A Wild Day Trip from Vermont: The Adirondack's Wild Center

By Bethany Vana of @kiddosandcarryons and @vermontwithkids

The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, New York had been on my list for a long time, and I made it my mission to get there before the trees lost their leaves. Stars aligned when my kids had a day off from school last week and then came the deciding factor: I learned that the trolls are there.

[If you don’t know about the trolls, we’ll get there!] But first, let me share about the Wild Center, a natural history museum in the Tri-Lakes region of the Adirondacks, about two hours from Burlington, Vermont. The center is in a rural area, and the drive is especially beautiful in the fall. You can take a ferry across Lake Champlain from Vermont, which makes the journey a family adventure in itself.

The Wild Center’s mission is to “ignite an enduring passion for nature that inspires action to ensure a thriving natural world.” There are indoor exhibits, outdoor trails, a small cafe, a souvenir shop, wildlife, art, science, nature, and plenty of opportunities to burn off energy. We walked miles.

Indoor Exhibits

We were drawn to the Wild Center for the outdoor exhibits but ended up spending almost as much time indoors. The indoor space includes 54,000 square feet of exhibits. My kids’ favorites were the ones featuring fish, turtles, frogs, and river otters!

Most of the exhibits are interactive and there are shows and animal encounters throughout the day as well. One of the newer exhibits, Climate Solutions, shares stories of people around the world who are developing climate solutions in their communities.

Outdoor Exhibits

The outdoor exhibits include 115 acres of trails. Outside, you can walk woodland paths, head to the river for a guided canoe trip (weekends only), explore Wild Walk, or discover the magic of the Pines Play Area, a wild playground tucked into the forest.

We were especially excited to see the Wild Walk, an elevated trail that takes you into the treetops. It’s filled with fun features, including multi-level suspension bridges, a giant spiderweb where you can hang out (similar to the one at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science) and an enormous eagle’s nest with impressive views. But that wasn’t even the biggest hit!

The biggest hit was Raquette River Roll. Think of it as a marble run but with large wooden balls traveling on elevated tracks around the forest. There are ten tracks stretching along a half-mile trail, and each one is designed differently, sending the balls rolling through twists and turns using nothing but gravity (and sometimes a fun pulley system). Along the trail, there are also stations where you can learn about Adirondack plants and animals.

The other favorite was a stickwork sculpture, Hopscotch, created by artist Patrick Dougherty, with help from a group of volunteers who bent and weaved local saplings together to create this whimsical piece of art. My kids loved playing hide-and-seek around it, and we were lucky enough to visit on a day when they had the whole area to themselves!

Other outdoor experiences include Forest Music, a trail that plays music that blends with the natural sounds of the forest, and the Pines Play Area, a natural playground nestled among the trees.

TROLLS: Save the Humans

And finally, let’s talk about the trolls. You may have seen these big, whimsical, folklore-inspired trolls in other parts of New England, including Maine and Rhode Island. They are built from reclaimed materials by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. The trolls are here to teach us important lessons about taking better care of our world. The Save the Humans exhibit will run through October 31st, and the delight of following a map through a magical forest in search of the trolls - six of them, plus one permanent troll - can’t be overstated. We’ve seen Dambo trolls all over the world, and the Wild Center’s permanent troll, Patrick Sapling, might be our favorite.

A Few Tips for Your Visit

Give yourselves the whole day. We arrived around lunchtime and it wasn’t quite enough time to do everything we wanted to do! There’s enough to keep a family busy from opening at 10am until the museum closes at 5pm.

Consider a weekday. A mid-week visit (such as the upcoming October school break) can be a great way to experience the center with fewer crowds. The troll exhibit has made the museum more popular than ever.

Wear comfortable shoes and layers. You’ll be walking and exploring outdoor trails, but you’ll also want to shed some layers once you head inside.

Pack lunch and snacks. Or review the menu of grab-and-go options at the Waterside Cafe to make sure there are foods your kids will like. My kids happily devoured the mac and cheese and grilled cheese. There’s indoor seating, but if the weather cooperates, the outdoor patio overlooking the lily pond is the nicest option.

Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. The grounds are accessible.

Expect lines on the weekends. The trolls are incredibly popular!

Plan for limited cell service (on the drive). If you’re driving from Vermont, expect little to no cell service for portions of the trip through rural New York.

Plan Your Visit

Hours:
September & October: open daily, 10am–5pm
November–March: open Fridays–Sundays, 10am–5pm

Admission:
Adult: $28
Senior/Military: $26
Youth: $15
Ages 4 and under: Free

Pro Tip: Check whether your local library offers discount passes to the Wild Center! We know the South Burlington Public Library has this resource.

We hope you love the Wild Center as much as we do. Between the educational opportunities, the free play outside, and the chance to slow down and enjoy nature, the visit filled all our cups.

Pack your jackets and head west. The trolls are waiting!