Special Places

This year we’re planning on spending some time in the Adirondacks with my mother-in-law who is 83. She is doing pretty well but isn’t going to be climbing any mountains (nor am I). She is quite capable of doing a mile or so over terrain that isn’t too lumpy. She loves Mother Nature. She would not like Lake Placid; too touristy.

Offhand, I can think of three places that she could cope with physically and would interest her. One is the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake. The second is an interpretive center near Newcomb along NY 28N. The third is Buttermilk Falls south of Long Lake and just west of NY 30 which involves a walk of about 1/3 mile over not too uneven terrain.

Any additional ideas, especially near the central part of the Adirondacks? Tell us your secret spots to commune with nature.

Munn

Try the Wild Center in Tupper Lake. It's a museum that explores the natural history of the Adirondacks, rather than the cultural and social history like the Adirondack Museum. The whole campus has been beautifully done, with a focus on being "green" and using sustainable products. I highly recommend it!

http://www.wildcenter.org/

#2 bwightman,

Thanks for the good idea. Hadn't heard of the Wild Center. From your comments and peeking at their web site, it sounds very interesting.

Munn

I'll second the recommendation of The Wild Center! We visited there on last summer's vacation, and I was very impressed.

there is a series of books put out by a vermont book publisher -- 11 of them, I believe, breaking down the walking trails through pathways, animal trails, and brushback. it gives exact location and mileage and the terrain you will encounter, and many of these trails involve estuaries feeding into the hudson, schroon, and other rivers. i only have one of them in my library now, but shall have another two or three soon. try abebooks and enter EXPLORING THE SOUTH CENTRAL ADIRONDACKS. that's where the trails of north warren county are. i wa surprised. i thoiught we were in the lower east adirondacks, but i guess not. at least not to this series planner. lol. good luck and if you have a problem it is probably because i am relying on my memory as to the title above. reply and i will go dig the copy i have out of the couple of thousand that have not been categorized or placed yet.

I'm a little late, but I thought I'd report back. Thanks to reply posters. We did visit The Wild Center and loved it. My mother-in-law particularly was entranced and very interested. The river otters were a big hit (how could they not be?). I'd put the place in the highly recommended category.