Discover the Big Apple's Accessible Core
By Cory Lee, CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com
Of all the great cities in the world, New York City ranks king as a top travel destination. Everything from great food, engaging attractions, incredible history, and awesome entertainment waits for you in this traveler's paradise. Following is a list of some of the top attractions that are wheelchair accessible. There are plenty more, so use this as a starting point to plan your trip to NYC.
Statue of Liberty Cruise
Obviously, you will want to visit the Statue of Liberty during your time in New York. It is iconic after all. The Statue of Liberty cruise is something that is actually quite accessible for wheelchair travelers. You might need some assistance from the crew to help get your chair on board, but once there, you should have no problem navigating. There are also indoor areas should it rain. However, you can rule out the top deck since the only way to get up there is via the stairs.
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Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
The only drawback here involves some of the exhibits that feature smaller steps. These allow people to get a little closer to the wax figures for photo ops, but will obviously not afford you that same option. However, there are plenty of photo opportunities for you without having to get up close to the wax statues. Also, since the museum has multiple floors, there is an elevator that allows easy access to all. A bonus, the floors feature smooth tile which makes rolling around a dream.
President Barack Obama and me!
Ellen's Stardust Diner
This is one of those kitschy spots that screams tourist destination, but is well worth a visit. All of the staff perform Broadway musical style performances during their shifts. The food is good too. The only drawback is the front doors which are certainly wide enough to get your wheelchair through, yet they are not automatic. However, you will usually have no problem with that as people are always going in and out anyway. The bonus, the restroom here is wheelchair accessible as well.
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Broadway
You have to attend a Broadway play when you're in New York City. No trip to the Big Apple would be complete without it. The only thing you should do is check to make sure the theater you are attending will meet your individual accessibility needs. Most of the theaters cater to the disability community's access needs but, since a lot of them are older, you want to make sure that the accessible seats are in a good location. Many theaters also offer discounted pricing to wheelchair users, which means you can see more shows for a cheaper price.
Radio City Music Hall
Depending on which season you find yourself in New York City, this is a must-see. Of course, they always feature awesome concerts throughout the year. However, during winter, they are famous for their Rockettes show, which has actually become a nationally adored living piece of history. The only thing you need to be conscious of is that if the entertainers asked the crowd to stand, you might have some visibility issues. Usually though, this is short-lived. The restrooms are accessible, featuring stalls that are plenty wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and there are elevators to take you up or down accordingly.
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Macy's Herald Square
This is the famous spot that is home to many movie scenes. You can find it on Fifth Avenue right in the heart of New York City's shopping district. If you plan on shopping at Macy's, there's only one elevator on site and the line can be quite long. They feature wooden escalators, however, that have been in use since the store opened. Obviously, you cannot use a wheelchair on the escalator, but they do make for a great photo opp. Definitely worth a visit if you can make time to attend and feel like splurging a bit in this shopper's paradise.
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Central Park
Home to so many activities that change daily, Central Park is a way to unwind and relax during your stay. There is a zoo on site if you are up for some wild adventures, or you can simply tour the park. There are always new activities to be found, beautiful garden sculptures to look at, and of course acres of wide open, green space in New York City's only place for recreational outdoor activity.
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And there you have it, several great accessible places to see during your time in New York City. You will certainly add more to your list once you arrive, and can probably write a piece or two of your own about your experience afterward. This is a place like no other. The city that never sleeps has so much to offer, both day and night, that you could find yourself rolling around for quite a while.
About the author:
After being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at the age of two, Cory Lee's desire to explore never ceased. He has been to fourteen countries so far and has plans to visit many more. Join his worldwide adventures at CurbFreeWithCoryLee.com, where he shares his accessible, and sometimes not so accessible, travel experiences with others. His hope is to inspire you to start rolling around the world!
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