My Top 10 Wheelchair Accessible Places to Visit in Upstate New York
New York is a wonderful state with so many things to offer. Most people automatically associate New York with the city, (which is also a great place to visit) but New York has so much more to offer. Having lived in upstate NY all of my life, I have been able to visit so many amazing places. Here are my top 10 favorite wheelchair accessible places to visit in upstate New York.
Best Wheelchair Accessible Places to Visit in Upstate New York
1. Niagra Falls
Ok, so I’m going to mention one of the most popular places first. Niagra Falls is beautiful no matter what time of year you visit. This park offers paved, accessible paths to all of the major viewpoints. It also has ramps to get to the overlooks.
If you visit in the warmer months, I highly recommend taking the Maid of the Mist boat tour to the base of the falls. Just be warned… you will get wet! They do provide you with a rain poncho to wear. I took two, so I could cover my ventilator as well as myself.
There are ramps leading to the boat as well as a ramp to get on the boat, and they will have you located on the top deck. The boat does get crowded, so the earlier you are in line to get a spot by the railing, the better.
Another option to cool off is to visit Cave of the Winds. This activity is partially accessible. You will first watch a movie and then proceed to an area where you will put on a rain poncho and flip-flops (again you will get wet in this activity).
Next, you will take an elevator down to the viewing area. The first part of the viewing area is paved and wheelchair accessible. To get to the base of the waterfall and experience its hurricane like weather, however, there are steps involved. While I wasn’t able to climb the steps, I was still able to see the waterfall and enjoy the views of the river.
You could easily (like I did) spend a whole day here. For even better views of the falls, consider driving over to the Canadian side for a different perspective.
2. Adirondacks
This is a great fall destination to see the foliage. A weekend getaway is the perfect amount of time to experience all that the mountains have to offer. From driving up White Face Mountain, to visiting the ski jump that was used in the Lake Placid Olympics, scenic drives and even a covered bridge, the Adirondacks will not disappoint.
There are a number of accessible things to do in the area. For more information on my fall trip here, check out my blog post here where I will give you all of the accessibility information you need.
3. Boldt Castle
Typically, when you think of a castle, the last thing that comes to mind is accessibility. Well, this beautiful castle, located on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands region of New York, has great accessibility!
Originally the castle and island were to be a gift of love from George C. Boldt (proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City) to his wife Louse. Unfortunately, Louise died suddenly in 1904 and all work on the castle stopped. For over 70 years, the castle was abandoned until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority took over and worked to finish the castle according to its’ original design.
Drive to the boat (Yacht) house (located on the mainland) and then take the accessible shuttle boat over to the island. The grounds are not perfectly flat but are manageable in a wheelchair.
The castle itself (which is still being finished) has an accessible entrance and an elevator to take you to the various floors. The other buildings on the island may be partially accessible or difficult to access. The gardens are easy to enjoy for people of all abilities.
4. Letchworth State Park
This beautiful park is located near the Rochester area (just south). It features a nature education center, three waterfalls and lots of scenic viewing areas. There are some trails that are partially wheelchair accessible.
It’s a fantastic way to spend a day or even a weekend. Although a wonderful place to visit at all times of the year, it is especially picturesque in the fall with the leaves changing colors.
There are even accessible lodging options if you wish to stay within the park. You can either camp at one of the campgrounds or stay in an accessible cabin. Cabin areas A (8 & 11) and C (2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, & 13) are handicap accessible.
The easiest waterfalls to view from an accessibility stand point are the middle and upper falls. They are located near each other and there are flat pathways to the viewing areas. At the middle falls overlook, there are some steps, but one can wheel around them in the grass.
To get the best look at Middle Falls, follow the sidewalk to the overlook just up a short hill. Steps lead down to a lower viewing area, but you can “park” your wheelchair at the top for a nice view.
There are several scenic drives with overlook pull offs throughout the park. Not all overlooks have accessible parking, but many have “windshield views”.
