Best Stops for Families with Wheels
Let’s face it, when you’re traveling with a disability and you google the “best places to visit in______” you get lots of nice articles… that do you little good. Each location then has to be googled for accessibility options, and then most places need a follow-up call because the web site doesn’t mention accessibility at all. So, as Lancaster locals, we’ve been on a mission to canvas Lancaster County for the best accessible options for kids. First, take heart. There are actually a lot of accessible options, even in this old town. Second, understand that this is a “best of” post. I won’t list everywhere that you can go on wheels: I’ll just tell you which places are most worth your time. These are the best handicap accessible places where you can spend the most amount of time for the least amount of money in Lancaster County and the surrounding areas. If you’re visiting from out of town, you should also check out Lancaster for Tourists.
Let’s start with free:
Rails to Trails Hiking is tough with a wheelchair. I’m in love with rails to trails because they enable my family to get into the woods and “off the beaten path” on… a beaten path. This is the accessible way to hit the trails. There are paths all throughout the county. Click above to find one near you and get outside!
This is the best inclusive playground in the area. You can use my must-have apps for finding others, but this is our go-to playground. Everything here is 100% wheelchair accessible.
On to best values for your money:
I’ll be honest – we lived here for quite some time before I was willing to try this place. Because they charge starting at age 1, it costs $46 for my family to play. Ouch. That being said, when I tallied up the amount of time we can spend per location and sorted by the price we pay, they actually came up as the best value. My kids are all under 7, but we could play here from open to close. All of the play structures are built to accommodate wheelchair entry, except for the castle. It’s also an open layout, so you can keep an eye on all three kids who are all interested in different areas.
We make it a point to check out science museums in different cities when we’re traveling. Lancaster’s Science Factory can rival some of the big city’s museums. All activities are wheelchair accessible… which is a step ahead some of the big-city science centers we’ve visited!
Because we can get into Philly’s Please Touch Museum for $2 per person (if you have a disability, make sure you’re getting your discount!), we never bothered with our own local children’s museum. We were missing out! My family can get a full afternoon or morning here. There are a few parts of the museum that are not wheelchair accessible, but we still have plenty there to keep us busy.
America’s oldest operating railroad has a wheelchair lift to make the historic train accessible to all. Thank you, Strasburg. I know I’m starting to get into pricier family activities. This may not be something for every week, but it would be perfect for your splurge day on a staycation. They offer a handful of add-ons so you could potentially make a day of it.
A few other places worth mentioning…
Did you know Lancaster County has one of the best train museums in the country? How ‘bout that. Unfortunately, you can’t get a wheelchair onto most of the trains. My son didn’t mind. He loved just looking at them all.
I know, I’m stepping out of the county, but it’s worth the step. Hersheypark costs only a little more than Dutch Wonderland and offers so much more. In addition to rides for all ages, their accessibility program is easier to use. With the recent remodel, the obnoxious hill to get in is gone and the park is wonderfully inclusive. They make a point of making you a VIP instead of making you feel like it’s a nuisance to accommodate your needs.
There are loads of other Lancaster County fun stops, cultural spots, and historic locations, but these are the best handicap accessible places to visit in Lancaster County.
Need the wheels to get you there? Our Veer Cruiser has mastered corn mazes, Rails-to-Trails, farm fields, and mountain trails. Veer helps us GO places.
