New York City: The Perfect Accessible, Wheelchair-Friendly Travel Destination

New York City is the perfect destination for accessible travel. A wheelchair user will have no problem enjoying NYC's culture and fun. Although accessible travel takes a little planning, especially for wheelchair accommodations, a person with a disability will find NYC very welcoming and easy to get around.

Where to Stay

To make it easiest to see and do the most in the least amount of time, you should choose a hotel in the center of Manhattan. You won't have to worry too much about getting around, as most of the theaters, museums, shops and attractions will be within walking [or rolling] distance. The most convenient area is the
Broadway/Times Square district.

Hotel Accommodations

Accessible travel takes a little extra planning, so book your hotel room in advance, especially if you require a roll-in shower. Call the hotel directly, rather than booking through an 800 number or chain Web site. Here are some of the larger hotels in the Times Square area and their direct phone numbers.

• Marriott Marquis (212) 398-1900

• Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers (212) 581-1000

• Hilton Times (212) 840-8222

• Millennium Broadway (212) 768-4400

• W Hotel Times Square (212) 930-7400

Most hotels in this area are relatively new, and all conform to ADA regulations.

For help, contact SATH - the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality http://SATH.org

Broadway Theaters

No visit to NYCis complete without seeing live theater. Every Broadwaytheater has a wheelchair section. But for the more popular plays and musicals, purchase tickets in advance, especially if you need a wheelchair spot. Broadway shows can be pricey, but wheelchair tickets are deeply discounted, and one companion pays the same ticket price as the wheelchair user. For tickets at face value [without expensive broker fees] go to telecharge.com. Make sure you specifically request wheelchair seating if you need it. Here is a You can also call 1-888-VISIT-NYand press 2 for Broadway, to book tickets.

If you don't need special accommodations, you can visit the TKTS Booth on 47th and Broadway, for half-price tickets the day of the performance. Arrive early for the best choice. You will wait in line, but you will save a lot of money. A word of caution: you probably will not get a wheelchair spot this way.

Museums

TheMuseum of Modern Art [MoMA] and the Metropolitan Museum of Art [known as "the Met"]are both close-by and are fully accessible for people with disabilities.

Parks

World-famous Central Park spans 843 acres from 59th Street to 110th St. The Central Park Zoo and Wildlife Center, the Children's Zoo and Strawberry Fields

Roll through the promenades of Bryant Park's gardens just south of Times Square, and visit the adjacent beaux-arts building of the famous New York Public Library, guarded by two giant stone lions.

Shops and Restaurants

For fun, visit the ESPN Zone, the MTV store, the Hershey Store, and the M & M Store. Or shop in elegance on Fifth Avenue, where you can browse at Tiffany's,Saks Fifth Avenue and Gucci. Or check out the flagship store of Macy's in Herald Square.

Other Attractions - Times Square and Nearby

• ABCs Good Morning America show has a studio facing Times Square. You can go and join the throngs who stand outside to watch them do the show!

• Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

• Rockefeller Center and the famous Radio City Music Hall

• St Patrick's Cathedral

• Lincoln Center

• Carnegie Hall

• Empire State Building and Observation Deck

• And, of course, the neon lights of Times Square, especially impressive at night

Transportation

In case you want to venture further,Manhattan buses all have wheelchair lifts. For those who are mobile, but have trouble with steps, the bus entrance "kneels", or lowers, for easier access.

Some subway stations are accessible, but not all. You can find a list of accessible subway stations on the MTA accessible travel site
http://mta.info/mta/ada/index.html

NYC has wheelchair-accessible taxis that you can request by dialing 311.

For accessible travel, there is no better place for a three-day trip. New York City is one of the most wheelchair-friendly cities in the United States and, quite possibly, the world.

Some Useful Web Sites

SATH -- Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality http://SATH.org

NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities http://www.nyc.gov/MOPD

Metropolitan Transit Authority [MDA] Accessible Transit Site http://mta.info/mta/ada/index.html