TL;DR/The Short Version: Historical site that allows you to…read moresee what life would have been like in Upper Canada around the 1860s. The Long Version: I went here with my husband and a friend of his and the friend's kids. It's a little village where they preserved everything so walking through you get a glimpse of what life would have been like in Upper Canada in the 1860s-1900s. Many of the buildings are original buildings that were relocated to the site. They have actors who are dressed in clothing from that time and stay in character like they are living from those times. Some of the buildings include the wool factory, the saw mill, flour mill, bakery, cheese factory, dressmaker, tinsmith, shoe maker, church, and residential homes. There's a farm with sheep, pigs, horses and cows. The bakery makes real bread that's sold in the gift shop for $7 a loaf. The flour is stone milled and the pans are greased with pork lard, apparently the way it was done during the 1860s. We wanted to get a loaf, but they were too popular. The lineup was epic and they only make a limited amount of loaves per day. There are horse carriage rides that are free with admission and also a miniature train ride which costs an additional $8 a person. We took the miniature train ride and in my opinion, it wasn't worth the extra cost, lol. The "lineup" for the free horse carriage was pure chaos. There was no real lineup and hoards of people with their kids just milled around at the waiting area. When a carriage was available there was a mad dash to get on the wagon. It was pandemonium and everyone else in my group snagged a seat but I wasn't able to. So I told them to go ahead and I was good to sit this one out. I scrolled through Yelp on my phone while I waited for them to return. There's a functional sit-down restaurant (Willard's Hotel) that serves food typical of that era and is served by people in period dress. They even had Welsh Rarebit on the menu! We did not eat there though, lol. We ate at the modern cafeteria (The Harvest Barn) since the food there was more to the kids' tastes (burgers, fries, etc.). It's overpriced Sysco foods but you're paying for the convenience. I got 3 chicken tenders and fries ($14.95). My husband got a sausage on a bun ($8.95) and made it a combo (additional $6) with fries and a small fountain drink. I got a bottle of water, which I think was about $2.50. The food was frozen mass produced food that was refried. At least the chicken strips were real chicken breast meat. Had we been there on our own, we would have gone to Willard's Hotel. They also have a cafe and a Beaver Tails (deep fried flattened dough) kiosk too for food. It was neat to walk around, but I feel like one visit was enough. I found it amusing that they sell season passes because I can't imagine wanting to go back anytime soon, if ever. Lol. They do have special events here like Pumpkin Inferno where they have lots of carved pumpkins/Jack o'lanterns on display, but I'm pretty sure admission to those events are not included in season passes. Despite my less than enthusiastic review, I have no regrets going, life is about adventures, lol, and I'm grateful to my husband's friend for getting me out to a place I would likely have never gone to otherwise. General admission is $26. Kids under 4 are free, 5-12 is $17 and 13-18 is $20. Seniors 65+ are $24. A family pass is $80 (2 adults and up to 3 kids 18 years old or younger). Parking is free and plentiful. Review #136 (2025)

I remember going to upper Canada as a kid and loved it. I was so excited to bring my kids here…read moreand show them the Village. We got there first thing in the morning and it was already quiet busy. Maybe we just went on an off day, but the vibe was just different than I remembered. We actually only ended up staying about an hour and a half before we took off. Lots of walking, so be prepared to bring some good shoes. Not the greatest place for a little runners (babies) but better for four year olds and older. It was hard to find food on site, so bring lots of food with you . There was supposed to be a barn on site that sold french fries and sandwiches but we couldn't find it. Gift shop had a small cafeteria, but was understaffed . Picked up some bread that was made on site. I heard it was some of the best bread in town but I just wasn't a fan. It was whole wheat bread, and I just don't like the taste of whole wheat. There is a Beavertail stand at the entrance, but they weren't open at the time which was a bummer . They did give us free tickets upon checking in for another visit, but I'm not sure if we will go back.

