Formerly the Adirondack Museum, the Adirondack Experience™ is a must-do when visiting the Adirondacks! 

We sat down with Jennifer Tremblay, a member of the Adirondack Experience's marketing team, to learn about what has changed at the museum over the years. The full interview is below.

 

An Adirondack Vacation Must-Do Since 1957!

The 121 acre campus includes 23 buildings and tons of indoor and outdoor activities. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Adirondacks of the past and present with exhibits, artifacts, and different areas to explore. 

New for 2019, hike along the Minnow Pond Trail and head down to the ADKX Boathouse where you can rent canoes, guideboats or skiffs. 

Editors tip: If your Adirondack vacation destination is at a rental with an afternoon check-in time, but you still want to leave home early enough to beat traffic, schedule a stop in Blue Mountain Lake on your way up and visit The Adirondack Experience!

The Adirondack Experience is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 5 pm. While it would take several hours to get the full experience, it's easy to spend at least two hours exploring the grounds. What better way to get you in the right state of mind as you start off your Adirondack vacation!

Your receipt will allow you a second entry into the museum for a full week after your first visit, so no need to do it all in one day. You can also use your receipt for discounts at other amazing things to do on your Adirondack vacation, including the Wild Center, Great Camp Sagamore, and Raquette Lake Navigation (for more on The Wild Center, check out our review here).

 

A Behind the Scenes Interview with the Adirondack Experience Team

 

Dellrock Apparel: What's the main reason why someone should include a visit to the Adirondack Experience when planning their Adirondack vacation?

The ADKX: Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, shares the history and culture of the Adirondack region in 23 historic and contemporary buildings on a 121-acre campus in the Central Adirondacks

We are more than a museum – we are an immersive, interactive experience in life, work and recreation in the Adirondacks. We are personal, engaging, inclusive, emotional, memorable, and ageless.

 

Dellrock Apparel: What's changed over the years? 

The ADKX: The opening of the most exciting new exhibition in our history, Life in the Adirondacks.

Our new exhibition is a 19,000 square foot interactive experience, combining the latest digital technology with real hands on experiences of adventure and spirit. The exhibition opened on July 1, 2017.

 

Dellrock Apparel: What kinds of fun things are available to people of various age groups?

The ADKX: Life in the Adirondacks is fully immersive and interactive. The exhibition includes:

• A life-sized interactive digital activity of breaking up a logjam allowing visitors to virtually experience this treacherous work.
  
  
• The story of the Mohawk and Abenaki will be explored using a language learning station, video interviews, music, and artifacts.
  
  
• An area dedicated to the story of mining will take visitors on an unforgettable journey exploring Adirondack underground iron mines and todays open pit mining.
  
  
• A giant walk-on map of the Adirondacks will explore people's impact on the park over time, along with strategies pursued over time to minimize that impact.

We also have The Great Outdoors: Adirondack Play and Adventure area, designed specifically for our younger audience. An exhibition featuring hands-on discovery stations all about outdoor sports. Young explorers love to “cook” a meal over the campfire, take a “nap” in the tent, use snowshoes in the summer time, or try rock climbing on the bouldering wall!

 

Dellrock Apparel: When I was a kid, my parents used to take us to the museum on rainy days, but it seems like you've added so many outdoor exhibits that I'd actually miss out if I was to come on a crummy day...

The ADKX: Adirondack Experience is great to visit no matter the weather! We offer a self-guided hike to Minnow Pond, July-September. Minnow Pond is a remote water body located 3/4 mile from the museum's main campus. Other experience include:

LAKE VIEW DECK: Don’t miss the Lake View Deck with stunning views of Blue Mountain and Blue Mountain Lake.

EXPERIENCE GARDENS: Stroll our grounds and enjoy over a dozen gardens featuring native plants, hardy perennials, colorful annuals, plus a variety of ferns and trees.

WHITEFACE FIRE TOWER: Climb to the top of the Whiteface Fire Tower for a spectacular view of the museum grounds and surrounding mountains and lakes.

MARION RIVER CARRY PAVILION: The Marion River Carry Pavilion is home to demonstrations and activities as well as a 1901 H.K. Porter Company steam engine and passenger car, the steam launch Osprey, and a unique diorama depicting turn-of-the-century transportation systems in the Central Adirondacks.

RUSTIC GAZEBO: The Rustic Gazebo is a reproduction of an open-air summerhouse from the Blue Mountain House era.

MERWIN HILL PAVILION: The Merwin Hill Pavilion provides a shady resting spot and panoramic views.

 

 

Dellrock Apparel: So when is the ideal time to come? How busy does it get, particularly during the summer? Weekends vs Weekdays? 

The ADKX: Weekends tend to be a little busier during the summer, but that’s also usually when our events occur. It never feels overwhelming because of the vast size of our campus. If one exhibition feels a little crowded, there is the option to visit another, or enjoy the campus outdoors. We have picnic tables scattered throughout campus so you’re welcome to sit back and relax.

 

Dellrock Apparel: I noticed that you offer the ability to become a member as an individual or a business. Can you speak a little bit about the Adirondack Experience community? 

The ADKX: Adirondack Experience offers both individuals and organizations, who share an interest in helping to preserve the history of the Adirondacks, an array of opportunities to express their support.

Through levels of membership, annual donations, and special campaigns, individuals, families, and businesses can choose from a number of ways to help the museum fulfill its mission.  The museum’s gratitude for this generosity shines through in its outstanding exhibitions and special events, which attract members and visitors from all over the country and the world.

The museum gives back to the community in a number of ways, including discounted membership dues for permanent residents of the Adirondack Park; and providing our business members with important exposure both onsite in our Visitor Center and online on our website.  Adirondack Experience welcomes everyone to learn about and appreciate the unique history of the Adirondacks and its people, and to enjoy our exceptional exhibitions and programs.

 

Dellrock Apparel: If I'm going to plan a visit for my family that includes small children, how much time will it really take to enjoy Adirondack Experience to its' fullest? 

The ADKX: It generally takes visitors 2-3 hours to go through the campus but some also spend an entire day. A cool perk about purchasing an admission ticket is that your admissions receipt allows for one complimentary visit within seven days of purchase. If you find you don’t have time to see everything on your first visit, you can come again for free within a week!

 

Dellrock Apparel: What other recommendations do you have for someone planning a day trip to the Blue Mountain Lake area? 

The ADKX: We are just a 40 minute drive from The Wild Center in Tupper Lake and it’s worth checking out both places! We offer $2 off admission for having a Wild Center receipt in the same day of visiting, and The Wild Center offers the same with an Adirondack Experience receipt.

The Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts is also located in Blue Mountain Lake and is just a mile away from the Adirondack Experience. They host wonderful art exhibits and have an array of theatrical performances throughout the summer.

For hikers, the trailhead to Blue Mountain is 0.3 miles away from the museum! It’s a moderate-difficult hike with a fire tower and gorgeous views. Castle Rock, a moderate hike, is also very close- about 1.5 miles away.

 

Dellrock Apparel: Are there any last tips, recommendations, or life hacks that you'd like to pass on? 

The ADKX: With 121 sprawling acres and over two dozen buildings and exhibition spaces to explore, you can count on your Adirondack Experience visit to be just that: an experience that’s action-packed, entertaining, educational, and fun for the entire family.

From feeding trout, to bird watching, to interacting with craftsmen as they ply their trades, to strolling gallery after gallery of Adirondack art, photography, furniture, tools, cabins, boats and more, the Adirondack Experience has something for everyone.

 

All photos sources from theadkx.org. Buy tickets for the Adirondack Experience here.