Last week my cousin and I took a trip New York City! We have both been before, but this was the first time being there during Christmas so it was really exciting to see everything decked out for the holidays. Keep reading to find out accessible things to do, places to eat, and where to stay on your next trip to NYC!
Where to Stay:
Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square - I had a very nice stay at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Times Square. The location was great because it’s in walking distance of lots of the places we visited. Plus it's right next to a Krispy Kreme so the lobby always smells like doughnuts.
There are two dining options at the Crowne Plaza Hotel:
Broadway 49 - Restaurant with a diverse menu and great views of Broadway and Times Square.
Grind’n Co Coffee - Coffee shop with a bakery and grab and go food items.
Booking with Wheel the World
I booked this hotel through an incredible accessible travel agency called Wheel the World. It’s basically like Expedia, but every hotel listed on their site is ADA accessible. When listing accessibility features, they go into so much detail, even down to bed height! Here’s how it works:
Sign Up - Sign up with your email address.
Create an Accessibility Profile - Creating an accessibility profile helps Wheel the World get to know you so you can find the best hotels and activities that meet your needs.
Start Exploring! - Type in your destination and Wheel the World will show you accessible hotels in that area! You can also book accessible transportation and activities like walking tours or museum visits through Wheel the World.
Things to Do:
Chelsea Market is a food hall and shopping mall located in the Chelsea neighborhood. There's tons of restaurants, bars, shops, and holiday pop ups featuring New York local vendors. I got a burger and fries (basic, I know) from a place called The Creamline and browsed the shops and vendors for a couple hours on our first day. I recommend Chelsea Market on a day it's raining or really cold since it's all indoors! There's an elevator that leads down to an accessible bathroom.
I had the pleasure of taking a tour of the Financial District with Anina from Anina NYC Travels! She was born and raised in New York so she really knows her stuff! On this 2.5 hour Financial District tour we saw Wall Street, Federal Hall, New York Stock Exchange, Trinity Church, World Trade Center/September 11th Memorial, and more. Anina also offers a 2-3 hour tour of Central Park and does full day tours of various NYC sites/attractions, traveling by accessible taxis. Be sure to follow her socials:
This was the second time I’ve visited The MET and I still haven’t seen everything this museum has to offer. It’s MASSIVE! My favorite part of this visit was seeing The Costume Institute’s Fall 2023 exhibition, Women Dressing Women. The exhibit displays pieces from women fashion designers dating back to the turn of the twentieth century to present day. It will be on display until March 3rd, 2024 so be sure to see it if you’re planning a trip to NYC soon! There’s an accessible entrance to the museum at Fifth Avenue and 81st Street and through the parking garage at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street. Accessible restrooms and elevators can be found throughout the museum.
If you're trying to decide which observation deck to visit on your trip, I highly recommend SUMMIT One! I've been to attractions similar to this like the One World Observatory and I have to say SUMMIT takes the cake. It has not one, not two, but three viewing levels, immersive artwork, reflective illusions, and a section with transparent glass floor. It was such a cool experience and one of my favorite things we did this trip! All levels of the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt experience are wheelchair accessible. There are also accessible restrooms throughout the experience. To learn more about SUMMIT One accessibility click here.
I recommend the MoMA to first time art museum goers because it has lots of iconic pieces that most people will recognize. Our favorites were The Starry Night by Van Gogh, Monet’s Water Lilies, The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí, and several pieces by Andy Warhol. Accessible restrooms and elevators are found throughout the museum. I suggest using the gender neutral family restroom on the first floor because you don’t have to wait in line.
If you’re in New York during Christmas, you HAVE to see The Christmas Spectacular! Luckily there are usually 4-5 shows each day, but the sooner you get your tickets the better. I got mine for a 1 pm show on a Monday and found ADA floor seats (ORCH2, Row TT, Seats 206-207) for a decent price. When purchasing on Ticketmaster, make sure the ADA seat is fully wheelchair accessible and not a “semi-ambulatory seat,” otherwise you’ll have to transfer out of your wheelchair and into the seat. There are elevators and accessible restrooms are on the first, second, and third mezzanine.
During the holidays, Bryant Park transforms into a winter village/Christmas market. There’s a skating rink, shopping kiosks, and food booths. I wanted to visit the Winter Village because I saw several people hype the food up on TikTok, but what they didn’t show was how insanely crowded it was (to be fair, I went on a Saturday). I don’t regret going because we got some really delicious pasta at one of the food booths but just be prepared if you aren’t a fan of large crowds. The shopping kiosks had a step into them but instead of trying to get inside I was able to look from the outside and had my cousin buy what I wanted for me. There’s an accessible ramp entrance mid-block on 40th and 42nd Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. To learn more about the park’s accessibility and location of accessible restrooms click here.
Each Christmas, Saks Fifth Avenue displays a light show on the outside of their building. The show runs daily every 10 minutes from 5 pm - 10 pm and is free to the public. I recommend going late at night. That’s when we went and it wasn’t super crowded. Rockefeller Center is right next to it so you should check out the Christmas tree after your watch the light show. Also check out the window displays on 5th Avenue while you’re in the area!
Places to Eat:
Breakfast & Brunch
Ralph’s Coffee (5th Avenue Location) - If you’re shopping on 5th Avenue, stop by Ralph’s Coffee while you’re out! It’s located next to the Ralph Lauren store (there’s also a Madison Ave location). It’s decorated so beautifully during Christmas and makes for the best Instagram photos! There’s steps going into the main entrance but you can access it by going through the Ralph Lauren store too. We did this and were able to skip the line.
Friedmans (Times Square) - Great spot for breakfast if you're staying in Times Square. We sat in the section next to the bar and both ordered the blueberry pancakes (highly recommend). It's located inside Hotel Edison and has a step free entrance. I'm not sure about an accessible restroom.
Lunch & Dinner
All’Antico Vinaio’s Sandwiches (Times Square) - This is the place to go if you’re looking for an authentic Italian sandwich! The sandwiches are massive so you might want to split it with someone or just get half. The restaurant is really tight inside and gets busy at lunchtime so know what you want before you go inside. There’s not much seating but we were lucky enough to grab a spot at their bar along the wall. The entrance is step free but I’m not sure about an accessible restroom.
Jupiter (Rockefeller Center) - This Italian restaurant is located under Rockefeller Center along with shops and a couple other restaurants. It’s a great place to eat if you’ve been ice skating at Rockefeller Center or just saw The Saks Fifth Avenue Light Show. In fact you get a great view of the Rockefeller Tree and skating rink when you eat here! There are two elevators located on the north and south ends of the main plaza and accessible restrooms in Rockefeller Center.
Joe’s Pizza (Financial District) - There’s lots of debate about which pizza is the best in New York, but I have to say Joe’s is my favorite! We went to the location near the financial district (there’s also a Times Square location) after our tour. Like the sandwich shop, Joe’s is very small inside and there’s always a line out the door, but it moves quickly. We were able to snag a spot at their bar, which had a lower section for wheelchair users. It was fun to see the photos on the wall of all the celebrities that had eaten there. Definitely a must-do! There’s a step-free entrance but I’m not sure about an accessible restroom.
Transportation:
Subway - The subway is the fastest way to get around the city, but not all station have elevators down to the platform. Use the Citymapper app and the MTA app to find step free routes to your destination!
Uber WAV - Book a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) through Uber. This is the easiest way to get around but can get expensive if you're using it all the time.
Accessible Taxi - You can book accessible taxis but its also very expensive if this is the only way you're getting around.
I had the best time spending the holiday season in New York. I really hope this helps you if you’re planning a trip to NYC! Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!