When you need a break from the concrete canyons of New York City, you can always head to a breezy rooftop space or even walk along the High Line, the elevated railroad-turned-urban park in West Chelsea. But if you really want to get away from it all, head to upstate New York, specifically, to Wild Walk in the Adirondacks, where you not only immerse yourself in nature, but you can do so from a vantage point that's high above the treetops.
Located at the 81-acre Wild Center, a nonprofit museum and nature center near Tupper Lake, Wild Walk is a 1,250-foot-long elevated outdoor trail built directly over towering white pines — hence, the "High Line of the Forest" nickname. Designed by architect Chip Reay, Wild Walk features a four-story twig tree house with swinging bridges that showcases how animals live in the wild, an enormous spider's "web," and an oversized bald eagle's "nest" that's big enough for a family to fit into.
While at the Wild Center, you can also learn about the six-million-acre Adirondack Park (larger than Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite national parks combined) from naturalists, take hikes on nearby trails, sign up for a guided canoe trip, or go paddleboarding. In the museum building itself, get up close and personal with frogs, turtles, and other animals. Re-connecting with nature is the goal of the center, and you'll definitely do that while while exploring Wild Walk!
More from Best Products:
The Best National Parks to Visit During Your Summer or Fall Road Trip
Spend the Day Tasting and Touring at These 11 New York State Wineries
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook and Pinterest for more travel suggestions and the latest product news, so you can find the item that's perfect for you (at the right price)!
Jill is the former travel editor at BestProducts.com, showing her expertise on everything from the Best Rooftop Bars in NYC to the 30 Most Beautiful Cities in the World; the NYC native has previously worked at Travel & Leisure and has written articles for The New York Times, InStyle, Huffington Post, and Fodors. Recent trips have included the Bahamas and Natchez, and Patagonia and Vietnam are high on the bucket list. Though she’ll deny it, she is kind of obsessed with buying refrigerator magnets from the places she visits.
