I visited this unique museum and interactive exhibit on a rainy day in the Adirondacks because I wanted 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. read more

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Our first time here was for The Wild Lights on NYE! It's an incredible photo op, there is hot chocolate 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! read more

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Great family fun. Plenty of interactive things to do. Very Educational! The staff were all very friendly and if you had questions they would spend time answering them. read more

The beauty of the Adirondacks! What an amazing place for children and adults to learn more about the nature around us. There are so many huge aquariums with sturgeons, salmon, fish, frogs and salamanders! They also have OTTERS!!! The greatest museum and center here in the North Country! There are multiple movies you can watch throughout the day and animal talks where they bring out animals for the children! Outside they have a nature wild walk where you can explore tree houses, an eagles nest and a spiders web! Very interactive for everyone! If you want to visit the river walk you can wear snowshoes and push sleds! The prices are completely worth it- giving back your community and educating the public to recycle, and protect the gorgeous nature we call home! Infinite stars for this museum and highly recommend for the curious minds of nature explorers! Enjoy we had an amazing time here! read more

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The Wild Center is such a fun place to visit in the Adks in every season, especially for families with young kids. There are plenty of animals to learn about and see inside. The property is stunning. There is a huge climbable tree house / play area for kids in the back that also has learning stops along the way. There is a large "spiderweb" trampoline and at the very end, you can get into a giant bird nest to catch the veiw! I did a behind the scenes tour once and they showed us how they care for all the animals and what a large space they have downstairs for them. In the winter, this place gets extra magical. The nature walk has soothing music playing while you walk through a mini festival of lights in the trees! This place is a gem and a must for any families visiting the area. read more

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My four year old loved all of the outdoor activities here. The raised outdoor walk with the Eagle's nest is really pretty cool, even from an adult perspective. The indoor museum is also very neat. They have huge fish tanks and even an area with a few otters. We paid $48 for two adults because 4 and under are free. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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The only thing I can say bad about this place is the price. $20 a person, woof. If you come here try to figure out some discounts. It's a pretty fun spot if you are coming with kids! When you park your car you have two choices, spend time outdoor first or go inside to explore. We went inside first. Plenty of picture opportunities. Fun stuff for the kids to see, touch and learn! The ice glacier was a fave for my toddler. Don't worry about checking out the gift shop until the end. You will get there, trust me. There is a middle section to do some crafts and play with trinkets, which you can spend a good amount of time in, which was nice. But be aware your kid might not want to leave the area. Now on to the outdoors. It's a fun little walk, but be aware of mosquitos, my legs collected them like I was collecting badges. Ouch! The walk had some fun stuff on the way for the kids to play, like a balance beam, swing, and a birds nest play place. Then you come up to a building (tree house) with stairs and bridges. Kind of nerve wrecking but really fun! There was a big spider statue with a jumping web for the kids. Further down the walk you'll pass by trees and stumps to play with. Please monitor your kids! The branches that were built into forts were pretty dangerous when kids pulled them apart, for it to topple over. I saw many kids almost get hurt with parents not around and sitting on their phones. After that you walk up to the music forest. Would have been really relaxing if I wasn't getting eaten alive by the mosquitoes. Also the music was really cool, BUT imagine if they changed it for Halloween! Would be an epic forest of horror! After the forest you come upon the pond which I find impressive as it's leveled and when you're inside it seems really cool to see it at almost eye level. As I said you come back full course to the GIFT SHOP. Little trinkets etc to buy for the kids. But also a cafeteria to get some lunch or snacks. Overall a good time. read more

The Wild Center - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

We came here for the solar eclipse event and honestly was not expecting much for a nature center in a small mountain town in upstate New York. I was very impressed at the indoor and outdoor exhibits as well as the thought that went into planning the event. They were ready for crowd control, had plenty of entertainment, and had a good amount of trails to explore. We will definitely make use of our membership and return soon to visit the otters again! read more

This was a wonderful experience! The inside was so informative and they had a lot of animals on display. The outside was also cool with many different attractions. We did the wild walk and it was so cool! Like nothing we've done before. Would absolutely recommend going here while in the area read more

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Great place to spend a morning or afternoon. My husband and I came on a misty/rainy day and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We spent time indoors enjoying the displays and attended one of the movies in the panoramic theater. The movie was on global warming and well produced. We enjoyed the gift shop, but didn't eat in the cafe since we packed our own lunch. We spent time on all the trails and enjoyed the Wild Walk, climbing on structures, including the spider web and tree platforms taking in the view. I especially enjoyed the Forest Music which made me feel like I was walking through a magical place. I noticed a lot of older people enjoying this place, so am not sure if everyone would have the same experience. read more