The park is also breaking barriers by offering an Autism Nature Trail. Located near the nature center, this ADA compliant trail is specifically designed for individuals on the spectrum and features multiple ways to engage the senses.
Spots along the trail include a sensory station where people can touch and smell things commonly found in the forest (I.e., moss, acorns, leaves etc.), a music circle that highlights nature inspired musical instruments to allow for creativity, sunshine slope that has a place for people to be alone and three cuddle swings, meadow run and climb that has paths for running, jumping and beams to balance on, and many other stops to allow for activity and creativity while providing quiet areas in case someone becomes overstimulated.
5. Corning Museum of Glass
Located near Elmira, NY this museum features works of art made from glass. They offer glass blowing demonstrations where you can watch some of the artists at work.
Accessible parking is available and there are accessible pathways throughout the museum. Demonstration areas also offer accessible spots for wheelchairs. Located on site is an accessible gift shop and café.
If you are wondering how visiting a museum of glass is entertaining, let me assure you it is! There are all sorts of sculptures and even Tiffany-stained glass windows here. Tou would be amazed just what you can do with glass and the skill it takes to create these pieces of art.
6. Buttermilk and Taughannock Falls
Ithaca, NY is at the base of Cayuga Lake (one of the finger lakes) and offers gorgeous gorges and two wonderfully accessible waterfalls. Located in two separate state parks in the Ithaca area, Buttermilk and Taughannock Falls are wonderful places to picnic and spend some time.
Buttermilk Falls is a short and mostly flat walk/roll from the parking area. There are picnic tables at the base of the falls (although I don’t know that any of them are specifically adapted for wheelchair users).
Taughannock Falls is across the street from the state park that is named after it. To access the falls, you have two options. First you can drive to the Falls Overlook area which is just up the road from the park. This overlook will allow you to see the falls from above them.
Your second option is to roll the accessible trail from the small parking lot to the base of the falls. This trail is dirt and mostly level. There is a small incline at the beginning of the trail, which is the steepest section (but I have no problems navigating it in my mobility scooter). Manual wheelchair users may need some assistance in this section.
The trail is just under a mile long. Towards the end of the trail, you will need to cross a small wooden bridge to get to the falls viewing area. There is a small lip at the ends of the bridge, I’m estimating ½ inch to an inch in height.
After viewing the falls, there are accessible restrooms in the park across the street. The picnic tables make a nice spot to watch the boaters on the lake and to have a bite to eat.
7. Tour the wineries that make the finger lakes famous.
Along the finger lakes, are wonderful wineries that offer great views while sipping on some local wines. These wineries will vary in accessibility, but there are plenty to choose from as they are all along the coast of the lakes.
I recommend doing some research ahead of time to pick wineries that will have the style of wine you enjoy as well as to assess accessibility. In general, I’ve found most of the wineries to have decent to good accessibility.
When a friend was visiting me, I took her to Americana winery just north of Ithaca, NY. There was an accessible entrance and tasting stations. They also had accessible restrooms.
Tip: Make sure you have a designated driver for this activity. It also helps if you have a full stomach or eat at a café along the way (some wineries also serve food). I’m not a big drinker, so I got tipsy pretty quick. It doesn’t help that the woman serving us was very generous with her pours.
8. Animal Adventure
I’m slightly biased as this animal park is about 45 minutes from where I live, but it is a wonderful place to spend the day. It was also just certified from the Zoological Association of America. They offer a wide variety of animals to observe and interact with while offering good accessibility.
There is accessible parking and restrooms on site. Paved pathways lead visitors throughout the park and there are manual wheelchairs available to rent. Just be aware that the park is not perfectly flat. None of the inclines are very steep, but there are several throughout the park.
Why Should I Visit Animal Adventure?
Animal Interactions
What makes this park stand out is your opportunity to interact with the animals. If you choose to purchase a feed cup or bucket, you can feed many of the animals either by hand or through a tube (for the animals that may bite). One of the highlights for many visitors is feeding the giraffes.
