You would think that it would be difficult to hide a 65-acre arboretum in the middle of a busy urban area.

Apparently, it's easier than you'd think. The Lichterman Nature Center sits smack in the middle of East Memphis. Though the entrance is marked with a sign, it's easy to accidentally pass it if you're not paying attention.

It's also surprising how easy it is to forget that you're in the middle of the city when you walk the trails at Lichterman. Its paved trails are peaceful and shady. The only reminder that the city is nearby is the occasional glimpse of office buildings peeking over the trees.

The trails wind through meadows and forest, through giant fields of powerline-eating Kudzu. There's a long boardwalk through a lily pad filled marsh and bridges over the lake. If you need some serious head-clearing, Lichterman is the perfect place to get it done.

The center is also home to the Backyard Wildlife Center, an educational building that houses live animals and hands-on exhibits. When you're in the visitor's center, be sure to check out the huge display of various taxidermied Mid-South native critters. I especially love this cat in action:

Lichterman Nature Center is part of the Pink Palace family of museums, so if you're a member at the Pink Palace, you can get into Lichterman for free. Admission is $6 for adults and $4.50 for kids. Admission is free on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. until close.

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Lichterman Nature Center