TL;DR/The Short Version: Historical site that allows you to…read moresee what life would have been like in Upper Canada around the 1860s. The Long Version: I went here with my husband and a friend of his and the friend's kids. It's a little village where they preserved everything so walking through you get a glimpse of what life would have been like in Upper Canada in the 1860s-1900s. Many of the buildings are original buildings that were relocated to the site. They have actors who are dressed in clothing from that time and stay in character like they are living from those times. Some of the buildings include the wool factory, the saw mill, flour mill, bakery, cheese factory, dressmaker, tinsmith, shoe maker, church, and residential homes. There's a farm with sheep, pigs, horses and cows. The bakery makes real bread that's sold in the gift shop for $7 a loaf. The flour is stone milled and the pans are greased with pork lard, apparently the way it was done during the 1860s. We wanted to get a loaf, but they were too popular. The lineup was epic and they only make a limited amount of loaves per day. There are horse carriage rides that are free with admission and also a miniature train ride which costs an additional $8 a person. We took the miniature train ride and in my opinion, it wasn't worth the extra cost, lol. The "lineup" for the free horse carriage was pure chaos. There was no real lineup and hoards of people with their kids just milled around at the waiting area. When a carriage was available there was a mad dash to get on the wagon. It was pandemonium and everyone else in my group snagged a seat but I wasn't able to. So I told them to go ahead and I was good to sit this one out. I scrolled through Yelp on my phone while I waited for them to return. There's a functional sit-down restaurant (Willard's Hotel) that serves food typical of that era and is served by people in period dress. They even had Welsh Rarebit on the menu! We did not eat there though, lol. We ate at the modern cafeteria (The Harvest Barn) since the food there was more to the kids' tastes (burgers, fries, etc.). It's overpriced Sysco foods but you're paying for the convenience. I got 3 chicken tenders and fries ($14.95). My husband got a sausage on a bun ($8.95) and made it a combo (additional $6) with fries and a small fountain drink. I got a bottle of water, which I think was about $2.50. The food was frozen mass produced food that was refried. At least the chicken strips were real chicken breast meat. Had we been there on our own, we would have gone to Willard's Hotel. They also have a cafe and a Beaver Tails (deep fried flattened dough) kiosk too for food. It was neat to walk around, but I feel like one visit was enough. I found it amusing that they sell season passes because I can't imagine wanting to go back anytime soon, if ever. Lol. They do have special events here like Pumpkin Inferno where they have lots of carved pumpkins/Jack o'lanterns on display, but I'm pretty sure admission to those events are not included in season passes. Despite my less than enthusiastic review, I have no regrets going, life is about adventures, lol, and I'm grateful to my husband's friend for getting me out to a place I would likely have never gone to otherwise. General admission is $26. Kids under 4 are free, 5-12 is $17 and 13-18 is $20. Seniors 65+ are $24. A family pass is $80 (2 adults and up to 3 kids 18 years old or younger). Parking is free and plentiful. Review #136 (2025)

I remember going to upper Canada as a kid and loved it. I was so excited to bring my kids here…read moreand show them the Village. We got there first thing in the morning and it was already quiet busy. Maybe we just went on an off day, but the vibe was just different than I remembered. We actually only ended up staying about an hour and a half before we took off. Lots of walking, so be prepared to bring some good shoes. Not the greatest place for a little runners (babies) but better for four year olds and older. It was hard to find food on site, so bring lots of food with you . There was supposed to be a barn on site that sold french fries and sandwiches but we couldn't find it. Gift shop had a small cafeteria, but was understaffed . Picked up some bread that was made on site. I heard it was some of the best bread in town but I just wasn't a fan. It was whole wheat bread, and I just don't like the taste of whole wheat. There is a Beavertail stand at the entrance, but they weren't open at the time which was a bummer . They did give us free tickets upon checking in for another visit, but I'm not sure if we will go back.

