more fun. Why? They know how to take lots of brakes and look around and be amazed. If you don’t have kids handy, just try and remember what it was like and act like one you’re in the woods. No one you know will see you. Probably.
Pace yourself. This is not a race (well, it may be a race to get to the restaurant for lunch after the ride. Or, y’know, beer). But for now just take your time and enjoy the ride.
If you’re interested in going outside and testing the five tried-and-true principles for a successful beginners ride, the trail in the vid is the Cunard Trail. It’s flat and wide, and you can rent a great bike around town. They’ll even take you there and pick you up. And, they have guides!
The setup is perfect for beginners. Now all we need is have you come here and be as inexperienced as me.
Clicking on the BOOK NOW tab provides cabin availability. It DOES NOT mean you’ve booked a cabin. After you confirm availability, there are several additional steps required regarding potential dates, minimum stay times, group size, and of course payment information.
If you prefer the peace of mind of speaking with someone to book your stay, Anna is amazing!
