A Wheelchair Friendly Guide to Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
We just got back from our first ever RV camping trip… in wheelchair accessible Ohiopyle. Ohiopyle and the Laurel Highlands won out as our destination of choice because we were already familiar with all of the wheelchair accessible outdoor options and family friendly options. The following is all we’ve gained from TWO trips!
What originally drew me to the area was the UNESCO World Heritage Site (did you know we had one of those in PA?!?) and the Flight 93 Memorial. The former ended up being a small part of our adventure, and we didn’t even make it to the latter (we’ll go back).
What blew me away was the endless beauty and all that we found to do. I have a feeling it will make for many return visits. We loved these wheelchair accessible activities in the Laurel Highlands!
Start in Nature with Accessible Laurel Hill State Park
If you’re a camper (or van camper), this would be a great place to park it for the night (April-October)! They have three wheelchair accessible campsites. I had trouble filtering by accessibility on the booking site, but you can also call to book your site (814-445-7725).
Unfortunately, the campsite is only open from April – October, so we had to find an alternate option. We ended up at the Jellystone about 20 minutes from Laurel Hill, and just around the corner from Ohiopyle. We were the only campers there on a chilly weekend in March, but they had accessible restrooms and it was a great location for all we had planned.
Regardless of whether or not you spend the night at wheelchair friendly Laurel Hill, it’s a perfect place to spend your day. The beach has a beach wheelchair for loan and an ADA swing, there are multiple ADA fishing areas and picnic areas, and there are smooth, accessible trails for hiking. We enjoyed the Copper Kettle Trail, with lovely views of the lake and dam. They also have a playground, but we can’t vouch for it’s accessibility because it was pouring on our first visit and we spent all of our time fishing on the second!
Mix it up with Idlewild and Soak Zone
Awarded the title of “Best Park for Families” by the National Amusement Park Historical Association, Idlewild is a must for families who love theme parks. We loved the diversity of the park with the storybook village, climbing areas, and playgrounds interspersed with the usual amusements. Our favorite part, though, was meeting Daniel Tiger and taking a trolley through Daniel Tiger’s neighborhood.
They have a pretty standard accessibility program. You can complete a form at Guest Services (just before the entrance gates to parking) that will give you a better idea of what rides are best for you. All rides require a wheelchair transfer.
Explore the history of a national icon
Speaking of Daniel Tiger, did you know Mr. Rogers is from Latrobe, in the Laurel Highlands? In addition to the tribute at Idlewild, you can visit Fred Rogers Center to learn his story and see artifacts (and sweaters!) from the show.
Really, you could build a whole trip around Mr. Rogers sites with his childhood home, burial place, and church. Stop by the Fred Rogers Memorial Park and snap your picture with his statue. Don’t miss the sign on the bridge as you enter Latrobe, welcoming you with “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood.”
Don’t miss the international treasure at Fallingwater
Ok, this one isn’t great in terms of accessibility, but Fallingwater is an architectural wonder and it seems foolish to skip it. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a home that’s literally built over a waterfall.
The trail to the house is about a five minute walk/roll on gravel. If you’re using a chair that’s not great on gravel, they have a loaner wheelchair available with more rugged wheels. The house itself has limited accessibility. More importantly, with my crew, children 6 and under aren’t allowed in. We did a self-guided outdoor tour. The kids were free, and we were still able to roam the grounds, ask all our questions of the guide (who was splendid with my curious kids… even when one asked her age…), and take a look in the house from outside (there are entire walls of glass, so it’s a decent view). This was a bucketlist item for me, and I was glad to finally make it!
Get swept away by splendor at Ohiopyle
I had no idea we had so many beautiful waterfalls in Pennsylvania. Ohiopyle State Park is known for Ohiopyle falls – known as the Niagara Falls of western PA. The rim is fully wheelchair accessible, with a paved trail along the top. On our second trip, we took the trail a little farther – through town and across the overpass into the woods. We didn’t stay this late, but I’m told this bridge is the best place in the county for catching a sunset.
At the top of the falls, there’s an interactive educational exhibit in the visitor’s center. This is a great way for the kids to learn about the nature and wildlife of the area… and to escape any unpleasant weather.
The visitor’s center also offers the best view of the waterfall.
