Take a Walk on the Wild Side

day trippin' with Just2FeetandaCamera.com Wild Side! Take a Walk on the

“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach us more than we could ever learn from books.” ~ John Lubbock

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN

If you’ve been missing the days when you could take a spur-of-the-moment day trip, we have a suggestion now that things are loosening up.

Jump in the car and head north to Tupper

Lake. Just 2.5 hours north of Saratoga and no need to pack an overnight bag – you’ll be home sleeping in your own comfy bed at the end of a fun-filled adventure. One of the attraction’s bragging rights encompasses The Wild Walk – where visitors can enter a section of the park, wandering high above everything else. Imagine watching the earth fall away, as you move towards a humongous, full-sized eagle’s nest resting at the highest point. The view is unimaginable! Wanting to enjoy the day, learn about nature and science, meander through numerous exhibits covering the majestic Adirondacks, grin through the otter show, eat lunch, and enjoy the main event – this place did not disappoint! The learning campus itself is impressive. And every nook and cranny is designed with our best educational experience in mind. People of all ages are encouraged to immerse themselves while exploring how humans and animals can and should connect in a natural setting. The museum is a LEED-certified “green” building, powered in part by solar panels and heated entirely by renewable energy. The indoor exhibits and outside habitats celebrate flora and fauna found within the Adirondack Park’s 6-million acres. The campus showcases two elaborate wings, joined in the center by the circular Big Wolf Great Hall. There, the glacial wall relates a beautiful story about the formation of the Adirondack mountains and wilderness. We love the Living River Trail, which leads us from marshes to deep lakes, from bogs and rivers and ends at the summit of an Alpine peak. We run our hands through a display about clouds and learn about climate change. The Naturalist’s Cabinet Room is where people can tinker with microscopes and other learning materials made available by the center. (Socially Distanced of course!) At Otter Falls, we watch the comical animals play – trying to figure out ways to earn food from their trainers. I try so hard to take photos – but they’re super-fast little critters, and it ends up being one of those ‘just enjoy the moment,’ moments. And, boy, do I ever! After a healthy lunch, shopping in the center’s unique gift shop, and watching the turtles, we decide to head out into the fresh air for more exploring.

The walkways are stunning. We work our way around Greenleaf Pond, a butterfly trail, and into the woods – where soft, calming music greets us. There are benches – both wood and stone, to sit on. The sky is a classic blue with big puffy clouds overhead. No wonder so many people love it here. Of course, when we find ourselves 30-feet above the ground, walking along the treetops, reading about birds and other wildlife in the area, coaxing each other over swinging bridges towards an intricately woven spider web where parents and children are happy hanging out, we’re in awe! The eagle’s nest is the starattraction, for sure. It holds several people at a time and overlooks the forest. It’s a fantastic feeling – having a bird’s-eye view of the world around us. We take in a deep breath, smile at each other, and sink into the moment – it’s exhilarating! Looking around, we see young kids, teenagers, adults, people in wheelchairs or walking with canes enjoying themselves – the Wild Center can easily accommodate everyone. Here’s the thing; we need places like this to teach us how to treat the earth around us. This big, bold, beautiful world is the only one we have, and it needs to be around for generations to come. The Wild Center is a perfect example of how having fun and learning in a natural setting – can teach all ages. We can all make a difference, and we must. The Wild Center has a plethora of digital content available during the COVID-19 pandemic and is now re- opened, but please check their website before taking that two+ hour drive north. www.wildcenter.org/digital/

Some fun facts about the wild center

The Adirondacks, home to the Wild Center, is larger than Yosemite, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Great Smokey National Parks combined. The Wild Center has special events – every day that it is open. They feature animal encounters and naturalist-led walks throughout the 115- acre grounds, ensuring that people visiting the attraction can immerse themselves in a learning environment. The Wild Center is home to more than 900 live animals, including lake fish, porcupines, ravens, and the cutest otters out there! Over 5,000 people came to celebrate the grand opening of The Wild Center on July 4th, 2006, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Governor George Pataki, and the original Woodstock opener, Ritchie Havens. The Wild Center is the only place in the world where you can see the award-winning show ‘A Matter of Degrees,’ narrated by Sigourney Weaver, and learn about the true history of the Adirondacks in a wide-screen theater. The center’s four otters love “bloodsicles” – a mixture of blood and water – as an afternoon treat. The Wild Center welcomed its one-millionth visitor in July 2017.