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SARATOGA FAMILY | FALL 2020
Take a Walk Wild on the day trippin' with Just2FeetandaCamera.com
“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
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f 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.
Side! 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.