The original farm house of the Wilder family, as in the family of Almanzo Wilder, husband to Laura…read moreIngalls Wilder, with some reconstructed outbuildings, all as described in Farmer Boy. There's a tour of the barn buildings and farm house, which ran us $25 for a family of of four but was well worth it and clocked in at about an hour. Arrive by 3:30 to make sure you get the full tour on a given day. It helps quite a bit to have read the book Farmer Boy (or other Little House books) before the tour, although not necessary to enjoy it as a slice of American life. This is essentially an idealization of the historical American farm (no manure smells or tetanus) and is private history, so it's not necessarily completely accurate or authentic, but the narrative they put together is quite decent. The guide (Kyle) was extremely knowledgeable although not afraid to say 'I don't know' to some questions, and was diligent about finding the answers to questions he didn't know about later. Extremely well-done tour guiding. I'm a little ambivalent about the political uses of the Little House books (the story's been co-opted a bit by Randian philosophers, in no small part because Rose Wilder Lane was one herself) but even with their gauzy views of pioneer history and selective editing of the Ingalls' real story, they remain classic reads and real musts for kids. There is a small museum which is a free entry, and a pretty decent gift shop featuring a library of the Little House books (and the somewhat more questionable "authorized by the estate" series, albeit out of print titles) and a number of related history books. The crafts are not tacky at all and are in keeping with the Americana theme. (One notable lacuna - the Eric Sloane books on heritage American farm tools, buildings, and methods, which are an obvious inspiration.) Both our enthusiastic ten-year-old and normally bored by such stuff seven year old enjoyed it very much, as both adults did. The one missing part is the demonstration garden and orchard are quite small, and there aren't many actual farm animals (just some sheep). That hardly seemed to matter to either of them in the end, though. This is a long way away from most things, but if you have a Laura Ingalls Wilder nut in the household or are interested at all in American social history, it's worth a side trip if you're in the area.

I came by during their Scotland festival and wasn't offered a tour, but I did have access to…read morehighland dancing, cows, and haggis in addition to a lovely couple of hot dog trucks and a small outdoor market. Apparently it was super crowded for them, but I thought it was the most pleasant and laid back Scots festival I've been to in the US (I was at one in Newfoundland that was a bit less hectic). The house and barns were staffed by workers in period costume (as well as cows). I was told about spinning and the reconstruction and weaving and cooking. The staff members were lovely and funny and nice. They also were very, very kind when I accidentally broke the house. The displays are excellent of their kind and grounded really strongly not only against Laura Ingalls Wilder's books but also against period reference books. I was really impressed, but I do think it's a lot of reading for small children. The volunteers were excellent about explaining things, though. The gift shop was lovely and stocked a great selection of books...I've read or own most of them, but it was nice to see them all in one place. The only drawback is the isolated location. I stopped on the way back from Montreal, going probably 2 hours out of the way (I know map quest says it's only an hour and half, but customs took a long time).

Great place with thoughtful displays for many audiences. Reverence for nature and environment…read more Awe-inspiring. Some taxidermy displays old to the point of some humour but that was also endearing and its own form of awe. Came on a free Thursday and it was full of many families, youth, all ages, cultures, so much enthusiasm and conversation and learning. Great stuff.

Have been several times but finally decided to leave a review. During public holidays, sometimes…read morethere is no entry fees. The parking on site is limited ($12 etc). There is street parking around (paid). Once inside, there are 4 levels, level 1 has the cafeteria serving beverages and pizza/ sandwiches, Fairly pricey. This level also features the fossils. There's even a video on how became extinct. Plenty of sensory experiences, lots of information. You can easily spend several hours checking it out. The bathrooms were clean and despite it being extremely busy when I went I didn't feel claustrophobic. Also checked out their bug adventure. Lots of information on bugs, several mini exhibits. Overall, informative.

Tons of interesting displays on the topics of Astronomy, Geology, Fossils, Biology and Archaeology…read more Fun activities for parents' "future archaeologists" digging up bones and operating remote control dinosaurs. I loved the amazing collection of metals and minerals. Bring your camera for photo ops posing your children with their head inside a life-size dinosaur's mouth! Fun for the whole family! Business hours are Saturday 1 to 4 PM.