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Unfortunately for us, it was a grey and rainy day. However, we bought ponchos at the museum. The museum itself was exceptionally well done and interesting with a lot of live animals to watch. Our favorites were the otters. Plan on at least an hour. The outdoor walkway was varied, but we had expected that it would be much, much higher off of the ground. For little kids, it will be exciting. The best part was going into the spider's web, which was pretty darn cool. We also liked going inside of the huge tree, which was like a lighthouse. Plan on another hour of outdoor exploration. read more

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A wonderful museum tucked away in Tupper Lake with SO much fun stuff to do. Inside, see fish, otters, and turtles plus weather like fog and glaciers. Outside, do a mini "hike" to the Wild Walk, hang out in the Eagle's Nest, and kids can play in the spider web. It will keep any family entertained for hours. We had a wonderful time. The gift shop is also fantastic. Also, a major plus - I lost my earring here and the staff went looking for it and found it 2 days later - awesome people working here! read more

We planned a weekend trip around a visit to The Wild Center because we had it bookmarked for quite a while and there was no way to visit just for the day or overnight, coming from NJ. Well, that was our mistake because it took us just 2 hours to see the whole thing and the town of Tupper Lake didn't really have much happening for us to spend an entire day there. So this is a huge tip to consider for out-of-towners. Otherwise, just focusing on the center itself, I would describe it as an educational playground in the mountains that is fun for all ages. My group didn't have any little kids, and we still had plenty to be in awe of. This is assuming a level of interest in nature and wildlife, and even the arts. One guest artist used the forest as a gallery space, featuring sculptures and music. read more

Our family had a blast at The Wild Center today. We started outside on the Wild Walk- a raised boardwalk- and it was amazing! Such creative ideas that made it fun for kids of all ages and adults as well. There were suspension bridges and a giant tree that you could walk inside, a giant bird's nest that you could climb into and look at the distant mountains, and an enormous spiderweb that you could crawl around on. You also could go on lots of nature walks on the property. There's a path around the pond and more leading down to the river. They also offer a canoe river trip. Near the elevated boardwalk they built an interesting structure made entirely of branches that you can walk through. Amazing! The inside building exhibits were very interesting and informative - they focused on the environment and ecology of the area. And there was an impressive nature/water display created by a native American artist that included beautiful wall and ceiling murals. We really enjoyed the theater as well. It was a lovely visit! read more

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My grandson and I got tickets online so I saved some money by doing that. We spent the whole day there and walked every trail. It was so beautiful there, and I really enjoyed the musical forest. We watched a couple of the live animal shows. My grandson just loved the otters. Going up to the eagles nest was a great experience and all the photos we took will be shared with lots of family and friends. We had never seen anything like the stick huts which were so cool. We also learned a lot about the Adirondack region. This day was a great experience. I would suggest to anyone traveling to Tupper Lake area to make time to spend at the Wild Center. It's well worth it. read more

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This place has been on my radar for quite some time , but being 5 hours away from home has had made it difficult to attend without planning an overnight trip. Come to find out it's only about 40 minutes from Lake Placid, where I already had a trip planned, so I managed to squeeze a visit in and I'm so glad I did. Here are the top reasons - 1. The wild walk - great photo opps here - you get to climb rope bridges, crawl on a giant spider web , stand in a birds nest - all while overlooking the mountains! 2. The Wildlife- I got to see a porcupine up close and personal , sea otters being very playful and red squirrels chattering and chasing one another! It was educational and fun. 3. The staff was great- informative and friendly and all while following COVID standards and procedures. Hike the trails for further exercise and fun facts! Perfect for the young and old alike! read more

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Know before you go: - Need a timed reservation to enter It's all done online through their website. It's advised to do it beforehand, but they do have a spot to park and sign up by the attendant if needed. - Great for kids, but also good for adults Initially, I thought it was more geared towards kids. But even as an adult, I found that I had things to learn, explore and much to see. In fact, there are some adults just walking around without any kids. So, it's really great for all ages. - They follow COVID precautions That means everyone is required to wear mask & stay 6ft away from other parties. Everyone seemed to be following the rules. Due to COVID, most of the indoor facilities/gift shops are closed. It's unfortunate that we can't see/access some of animals that are kept in the indoor facilities. But, there are a few animals viewable outside. Bathrooms are still opened though. Interesting spots to see: Wild Walk - This is the area that most attracted me to this place. It is very unique to this wild center. Although it seems like an kid's playground (with a treehouse, giant birds nest & trampoline-like spider web), there is a lot to be learned along the way if you take your time to read the signs. It has much more meaning than what it seems. But overall, a very cool place to walk around and feel like a kid again. Forest Music - I fell in love with the genre of forest music here. The whole concept of filling an area with 24 speakers playing gentle beautiful music while walking around a forest is so clever. The whole forest area is very cool & peaceful. Creature Feature At the Patio - One trainer/staff member brings out one animal to feature & educate about. It's quite informative/educational. And it's a chance to see & take pictures of them up close without any cage/barrier in the way. Otter Play Yard - We went right after they got their lunch. So, they were ready to snuggle and sleep. But we came back after exploring most of the center and they were playful & active as can be. It's very cool to see them interact with each other & the environment they live in. Trails - There are walking trails outside the general area of the center leading to the Raquette river. It's pretty nice that there is an extension of the center if you do choose to get the most out of your admission fee. Less people tend to walk out there, so it's a nice quiet stroll. Overall, my friends and I spent hours just exploring everything that they had to offer (that was opened). It was more time consuming than I expected in a good way. I left satisfied with my visit. read more