The original farm house of the Wilder family, as in the family of Almanzo Wilder, husband to Laura…read moreIngalls Wilder, with some reconstructed outbuildings, all as described in Farmer Boy. There's a tour of the barn buildings and farm house, which ran us $25 for a family of of four but was well worth it and clocked in at about an hour. Arrive by 3:30 to make sure you get the full tour on a given day. It helps quite a bit to have read the book Farmer Boy (or other Little House books) before the tour, although not necessary to enjoy it as a slice of American life. This is essentially an idealization of the historical American farm (no manure smells or tetanus) and is private history, so it's not necessarily completely accurate or authentic, but the narrative they put together is quite decent. The guide (Kyle) was extremely knowledgeable although not afraid to say 'I don't know' to some questions, and was diligent about finding the answers to questions he didn't know about later. Extremely well-done tour guiding. I'm a little ambivalent about the political uses of the Little House books (the story's been co-opted a bit by Randian philosophers, in no small part because Rose Wilder Lane was one herself) but even with their gauzy views of pioneer history and selective editing of the Ingalls' real story, they remain classic reads and real musts for kids. There is a small museum which is a free entry, and a pretty decent gift shop featuring a library of the Little House books (and the somewhat more questionable "authorized by the estate" series, albeit out of print titles) and a number of related history books. The crafts are not tacky at all and are in keeping with the Americana theme. (One notable lacuna - the Eric Sloane books on heritage American farm tools, buildings, and methods, which are an obvious inspiration.) Both our enthusiastic ten-year-old and normally bored by such stuff seven year old enjoyed it very much, as both adults did. The one missing part is the demonstration garden and orchard are quite small, and there aren't many actual farm animals (just some sheep). That hardly seemed to matter to either of them in the end, though. This is a long way away from most things, but if you have a Laura Ingalls Wilder nut in the household or are interested at all in American social history, it's worth a side trip if you're in the area.

I came by during their Scotland festival and wasn't offered a tour, but I did have access to…read morehighland dancing, cows, and haggis in addition to a lovely couple of hot dog trucks and a small outdoor market. Apparently it was super crowded for them, but I thought it was the most pleasant and laid back Scots festival I've been to in the US (I was at one in Newfoundland that was a bit less hectic). The house and barns were staffed by workers in period costume (as well as cows). I was told about spinning and the reconstruction and weaving and cooking. The staff members were lovely and funny and nice. They also were very, very kind when I accidentally broke the house. The displays are excellent of their kind and grounded really strongly not only against Laura Ingalls Wilder's books but also against period reference books. I was really impressed, but I do think it's a lot of reading for small children. The volunteers were excellent about explaining things, though. The gift shop was lovely and stocked a great selection of books...I've read or own most of them, but it was nice to see them all in one place. The only drawback is the isolated location. I stopped on the way back from Montreal, going probably 2 hours out of the way (I know map quest says it's only an hour and half, but customs took a long time).

The Canadian Museum of Nature is an architectural masterpiece, blending Beaux-Arts symmetry with a…read morehistoric exterior and a striking glass tower. The Earth Gallery's gem collection and the Bird Gallery are exceptional, and the gift shop is high-quality. However, my visit was heavily disrupted by large school groups monopolizing the interactive displays. To avoid these groups, try visiting after noon, as morning hours are peak time for field trip arrivals.

It was as much fun touring this museum as it was watching the smaller kids get excited looking at…read morethe dinosaur fossils and the live insects. There was so much content even limiting it to just Canadian flora and fauna. The building itself is impressive, and everything is nicely organized inside. Parking would be my one peeve. You can walk to it from the light rail if you're okay with that and it's night weather, but we found that for a group, it was actually cheaper to take a Lyft, ironically. While this museum is designed to be a great source of information for kids, adults will like it too.

Tons of interesting displays on the topics of Astronomy, Geology, Fossils, Biology and Archaeology…read more Fun activities for parents' "future archaeologists" digging up bones and operating remote control dinosaurs. I loved the amazing collection of metals and minerals. Bring your camera for photo ops posing your children with their head inside a life-size dinosaur's mouth! Fun for the whole family! Business hours are Saturday 1 to 4 PM.

Great outdoor educational adventure the trails there can take you everywhere and the trolls that…read morewhere made were beautiful.