I visited this unique museum and interactive exhibit on a rainy day in the Adirondacks because I…read morewanted something with a solid indoor option. Ironically, the weather ended up being beautiful, so I spent a lot of time exploring the outdoor area instead and had an absolute blast. I went with one other adult and no children, and I can confidently say this is a place people of any age would enjoy. The exhibits are genuinely engaging and hands on without feeling childish. There were some incredibly unique features, including an outdoor treehouse style structure, bones and skulls you could actually hold and examine yourself, and even a small exhibit showing decomposing animals being broken down by beetles. That was something I had never seen in a museum before and found surprisingly fascinating. Overall, this was not a filler stop at all. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip and was far more fun and interesting than I expected. Whether you have kids or not, this place is absolutely worth a visit.

Our first time here was for The Wild Lights on NYE! It's an incredible photo op, there is hot…read morechocolate available inside, s'mores & fire pits, delicate lights, amazing winter vibes.. all of the things! I purchased tickets online beforehand, making for a very easy check in. A map of lights display was provided. Plenty of parking. We had so much fun. I look forward to coming back here in the summer!

Frederic Remington (1861-1909) was born nearby in Canton NY and his family moved here to Ogdensburg…read morewhen he was eleven. At an early age, he had a talent for art. He attended the art school at Yale University and eventually went out west to Montana at age nineteen, returning to Ogdensburg and eventually his first publishing in 1886 at the age of twenty-five. He is perhaps best known for the sculpture "The Broncho Buster" which has a copy here on display. As well, a number of his other paintings of the west. The images have captions and there are art tours/discussions on a regular basis. I have encountered his works at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln NE, the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. You will know it when you see it. [Round number review 22600 overall - 1577 of 2024 - 493 in New York]

The online museum shop does not respond to emails or phone calls…read more I wanted to purchase a small Cowboy reproduction sculpture that weighs 10 pounds and would be shipped by UPS. According to the UPS web site the shipping cost would be $25.66 to $40. The museum shop checkout shipping cost was $225. I tried to email and phone them about this cost but the shop never responded. Gary C.

A really neat exhibition that outlines the role of Parliament in Canadian government; the first…read moreroom is like a usual museum space, but the second room contains a 30m-or-so video, projected onto three walls, that identify some of the images of the main parts of Parliament. Though touted as a "360-degree" experience, it wasn't domed or circular, more like four walls, onto which cinematic images were projected. The inner exhibits told the story of various highlights in Canadian laws being passed. This exhibit I believe was produced to help make up for lack of visits to certain areas of Parliament when it's under construction and renovation until 2032.

Amazing exhibit on Parliament as both the Senate and House of Commons meet at temporary locations…read morefor the next several years due to renovations. You can book a tour online and the staff will welcome you in during your time slot. Amazing pictures, texts, and videos that are accessible to all. Loved seeing how Parliament works in Canada compared to the US government and while the tours were great I learned much more here. Hopefully much of the exhibits will be available in the parliament buildings across the street when renovations are over.

We came here to learn more about the indigenous cultures of Canada and for the children's museum…read more They have a great set up here, we were able to go to the children's museum right after getting our tickets to wear out our daughter a bit before going to the main museum. The children's museum is really interesting, much more than we had expected. It is really great that they have so many interactive and educational displays about different cultures around the world. Following the path from Asia, to Egypt to Mexico was a lot of fun. They have the room to rent marbles and other things to build as well. Definitely a must stop if you have kids. After she got a bit of her energy out we went upstairs to see the main exhibits. The long hallway with the mirrors telling the stories of places around the country was really interesting, a bit tricky to read, but very unique. The layout to walk through is fantastic. Walking through history from the indigenous communities, to the invasion from the French and British, to the modern day is so well laid out. Not too many interactive displays to keep our daughter entertained, but just enough. It was absolutely fascinating to basically walk through the history of Canada. Going downstairs to the great room/hall was incredible, the totem poles are enormous. Getting to see them in person and read about how the people carve them out was really impressive. I'm really glad we made the trip here.

Lots to see and learn - indigenous, history, political, music, art! There's group of 7, old…read morestereotypes, historical facts in Canada

Great time and informative- we appreciated the effort from Alex and the enthusiasm for his work and…read moreprofessionalism-

A fascinating historical gem in Saranac Lake. The exhibit was curated to perfection. I learned so…read moremuch here and was thrilled to see they offered some historical copies for purchase in the gift shop. I would love to see this exhibit expanded.