Accessible Finger Lakes with Kids
The Finger Lakes of New York are known for their wine trails. With over 100 wineries, why shouldn’t they be? I guess a wine trail isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for family travel OR social distancing (umm… how do I sip through my mask??); but, let me tell you why the Finger Lakes takes the top pick of our Covid-travels.
1. Isolation
This is pretty high on the requirement list for a lot of us this year. Whatever your stance is on masks and social distancing, it’s easier to just go somewhere where you don’t have to worry about any of it. We camped in the national forest. Out of our four days at the lakes, we only donned masks a handful of times – because we weren’t around any people! There were times when we had a whole lake, waterfall, or trail to ourselves, and we were never in a situation where we couldn’t be six feet apart. We put on masks for Taughannock Falls State Park and to enter ice cream shops – that’s it. Which brings me to…
2. Ice cream
I’ve found that this is pretty much at the top of my family’s priority list for summer experiences. As long as we have ice cream, everything is going to be ok! Did you know that in addition to the famous wine trails, the Finger Lakes also have ice cream trails? In any place, I like to google “best ice cream near me.” You can map an entire route through the lakes this way! We snacked on ice cream near each stop… and one day visited four different creameries! I wanted to rank them all for you, but they were all delicious. Instead, I’ll just mention our absolute favorites that you shouldn’t miss.
Purity Ice Cream – Ithaca. This one is becoming a family favorite. With old fashioned ice cream, fresh baked desserts, and cold brew coffee, we’ve got plenty of reason to visit anytime we’re remotely close to the area. Wheelchair accessible.
Ben and Jerry’s – Watkin’s Glen. Yes, I know it’s a “chain,” but it is so stinking good. It never disappoints. Ever. Wheelchair accessible.
Colonial Pottery and Creamery – Watkins Glen. I wasn’t going to stop here, because there are a handful of ice cream options in Watkins Glen… and we’d already stopped once that day. I’m so glad I changed my mind! This is that creamy home-made stuff that hasn’t been sitting around in a freezer. Know what I mean? It’s the good stuff. Wheelchair entrance on left, currently the exit.
3. Waterfalls
Chasing waterfalls is another personal favorite, and there are over 50 in the area! Think about that. This is another one you can just google… but it takes a little more than that for families with disabilities. Watkins Glen is a big draw to the area – with over 19 waterfalls on one trail! That being said, Watkins Glen also has over 800 steps to the top – which means it’s not for families with disabilities. Here are a few of our favorites:
Taughannock Falls State Park. This is the only place we paid for admission ($8 to park), but it was worth it. Actually, if you’re a big hiker, you can hike down from the top without having to pay for parking. We were able to walk up the creek bed (I pulled Jaden in the wagon for a good portion of it), and the trail itself is paved for a fully wheelchair accessible route. I felt it was a little steep at points for a manual wheelchair user, but my wheelchair user is also only four, and still building those Paralympian arms. The falls are really only half the fun here. The park is beautiful and we spent the whole day.
Buttermilk Falls State Park. The rim trail isn’t wheelchair friendly, but you can drive right up to a lovely gorge view. Family-friendly hikes are also available, for those who can handle stairs.
Hector Falls. This one is a roadside falls – big, and gorgeous, and we almost missed it! It’s literally just pouring off the mountain on the side of the road. There’s no pull off or lot – just parking spaces on the side of the road.
Shequaga Falls. This is another one that you can see with a drive by, or park and walk/roll closer. It’s a short distance from the road, and a nice view to sit and take in. No hike required.
Keep in mind, there are plenty of waterfall trails to choose from, and they’re all beautiful. The ones featured above are the most accessible.
4. Wine
This is what the finger lakes are known for, after all. While some of the wineries have taken a break this year, there are many that are offering outdoor tastings and have safety measures in place to make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for all. You can check out who’s open and what a wine tasting in 2020 looks like here. You can also see who goes out of their way to welcome kids here.
Since this was a family camping trip with just myself and the kids, we only did one winery. I cannot recommend Bet the Farm Winery enough. I bought cheese and pretzels for all of us to enjoy on a picnic blanket outside. We had a beautiful view of the vineyards and the kids had plenty of space to run. We were the only people outside. A very helpful gentleman brought each of my tastings to a chair just off the edge of our picnic. He let me take my time, eating with the kids and doing family things. Whenever my glass was empty, he took it in, refilled it, and brought it back out. Totally contact-less. Totally laid back. Totally accessible. Totally delicious.
5. Activities
Let’s not forget you’re in lake-land. Being in the middle of nowhere does not equate to “nothing to do” in this instance. You can take a scenic stroll, or a strenuous climb. You can sit and watch the sunset over the lake, or swim laps. There are parks and beaches and boats of all types. You have a hankering for an outdoor activity? You can find it here.
6. Lodging Options
There is something for every type of family, and for every Covid comfort level.
In the past, we’ve stayed at the Fairfield in Ithaca. I’m a Bonvoy member, so I like to book on points. I also don’t have to worry about accessibility when I’m staying with a major chain. If you’re up for a hotel, Watkins Glen and Ithaca are the best options for price and available activities.
This summer, we stayed primarily in National Forests. There’s a National Forest conveniently located between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake. You can park for free in one of a handful of pull-offs (we didn’t see anyone else using these), or pay $15 for a primitive site with a fire ring and picnic table. We saw one car go by in the two nights we were there. There are several other private camping options in the area, as well.
Want something in between? There are plenty of resorts, cottages, cabins, airbnbs, or even castles.
If you’re interested in van-camping – check out why it’s such a great option!
Don’t forget to check out our other favorite Covid travel ideas!