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What can I say, saw them grow from a twinkle in the communities eye to a major attraction. WC is fantastic, I never tire from multiple visits. The walks the tree experience, the otters, a must see, the Wild Center is a Wow! read more

The experience was enjoyable for a three hour adventure. Kids had fun with the interactive rooms. My son spent time studying the active bee hive. My daughter loved the otters. read more

My friends and I visited here on Friday, September 16th. What an amazing place! We started with the outdoor trails, thoroughly enjoying the Stickworks, the Wild Walk, and the lake trails. The Center itself was fantastic, with the river exhibits, the otters, and Luna the Owl being particular standouts. We spent hours here having a great time learning and exploring without realizing how quickly the time flew by. I cannot recommend this enough if you have the time to explore at your own pace. Also, after meeting the ravens and learning about crows, all of us found ourselves wanting to befriend some corvids. read more

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Awesome place with great mission & staff. Worth the drive no matter where you are coming from. Fun and educational for all ages! My wife and I had a lot of fun and so did our 18-month-old. Plenty of animals that you can check out, tons of exhibits that allow you to get up close and personal with the learning. The Wild Walk was the absolute best part. So many routes and ways to explore. The walk is inclusive so that the vast majority of the walk and things to do during the walk are able to be accessed by wheelchair or stroller, so thoughtful to bring nature to as many different people as possible. Everyone needs to come to the Wild Center! read more

Very cool museum and nature trails! Exhibits are wonderful and engaging for kids and adults! The gift shop is beautiful! Love it here!

A great choice for a quick visit today! This place has something for the entire family - definitely child friendly, but plenty of interest for the mature visitor as well. Enjoyable exhibits of live fish and plants. Very nice shop on premises with a nice variety of everything from souvenirs to serious books. We want to return and do some serious hiking here. read more

This is the second time we've visited The Wild Center and the first time with the new Tree Top exhibit! This is only about 30 minutes from our cabin in Long Lake so we spent one afternoon here when the kids needed to do something else. This is really great place, but the biggest problem I have is the price. It is so EXPENSIVE! Like way more then any of the museums, zoos, or centers in Ohio. I also do not think it's worth the price when they have very little in terms of attractions. The inside area is very small and while the trails and other outdoor stuff is great, it does not mean you can charge as much as they do. We spent way more time outside at the Tree Top, which was AMAZING as well as the nature play area then indoors. The Tree Top exhibit is super cool. You can learn all about different animals and environments that are in the trees. They also had some tables set out with people telling you about different birds and life of trees. We all especially liked the spider web you can climb and lay in. Overall we had a good time, but it is definitely not something we'd do every year we go to our cabin. Way too expensive for that. read more

This is perhaps the crown jewel facility of the Adirondacks. A fantastic place to take the family, I visit any time I have an opportunity.

Tupper Lake Wild Center is world class environmental museum in heart of Adirondacks comparable to anything Nationally. The exhibits and nature walk is incredible. Not to be missed if you travel to area read more

The WIld Center made good on their promise and sent me replacement tickets.

This place got really good reviews and maybe being from NYC a 5 Star museum/center like this would be the NYC Museum of Natural History for me. That's probably an unfair comparison but while this place had really nice presentations my rating is for overall value. While it may seem unfair to rate this so poorly I would have given it 3 stars had the entrance fee been a little cheaper for the size of the place. The exhibits are made with amazing quality and design but unless you read literally every plaque you could be done visiting this place in about 2.5hrs. They try to keep visitors entertained with live exhibits at the lobby during certain times and they even have a theater but for price & size I honestly didn't find this to be the best place I've visited. While the family & I did enjoy ourselves I would not revisit unless I got entrance at a discounted price. read more

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We spend an absolutely lovely couple of dusky hours in mid-winter, enjoying the trails, outdoor wildlife enclosures, and the Wild Lights. read more

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Excellent Museum. 1) It is a very unique museum. 2) Great way to spend the day, if you are burnt from the hike the day before. 3) It is a must visit. read more