There are several other falls in the park, but none are as accessible as the main attraction. Cucumber falls has an accessible viewing platform, but it’s more a view of the river than the falls. If you can make it down about eight steps, you can see the actual falls.
Ohiopyle is one of the only state parks to have a town inside of it. It’s cute shops and mostly good eats. There’s a bakery, an ice cream shop, multiple coffee shops and outfitters, and a pizza joint – all smooshed together in a tiny, adorable town. The first shops you come to from the falls are pretty difficult to navigate with wheels. There’s also a small, mulch playground in town. There wasn’t a lot we could do on the playground, but they do have an accessible swing and cute play kayaks that the kids enjoyed pretending in.
After two visits, Ohioyle Coffee Company is our favorite. Easy, zero entry access, mostly fenced in, free outdoor games, handcrafted espresso drinks, reasonably priced breakfast and lunch options, and cheap treats.
Ohiopyle is another one that you should plan for a solid day. Between the visitor’s center, the water falls, the trails, and the dining and shopping, there’s plenty to keep you busy.
Go wild at Living Treasures Wild Animal Park
Tigers in the PA mountains?!?
We have never in our lives had so much fun at a zoo. Living Treasures isn’t the biggest zoo we’ve seen, but what made it extra special was the innovative ways they had created for the kids to interact with the animals through feeding. We grabbed some bags of feed and carrots in the gift shop before we started, and we were able to feed almost every type of animal in the zoo – not just the typical ducks and goats. The kids fed the bears carrots through a long tube that ended in their enclosure. They put food in a bucket on a pulley for the monkeys, and the monkeys brought it to themselves. The kids weren’t just observers, they were engaged. Take your time here and enjoy the laughs!
The zoo and amenities are fully accessible, with the exception of the alligator enclosure.
Find culture at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art has a great collection of American art with a local flavor. This was on our original agenda, but we didn’t make… twice, now. It’s at the top of my list for next time! The exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and the Center for Creative Connections adds to the kid-friendliness of the museum through interactive activities.
Fill your tum with yum at the local restaurants
On our most recent trip to accessible Ohiopyle we ate most of our meals in the camper, but our last trip was all about the food! I don’t often think of foodie destinations in rural Pennsylvania, but don’t make that oversight, here. I already mentioned the treats in Ohiopyle, but that’s just the beginning.
Denunzio’s is an Italian restaurant right in the airport, so the kids can watch the planes. It’s a little bit more upscale, and you’ll need reservations.
Eat ‘N Park is more of a diner style restaurant, but they’re a western Pennsylvania staple, so something you should try while you’re in the area, if you haven’t.
Highlands Market is a tasty option for sandwiches or local snacks if you find yourself hungry while you’re out in the countryside near Laurel Hill.
Unity Brewing completely blew me away. This is one of those restaurants worth driving for, even if you weren’t heading that way. In typical brewery fashion, they use fresh, local ingredients. Their chef goes above and beyond with his creations. We wanted more of everything… and since it was reasonably priced, we ordered seconds!
Get a taste of small town U.S.A. in Ligonier
We didn’t have a chance to explore, but downtown Ligonier has dozens of local shops and restaurants to explore. You can get a walking guide from the visitor’s information center in the diamond at 113 East Main St. The maps are available outside even after hours, and they can help you plan your attack as you eat and shop your way through town.
Rest easy in Arnold Palmer country
Mr. Rogers isn’t the only legend from Latrobe!
If you’re not up for camping, there’s a resort nearby and many of your standard chains.
We always enjoy Springhill Suites because of the extra space (there’s always that corner sofa with the extra pullout bed!), cleanliness, and hot breakfast – but this one was a little extra special. If you’re a golf fan, you’ll be impressed by Arnold Palmer artifacts and his personal connection with the hotel. Even the individual room designs are a tribute to the golf legend.
Even if you know nothing about golf, the hotel is still great for the usual Springhill reasons! The accessible bathroom is split with a shower room and a toilet room, both with their own sink, making it nice for big families getting ready in the morning. It’s a perfect launch pad for exploring wheelchair accessible Ohiopyle and beyond.
If you’re looking to add on to your PA road trip, check out our 13 wheelchair accessible reasons to visit Altoona – it’s only an hour and a half down the road!