During our most recent visit to the Adirondacks we visited The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. Prior to our trip I read reviews online and thought the kids would be interested. Plus it’s considered the Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks, and the Adirondacks are one of my favorite places. We had to go!
The Wild Center features two main parts, the outdoor Wild Walk and the Museum. We enjoyed the Wild Walk the most. It reminds me of an educational playground. There are swinging bridges, a spider’s web, a four-story twig tree house and a full-sized bald eagle’s nest. There are also nice trails leading down to the Raquette River. Here you can view the marsh habitats and look for native wildlife. There is also a Pines Play Area where kids can build and play with a variety of natural materials and let their imagination run wild.
Admission is good for two consecutive days. The cost is $20 for adults (18-64), $13 for youth (5-17) and children four and under are free.
I had been checking the weather reports when I had cell service, and Tuesday’s weather was looking bad. We did the Wild Walk on Monday since we were in Tupper Lake already and the weather was nice. We came back on Tuesday (the day they were calling for bad weather) to do the inside museum portion. Funny thing…the weather was beautiful on Tuesday. It never rained! We still enjoyed the museum, but definitely didn’t stay as long as we would have if it were stormy outside.
The museum has recently been recognized as one of the ten best otter exhibits in the world by ZooNation. ZooNation is an organization that supports wildlife conservation efforts. The museum offers a chance to view fish, turtles, plant species and other animals that make their home in the Adirondacks. There is also a theater and art studio to enjoy. The Wild Center is a great place to visit with younger kids, especially those visiting the Adirondacks that aren’t up to the more strenuous outdoor activities.
Want to explore Raquette River more closely?
The Wild Center also offers canoe trips and interpretive stand up paddle boarding (SUP) trips at an additional cost. A NYS Licensed Guide and Wild Center naturalist lead each trip. You must pre-register for these trips online. Equipment such as paddles, boats, boards and lifejackets are provided. These trips take place everyday throughout July and August. Canoe trips are from 2-4 p.m. and SUP trips from 12-2 p.m.
Visiting in the winter?
The Wild Center provides snowshoes free of charge in the winter.
