With Kids! 
Steep slopes, rushing rivers, impenetrable forests: secluded mountain regions may not be the first thing that come to mind for accessible travel… but maybe they should be!
We had an incredible time in the Catskill Mountains. I’m glad the ruggedness of the region didn’t scare us off. Check out all the fun things the Catskill Mountains have to offer. As always, all suggestions are family friendly and wheelchair accessible!
Getting There and Around
You’re going to want a car. While you can easily fly into New York and get transportation to the area, once you’re there it’s not really the kind of place for city buses or Ubers. You’ll find loads to do, but things are pretty spread out.
If you’re driving up from the south, I suggest a stopover in Easton on the way. You could spend a full day at Crayola Experience, or just stretch your legs for a few hours checking out the downtown shops. If your legs are looking for a little more work, and you have a good hiking carrier, check out Ringing Rocks Park. This one is not wheelchair friendly, but if you’re able to get to these melodious rocks you’re in for a fun treat. (Bring a hammer!)
Where to Stay
You’ll be surprised by the options available to you. Depending on how far into the mountains you want to go, there are a variety of hotels, motels, lodges, cabins, Airbnb’s, and even resorts. My suggestion (and no one is paying me to say this) is a Getaway house. These tiny cabins are secluded, so that you can fully immerse in nature, but also staffed, so that you don’t have to worry about any worst-case-scenarios (like running out of coffee!). They have wheelchair accessible cabins, and they’re cheaper than you think (especially if you use my code, WONDER25 when booking to save $25). We loved the experience of “camping” without any of the hassles.
What to See and Do
Hit the Slopes
Wait, I thought this was supposed to be family friendly and wheelchair accessible. Oh yeah, it is. How about Windham Mountain offers adaptive ski lessons? We didn’t try it because it was just me and the kids… and three littles on skis sounded terrifying to me. I’m excited to go back as a family and try it out next season!
Take in Some Art History
Remember the Hudson River School? Makes sense that it should start near the Hudson River…
The Thomas Cole National Historic Site hosts both the birthplace of American art and the gallery of it’s founder. His original home is not currently wheelchair accessible, but the gallery and visitor’s center are.
Trails with a View (Waterfalls)
Kaaterskill falls is right off of a rail trail – which means you can roll right up to a viewing platform. If the weather is nice and you’re up for a long scenic walk, you can park at Mountain Top Historical Society and walk/roll about two miles in. It was freezing when we went, so we chose to map right to the viewing platform and only walk the last quarter of a mile. From here, you can also cross a bridge for views of the river. Click here for more falls and trails nearby, some wheelchair accessible, and some more rugged. The Hudson Valley Rail Trail extends beyond the mountains for diverse scenery.
Hit the Lake
We went to North-South Lake because it was closest to our other activities. As you can see, it was beautiful. It’s a great option for swimming, fishing, or just picnicking by the lake.
Lake Minewaska is an option farther south, and some call Sleepy Hollow Lake New York’s best kept secret. There’s water to be found in every direction, and while I’m usually a fan of just mapping whatever is closest, you’ll want to double check it’s not private property!
Towns and Shops
Ok, so, I’m not sure what the population qualifiers of a “town” are, or if most of these small groupings of buildings fit into that category, but they’re everything you would expect and want to see in a mountain region.
Head into Tannersville to check out the antique shops and grab a bite. Known as the “Painted Village in the Sky,” it’s worth a looksie. Not all shops or restaurants are accessible, but it’s a quaint mountaintop experience. We enjoyed homemade donuts at Twin Peaks Donuts and Coffee (wheelchair accessible side entrance). It seemed to be the busiest place in town, which means it’s probably also one of the best! With a short loop north of town, you can also visit the Mountain Top Arboretum (one of the few public arboretums we’ve found) and check out the unique historical landmark of All Souls Church. I promise some worthwhile mountain scenes along the drive!
What to Eat
Last Chance Cheese in Tannersville offers fondue in a unique environment (an antique shop): tasty, but not wheelchair friendly.
We didn’t try any real food (just donuts) at Twin Peaks Donuts and Coffee, but the donuts and coffee were spot on, so I imagine their breakfast/lunch is as good as it smelled.
While you may be in the middle of nowhere, there are actually restaurants scattered throughout. Map a restaurant near you and you’ll find a variety of flavors within a reasonable distance. There are plenty of mom and pop shops and stops. Two Mama’s Deli and Mart was just down the mountain from our Getaway and offered nightly dinner specials, in addition to their daily breakfasts. The mama’s were friendly – and excellent chefs.
We enjoyed a few bites out, because it’s part of the fun of being away from home, but in reality we could’ve just had all our meals in our cabin. We had everything we needed right in our tiny Getaway. Cooking in a cabin was a novelty for the kids, so they got a kick out of being helpful. Wesley (7) made mac and cheese and the twins (3) were responsible for breakfast (cereal). No one even complained about dish duty! We didn’t bother packing any non-perishables – we just picked up milk and cheese at Two Mama’s Deli on our way to the cabin.
Around
The Catskill Mountains are vast – with opportunities for a plethora of wilderness experiences. What I’ve detailed is specific to the northwest region, because there’s simply too much to cover! If you have the time, or if you’re coming from the south, I would also strongly suggest a stop-over in the Hudson Valley. We stretched our legs on the Walkway over the Hudson, which is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge. It would’ve been nice to spend more time in the park and downtown shops on the other end of the bridge. We also didn’t make it to the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, an historic landmark in the world of accessibility in addition to its significance in political history. If you do make it to the valley, check out these great suggestions for the area.