It's a wonderful place to visit, I saw people of all ages here to enjoy the beauty of this area…read more Just a note that they do not let anyone in even to park, before their posted hours. The entry works pretty smoothly though, and since we had prepaid tickets, they were able to look us up, give us a map and we were parked quickly. I was there specifically for the Thomas Dambo exhibit. He is a Danish sculpture artist known for his giant trolls made out of recycled wood. Each troll is unique and has a name and purpose....to save the Humans and teach them about sustainability. The trails are beautiful in the woods and clearly marked. There was a beautiful section of the forest where an original piece of music was being played from 24 speakers as you followed the trail. An enchanting small lake filled with water lilies was out the back door of the main building. They have a small cafeteria and a nice gift shop.The building was full of interesting exhibits, including a tank with otters.

Frederic Remington (1861-1909) was born nearby in Canton NY and his family moved here to Ogdensburg…read morewhen he was eleven. At an early age, he had a talent for art. He attended the art school at Yale University and eventually went out west to Montana at age nineteen, returning to Ogdensburg and eventually his first publishing in 1886 at the age of twenty-five. He is perhaps best known for the sculpture "The Broncho Buster" which has a copy here on display. As well, a number of his other paintings of the west. The images have captions and there are art tours/discussions on a regular basis. I have encountered his works at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln NE, the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. You will know it when you see it. [Round number review 22600 overall - 1577 of 2024 - 493 in New York]

The online museum shop does not respond to emails or phone calls…read more I wanted to purchase a small Cowboy reproduction sculpture that weighs 10 pounds and would be shipped by UPS. According to the UPS web site the shipping cost would be $25.66 to $40. The museum shop checkout shipping cost was $225. I tried to email and phone them about this cost but the shop never responded. Gary C.

A really neat exhibition that outlines the role of Parliament in Canadian government; the first…read moreroom is like a usual museum space, but the second room contains a 30m-or-so video, projected onto three walls, that identify some of the images of the main parts of Parliament. Though touted as a "360-degree" experience, it wasn't domed or circular, more like four walls, onto which cinematic images were projected. The inner exhibits told the story of various highlights in Canadian laws being passed. This exhibit I believe was produced to help make up for lack of visits to certain areas of Parliament when it's under construction and renovation until 2032.

Amazing exhibit on Parliament as both the Senate and House of Commons meet at temporary locations…read morefor the next several years due to renovations. You can book a tour online and the staff will welcome you in during your time slot. Amazing pictures, texts, and videos that are accessible to all. Loved seeing how Parliament works in Canada compared to the US government and while the tours were great I learned much more here. Hopefully much of the exhibits will be available in the parliament buildings across the street when renovations are over.

The Canadian Museum of History is an architectural wonder. Designed by Douglas Cardinal, its fluid,…read morecurved forms mimic the natural erosion of the land--evoking wind, water, and glaciers. The main entrance is designed as a symbolic mask, while the limestone exterior harmonizes perfectly with the riverfront landscape and the Parliament buildings across the Ottawa River. Inside, the Grand Hall's massive windows frame stunning views of the river, which serves as a breathtaking backdrop for the impressive totem pole collection. This museum is a must-see for anyone who values the combination of outstanding design and cultural history.

This place is a gem! So much about it is breathtaking, from the architecture, to the views of…read moreOttawa on the other side of the river, to the totems on display - everything! The layout is well organized, the history is thorough, the exhibits are interesting. One thing I truly appreciated is the total frankness of the documentation. They kept it real. Nothing was sugar-coated, nothing was whitewashed, they didn't attempt to erase or hide any history, and they made a point of trying to learn from past mistakes. Other places could learn from this. I hope the museum will be able to add on, to cover events in Canada's more recent history.

Great time and informative- we appreciated the effort from Alex and the enthusiasm for his work and…read moreprofessionalism-

A fascinating historical gem in Saranac Lake. The exhibit was curated to perfection. I learned so…read moremuch here and was thrilled to see they offered some historical copies for purchase in the gift shop. I would love to see this exhibit expanded.