The Wild Center has quickly become one of the most popular attractions not just in the Adirondacks but the world. Located in Tupper Lake, this kid-friendly interactive museum is an amazing place to bring the family, not just to learn the natural history of the Adirondacks, but as a fun excursion the entire family will enjoy.
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The Wild Walk at The Wild Center
One of the especially cool features of this museum is The Wild Walk. Visitors are able to walk through the canopy and experience the forest from a new perspective. The walk has so many fun and interactive activities:
Spider Web
a giant spider web suspends visitors over the forest floor. My oldest was not as impressed, as she has a mild fear of heights and wasn’t taking any chances. However, my youngest loved this as did every other kid we saw playing on it.
Eagle’s Nest
A huge eagle’s nest gives visitors the opportunity to see the most spectacular view, 40 feet in the air. This is a remarkable perching post because you get to see the most incredible view of the distant mountains and the breathtaking forest around them.
Suspension Bridges
Within The Wild Walk are a number of suspension bridges to add an extra obstacle, making the Walk a little more intriguing. They are secure but they did make walking around the complex a bit more fun. They even shake a little when you walk over them.
Giant Tree
There is a giant tree with examples of all the different types of wildlife to be found in the Adirondacks, from the smallest insect to huge black bears. There are also examples of the different types of bird nests.
A Board Game
There is a fun life-size board game for guests to play. We didn’t play because it was crowded when we walked by. However, the game looked fun and the kids playing seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Overall my children had a great time on The Wild Walk. It was a hot day and we could really feel the heat up there. It was also quite crowded and we were visiting during off-peak season. The Wild Center seems like the sort of place you want to make sure you get to first thing in the morning as it begins to fill in rather quickly around lunchtime, especially The Wild Walk.
Nature Trails at The Wild Center
There are numerous trails at The Wild Center. Guests can participate in a guided hike or they can hike it on their own. We hiked the Oxbow Overlook. This was a fairly easy trail that led down to the river and had two scenic overlooks. It was mostly shaded, which was great on a hot day. However, again, it was crowded, even during the off-peak season. The trails are open year-round and snowshoes are provided for free in the winter.
iForest Trail
Is a fully “immersive sound experience” that is complete with a fully orchestrated soundtrack while you walk. This is a truly unique outdoor encounter.
Pines Play Area
A little outdoor natural playground of sorts for the little ones. It wasn’t at all appealing to my kids, who are a little older. However, it’s not a bad place to sit and let your little ones loose, so you can rest.
The Wild Center Main Building
The main building’s exhibit hall is just bursting with fun, hands-on experiences for kids of all ages. The Wild Center has extensive exhibits that educate visitors on everything from glaciers to river otters. The glacier wall is an amazing feature of the museum. I didn’t realize that it moved until my youngest screamed it out for the entire museum to hear. He absolutely loved it.
The Wild Center exhibit hall is home to many live animals such as ducks, frogs, fish, and happy otters. This area, Otter Falls, was my son’s favorite part of the entire museum. He loved watching the otter swim and frolic while interacting with the guests. There are indoor ponds that house local fish and wildlife. There is all sort of interactive, hands-on science activities that are fun and educational.
There is also an area within the exhibit hall, called the Naturalists Cabinets. There is an endless supply of real and model plants, animals, and other sorts of biological samples. This area is designed to allow hands-on exploration. There are microscopes and other tools available to allow children to expand their minds and education.
Animal Encounters
The Wild Center has daily animal encounters with some of its animal residents. Visitors can meet a skunk, otters, and turtles. These shows are put on at various times during the day and are included with admission.
Flammer Panoramas Theater
Different educational movies are shown every half hour and change throughout the day. Consult the daily schedule for shows and times.
Canoe and Stand Up Paddleboard Trips
The Wild Center also offers guided canoe and Stand Up Paddleboard trips on the Raquette River. The price of these excursions can be found on their website and varies by the number of people in your group.
Events
The Wild Lights presented by Merrill L Thomas Inc.
Stroll through the outdoor campus of the Wild Center, illuminated by thousands of twinkling lights, while specially orchestrated music sets the mood for a truly magical and immersive experience.
Open: Thanksgiving Weekend Through February Break
Hours and Admission
Reservations are currently required to visit the wild.
Hours
Open 7 days a week from 10 am – 5 pm
Address
45 Museum Drive
Tupper Lake, NY 12986
Google Map Link
Have you visited the Wild Center? What do you think makes a museum an amazing destination? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.