I had so much fun here (oh and so did my six year old daughter!) we got there a little late but we were still allowed some time. I can't wait to go back and see everything! Some cool points: the wild walk is awesome! Very interactive and and everything was in working order. Nice clean bathrooms nearby Educational and fun I do wish it stayed open longer but imagine someone telling you to add a few hours to your workday! Can't wait to go back! read more

This place was terrific and very well put together. The trails are easy and well groomed. The nature center museum is a beautiful building with a lot of terrific displays and well worth the 90 minutes we spent exploring. I highly recommend this nature center and it's terrific for kids if all ages. read more

Came to the Adirondacks for a little vacation. Found this place and it was so amazing. They were having a community day so we got in for free. So fun and educational. I could've spent hours in the otter viewing hub. read more

The Wild Center - otter - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

Was visiting the area in September and came here - it was perfect for my 4 year old on a rainy day . The wild walk was still open. She really enjoyed the arts and crafts, the sticky sand, touching the ice on the glacier display,seeing the otter, and I really enjoyed a lot of the museum displays for myself . I also really liked the gift shop, it wasn't as overpriced as other museum gift shops and besides buying stuff for my daughter I walked out with some stuff for me too. Even though my daughter is only 4 and her memory isn't the greatest, she has not forgotten this place ever since we left and has asked me many times to go back. Also the price was verrry reasonable (I live near NYC so to me at least it was compared to what I'm used to) I actually thought it would have cost more. read more

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I live in California and have been coming to the Adirondacks every year to see my grandparents. Every year we visit the Wild Center. Due to Covid this is our first visit in a few years. We came and were very happy with our experience at the start. However when it came time for lunch disaster struck. We ordered the "Three Sisters Inspired Soup" , carnitas tacos, and the Michigan style hot dog. The hot dog was great, as it was before Covid. But the new items added to the menu, (the soup and tacos) were terrible. It was truly disappointing. The soup was reminiscent of the color grey, and the tacos had a 1 to 5 meat to cabbage ratio. To add insult to injury the tacos were dry and the soft shell tortilla was stale. I love the Wild Center, but if I am to return again to this establishment I would like to see a better menu, because the current situation is unacceptable. To conclude, in the future I would like to see some better food as the tacos were about 14 dollars and did not even come near to doing the Wild Center Justice. read more

The Wild Center - "The Three Sisters Inspired Soup" - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

Highly recommended. We live two plus hours away and were in the area for short vacation. We only spent about an hour or so doing the tree walk and can't wait to get back. So many birds to spot (I love bird watching). Beautiful views of the mountains from some very unique vantage points. The kids will love it as they get to climb around and have fun on the tree walk. The visitor center has displays and exhibits, movies and chances to get close up look at small animals. They have a gift shop and snack bar. Can't wait to go back and spend more time. read more

The Wild Center - Museums Near Me - Tupper Lake, New York

Great place for kids and folks like me and Andrew where there's a kid living in our heart! The Wild Center offers a great variety of activities even in this winter time. The wild walk is always something attractive. You got a chance to see the otters, but unfortunately when we were there, the otters were asleep so we didn't see them. Then there's the animal show and kicksled. This is the first time we did kicksled!!! Very cool! read more

On a trip bringing our kiddo back to college we pulled in to see what Wild Walk was about. This is a 1-2 hour stop which is good for the young and old as it introduces you to what the Adirondacks offers. The short trails are in very good shape. They are pretty flat. Bus loads of older types were walking them. It had poured so this allowed us to wander around. There were so many "members"around and the place gets some tour bus traffic. Wild flowers and red squirrels were abundant and we could see the mountain ranges despite the low cloud cover. The unique elevated walkway has you above the trees! It offers views of mountain ranges. You can go in the rain. This makes a great day trip for children 5-12. They have nice bathrooms. A restaurant, touch tanks and films. One area sported art painting projects. There is a gift shop. Hopefully this experience gets more people into the woods -- camping or renting! I understand why some posts were not positive about the place because of critters being trapped in containers. read more

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I came all the way from Brooklyn for this, I learned about it via the INY Facebook and Instagram page. I made a weekend out of it staying in Saranac Lake area and then traveling to the Wild Center the next day. The Wild Center starts with a museum type exhibits of local plants and wild life found in NY and the Adirondacks. The place was beautiful, very clean and really family friendly. The iForest was a first for me as I had never experienced anything like that before. The wild walk, which is where the famous eagles nest is was very cool and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Really worth the trip and I'm glad I found out about this place. read more

I want to love the Wild Center, but I can't. The much-hyped water exhibits are like being inside a Disney cartoon. There is too much cuteness and not enough real discovery to get kids involved with nature. The ironic thing is, of course, that nature is all around you. Go on one of the interpretative nature walks... excellent. See if you can get somebody to explain the living roof to you. Then go pick up your kids at the gift shop where they have purchased stuffed animals you could buy anywhere and try to have an educational discussion on the long drive home. read more