Awesome Animal Encounters
If you would like even more of an up-close look at some of the animals, you can book an animal encounter. These encounters allow you to meet the animal keepers to learn even more about what makes a specific kind of animal special. Depending on the encounter, you may get to pet the animal and even feed it.
Encounters are currently offered for the Sloth, South African Penguins, Kangaroos, Lions, Alligators and Giraffes. I was given a Sloth encounter for my birthday by my parents and had a fantastic time! The staff worked with me to choose an accessible encounter and made sure I had a great experience.
During my encounter, I learned so much about Sloths, got to meet Ruby (an adult female) as well as a baby Sloth. Ruby was very curious about my ventilator and mobility scooter and kept trying to climb on it. I did get to feed her, her favorite treats (pears) and pet her. I also got to hold the baby Sloth which was laying on a stuffed animal.
Hold a Baby Kangaroo
Also, during my visit, the Kangaroos had given birth to a baby a couple of months previously, so I had the opportunity to hold a baby kangaroo! Irwin, the kangaroo was in a fabric pouch that simulated his mother’s pouch and I got to hold him in the pouch and pet him. They are so soft!
I always have a great time when I visit Animal Adventure and usually go at least once a year. I recommend going early in the day, as that is when the animals are most active. As the day warms up, they tend to nap in a shady spot in the afternoon and it may be hard to find them.
Animal Adventure also offers low sensory programs for people on the spectrum. In addition, throughout the park there are air-conditioned care stations which allow for privacy should someone become over-stimulated or need a quiet area.
Check out available animal encounters here!
9. Strong Museum of Play
Located in the city of Rochester, this museum isn’t your typical museum as it is an interactive space all about toys! Some exhibits are permanent and some rotate, but all allow kids to interact and play. If you have kids with special needs, this is a great way to spend the day.
For those with sensory needs, the museum allows access before it opens to the public on Sensory Friendly Sunday. There are also quiet areas that include sensory friendly toys, light and sound reduction, and extra visual safety signage.
For people with mobility issues, there are accessible parking and restrooms (including some family restrooms). All public entrances and most exhibits are also accessible. Ramps and elevators are located throughout the museum.
Kids can walk on Sesame Street, visit with the Berenstein Bears, and pretend to work at a grocery store. There are also reading areas and even an aquarium on site. Also, be sure to check out the Toy Hall of Fame and the area that’s dedicated to video games.
10. Newtown Battlefield
This revolutionary war battlefield is located just outside of Elmira, NY. This significant battle was one of the largest offensive campaigns of the American Revolution. It was part of a larger expedition to punish the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy who had sided with the British in the war and had attacked frontier settlements.
Today, when you visit this historic park, you will see a monument to those that fought and plaques describing the battle and its significance. There is also a camping and picnic area with accessible restrooms on site.
Unfortunately, the trails in the park are not accessible, but you can roll down the paved road (or drive if you wish) to an area that has a recreation of a Native American village. There are no interpretive signs in the wooded village, but you can look inside long houses and community gathering buildings. There is a threshold, making the buildings themselves inaccessible, but you can see most of the interior from the outside.
It’s a great stop if you like history and are in the area. Since the park is located on top of a hill, it also offers great views.
Wheelchair Accessible Places to Visit in Upstate New York: When to Go
Although Upstate New York has something to offer no matter what the season, to avoid the snow, it’s best to visit during the spring, summer and fall months. Spring will have waterfalls at their peak, summer will have the nicest weather, and fall will offer beautiful foliage. You choose which season sounds best to you.
Conclusion on Best Wheelchair Accessible Places to Visit in Upstate New York
There are so many wonderful wheelchair accessible places to visit in upstate New York. I’ve only listed a few… and some of my favorites. If you’ve never visited before, or have only been to the city, I hope this inspires you to explore and even plan a trip here in the future. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
