Posts Tagged ‘family’

How to Have the Best 4th of July in the History of the Earth

Monday, June 28th, 2010

So how do you have the best 4th of July in the history of the world? You spend the weekend with us!

Lawn chairs and snow cones. Scavenger hunt and cotton candy. Families and candy apples. Some things go hand in hand. Songer and fireworks have been a great combination for the last 7 years. We take perfecting our Independence Day celebration very seriously.

The lawn at Songer is turned into a play ground for the day: inflatable games, dunking booth, door prizes, scavenger hunt and music all afternoon and evening Saturday, July 3rd. (yeah, we know it’s a day early but Saturday is the best day to pack in all the fun. You can rest on the 4th).

Independence Day Celebration at Songer Whitewater

Independence Day Celebration at Songer Whitewater

So in addition to all the games and fun, we are still hitting the river, watching trip videos & chowing down on a southern style cookout. Watermelon anyone?

It's not complete until you have a slice of watermelon!

It's not complete until you have a slice of watermelon!

One of the key characters to the weekend is DJ Judd. Not only does he bring all the games and the cotton candy machine, but he MC’s the afternoon keeping all the activities rolling right up until the fireworks show.

The evening will lead into two fabulous, well known, local bands tearing up the High Water Lounge. Don’t be surprised if they dance barefoot.

So we have some whitewater, we have some games, we have some prizes to just give away (all you have to do is sit there) and we hope to have you!

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School’s Out..Now what?

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Don’t panic.  Take a deep breath.

Set the alarm clock one more time.  Get in the car, plane or train and come to the New River Gorge in West Virginia.

Southern West Virginia is an outdoor mecca attracting rafters, hikers, bikers, climbers—well, you get it—of all ages and all skill levels.     And here’s the best part: KIDS LOVE IT!  You could actually stay for about a month, but I realize you have to visit grandparents and maybe go to camp.  So here are my Top 5 Things to do on Vacation:

Go swimmin’.  Do it on a raft trip, do it at Summersville lake, do it while you are rock climbing at Summersville Lake.

Go campin’.  This has different definitions for different folks.  We have it all.  Tent camping, rustic camping cabins, lovely deluxe cabins with hot tubs, 3 bedrooms, kitchen and screened in porches.  Also, if your idea of camping is a room that doesn’t face the pool, we have those too.

Play in the woods.  Wow, we have lots of woods.  We’re 20 minutes from Hawks Nest State  Park and Babcock State Park.  We are within the New River Gorge National Recreation Area and the Gauley River National River.  So, we know woods.  Believe it or not, your entire family (over 6 years old) can climb, rappel, ride horses, ride ATV’s, or hike on miles of great trails.

Get a little culture.  Visit Theater WV.  It’s a huge outdoor ampatheater  that has hosted “Honey in the Rocks” and The Hatfields and McCoys” for years.  These plays depict the history of West Virginia in song and dance.  1000’s of visitors have attended and they love it.

Be lazy.  Let the kids look under rocks while you contemplate the beauty and majesty of the New River.  Sit on that screened porch or by the pool while the kids play.  All you have to do is react when they say, “Look, Mom!”  Visit Tamarac, the Best of West Virginia to see local artisans at work as well as purchase juried WV crafts.  Don’t forget to have a meal—the chefs are from the Greenbrier Resort—5 star eating!

Hope to see you this summer!

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Confessions Of A Raft Company Owner

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Our family has been rafting together for 29 years.  Holy.  Moly.

Over the years, we’ve met great people, good times, family memories (we have a pic of Melanie and Brian bouncing on Green River rafts in their underwear).  When we started rafting in West Virginia, there were four “big rafting companies” and a few small ones.  Songer was definitely small.

We used to call it “Susie’s Home for Wayward Boys”.  Now our guide and support staff have evolved into a mix of male and female, coming from all walks of life and all over the world.  They look like the old guys, they even sound like them, but times do change.  What doesn’t change EVER is it’s still “Susie’s Home for Everyone”.  Songer was, is, and always will be a family vibe.

Recently, here in the New River and Gauley River area, most of the outfitters have merged together/been taken over to form larger companies.  In a way it sounds very nice—they’re offering restaurants and other amenities.  And, while the New River Gorge is big, this is still a small-ish place.  We all know one another, and even though these are some really big changes, it’s nice to see our friends (who are our competitors, too) getting along together.  Seriously.

But here’s something I really feel strongly about people knowing:  Songer is not part of a merger.  We’re still “small”.

Why is that cool?

Well, I think it’s because everyone knows everyone. (Some of them by smell.  Kidding!).  Walking around here is like walking through a family album.  And I know the difference when I show up somewhere and it’s a family, and when I show up somewhere and I’m lost in the shuffle.  Frankly, it sucks- just my opinion.  There’s more stuff at a bigger place, but I’ll take the personal, little places every time.

It’s not for everyone, I know.  Which is fine.  It takes all kinds in this world, and there are some people who want the big place, and always will.  If you want a gourmet meal with your rafting trip when you come to the New River Gorge, you can get it.  But we’re not that.

We’re the backyard barbecue.  Friends, family, good times, whitewater.  A simple recipe, really.  We don’t want to be the biggest.  We’re just us.

Like I said, it’s not for everyone.  I’m O.K. with that.

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Songer Whitewater: Rafting T’shirt Design Contest

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

One of the thrills building into the beginning of a rafting season is picking out the t’shirt selection for the summer.  We see shirts with artistic swirls of water & rafts, the traditional collared shirts with embroidered logos, and the catchy sayings like: “Paddle Faster, I Hear Banjo Music!”    

Our ordering process is traditional, where the vendor comes to the Songer Whitewater Outfitter Store and displays what shirts they have and usually a catalogue of designs that have name drop options.  This leaves us to look at the same designs year after year with only a few new ones.

We have decided to call out to our friends of Songer to help generate a NEW design.  It will be a contest.  The winner will receive two free shirts with their design, rafting package for 2 people & additional “Songer Bucks” to apply to their choice of lodging.

The Fine Print:

            Designs need to be posted to www.facebook.com/raftsonger

            Winner will be determined by votes through Facebook.

            Accepting designs from now until April 28th.

            Designs will be on display from May 2nd through May 9th to collect votes.

            Winner will be announced on May 10th  

PG rated please, family friendly

 For questions please email: Kim@songerwhitewater.com

Good luck. May the best shirt win!

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Posted in Behind the Scenes, New River Rafting, Things to Do | No Comments »