The Wild Center - Adirondacks, NY

I love the kind of places that make you feel like a kid. The Wild Center in the Adirondacks will do exactly that as you make your way through suspended bridges, climb into an eagle's nest, walk through what feels like an enchanted forest, and watch otters play. This space was formerly known as the Natural History Museum but I have to admit, the rebranding as The Wild Center just sounds like a lot more fun. I wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did but I can say that this trip is a "must-see" when visiting the Lake Placid area of the Adirondacks. 

It's perfect for the young, the young at heart, the explorer, the learner, the outdoor enthusiast... just about anyone. It's most known for the Wild Walk, a suspended boardwalk above the forest, and truth be told, it's the reason we came. While the boardwalk was fun (and perfect to let the kids burn off some energy) there were so many other parts of the Wild Center that we loved even more. Besides the boardwalk, you can find playful otters, falconers talking about their birds, stunning exhibits inside and out, a mystical musical walk through the woods, and viewing areas along the river.

In the era of COVID, we had to buy tickets in advance online and show up within a specific 2-hour time slot. Once you are there, you can stay as long as you like but we found that 2 hours was the perfect amount of time to see everything at The Wild Center. We knew it was a popular place so we booked the first time slot of the day and got to the center just ten minutes after opening. We registered with the attendant at the booth, parked the car, and decided to head out onto the Wild Walk first before going to the other areas and exhibits. The Wild Walk is a fun exhibit, with a mix of suspended bridges, a trampoline-like spider web, a life-size eagle nest, and treehouses. There are wonderful educational signs all over the walkway and we loved learning about the animals that call the Adirondack home. 

After the Wild Walk, we made our way to the other outdoor exhibits which included a lovely walk to the river and our favorite part, a walk through the woods, and art installation that was set to music. We loved how moody this felt and was surprised at how well this music paired with our walk through the woods.  Back inside, we had a chance to watch the otters play and enjoy the gigantic aquariums with various fish and other critters native to the area. 

This wasn't your typical museum or history center and we loved the mix of interactive and educational exhibits. We enjoyed it as two adults without kids but loved seeing just how excited the kids were at all of the exhibits. Head to the Adirondacks and stop at The Wild Center - it's wildly wonderful for the entire family. 

Getting Here

THE WILD CENTER

45 Museum Drive

Tupper Lake, NY 12986

Hours
The Wild Center is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm
COVID RESTRICTIONS ** Timed reservations must be made prior to your visit (make a reservation online). The timeframes listed on the reservation page represent when your party should plan to arrive. Once at the Center, please feel free to stay as long as you would like. No refunds or rain checks on reservations. Masks are required for everyone while inside the building. 

Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (18 - 64) $20
Senior/Military Ticket (65+) $18
Youth Ticket (5 - 17) $12