While every attempt has been made to ensure the greatest degree of accuracy of the contents within, 20 States on Wheels makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of this book and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in the contents of this book. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, contents of this book or its URLs to other Internet resources. Reference in this the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by 20 States on Wheels. Many of the photographs used in this book were taken directly by team members of 20 States on Wheels. All photographs not taken by our team members were posted online under Creative Commons 2.0 copyright licensing, and an attribution to the photographer is listed.
for Haley Rue, fellow adventurer, whose spirit lives on.
Niagara Falls, NY by You-Myeong
Throughout the trip, we had a recurring bet to see how high Kunho and my tolerance for spicy food was. For example, in one Thai restaurant the workers tried to dissuade us from ordering the spiciest “super spicy” soup, warning us that even the “medium” soup was very spicy. Yet, Kunho and I gulped the entire thing down in less than 5 minutes, winning the bet. The spiciest food we had on the trip was 20 miles before we arrived in Niagara Falls, at Buffalo NY, the birthplace of the famous spicy wings known as Buffalo Wings. When we walked into “Duff’s Famous Wings”, the menus said “WARNING! Medium is HOT! Medium hot is VERY HOT! Hot is VERY, VERY HOT!” Naturally, Kunho and I ordered the hottest wings on the menu, which were aptly named the “DEATH SAUCE.” The bet was that Kunho and I had to eat 5 of those wings each and then not drink anything for 10 minutes. The winner would be the one to hold out for the longest, and in case of a tie, Cyn and Brad would have to pay us both $20. One whiff was enough to paralyze my nose; the wings were mind
N I A
might understand what I mean when I say I was breathing out Yoga Fire. At one point I accidentally brushed my eyes while wiping my mouth, but I held strong without going to the bathroom despite the tears that gushed out. In the end it was worth the $20 Kunho and I took from Cyn and Brad. The sight of Niagara Falls afterwards was more than enough to cool and cleanse away any memories of pain as drops of water scattered from the fall refreshed us. Or so I thought…until I had to go to the bathroom later to expel all the Capsaicin…
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
269
Basics About the Park Niagara Falls State Park, located on the border between New York state, U.S. and Ontario, Canada, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark and home to the tallest waterincluding museums and viewpoints. State Park attractions are split between the U.S. side of the falls and Goat Island, located across a bridge from the U.S. side. Visitors with U.S. passports may also cross a bridge to visit the Canadian side of the falls.
Weather Niagara Falls experiences four distinct seasons. Here are some basic guidelines: Spring Highs in the 50s and 60s, lows in the 30s and 40s. Note that the hiking trails here can be very muddy in the early spring. Bring an umbrella and a jacket. Summer Highs in the 70s, lows in the 50s. Bring a light jacket for the evenings.
Autumn Highs in the 60s, lows in the 40s. Bring a jacket.
Winter Highs in the 30s, lows in the teens. Bring winter gear.
Parking There are a number of private and public parking options available nearby Niagara Falls State Park. The park operates four parking lots by popular attractions and the Niagara Scenic Trolley stops. These four lots are available at the following locations: Lot 1: Near the Niagara Falls Visitor Center Lot 2: Goat Island near the entrance to the Cave of the Winds tour and Top of the Falls Restaurant Lot 3: Goat Island near Three Sisters Islands Lot 4: The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center 270
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
Niagara Falls, NY
There is no entrance fee to enter the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. While it is free to enter the park, there are admissions fees for each attraction. The Niagara Discovery Pass can be a way to save money if you are planning to visit many attractions. You can save up to 35% if you visit all attractions covered by the pass. However, if you are planning to visit fewer attractions, be sure to check the price for each and consider whether the discovery pass is worth the price. Niagara Discovery Pass: Adults: Youth (6-12) :
$38.00 $31.00
Inside the park, most footpaths are accessible, and many offer great views of the falls. The observation deck, which provides one of the most stunning views of the falls, is accessible via elevator and a few ramps. The visitor center, which includes shops, restaurants, and cafes, is accessible by elevator.
N I A
10 Rainbow Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 278-1796
Bathroom Hours
main entrance from parking lot fully accessible; side and back entrances not accessible accessible restroom available in visitor center Jun 1 - Sept 15 Daily 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sept 16 - May 31 Daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
271
Basics
Niagara Falls, NY
Tours There are four major guided tour companies at Niagara Falls, but only one has an accessible tour van - Grayline. The other company tour buses have step-on entrances, so if you are able to walk a few steps, you may be able to get on. Even with Grayline, the number of accessible vans is very limited, and it is necessary to book at least 24 hours in advance. Grayline Niagara Falls: (716) 285-2113
Transportation (716) 278-1796 www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/niagara-scenic-trolley.aspx Inside the park, an accessible trolley takes visitors around the attractions at Niagara Falls. The trolley is equipped with a staff-operated lift for wheelchair users. If you buy the Niagara Discovery Pass, the trolley service is included. Tickets for the Niagara Falls scenic trolleys are also available at various locations throughout the park. Price:
Adults: Youth (6-12) :
$3.00 $2.00
A trolley staff member operating the wheelchair lift.
272
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
Maid of the Mist takes tourists right up under the falls.
Maid of the Mist 151 Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 284-8897 www.maidofthemist.com
Bathroom
Observation tower and boat are accessible; Crows Nest not accessible accessible restrooms at the base of the tower no restrooms on the boat Adults: $17.00 Youth (6-12): $9.90
Courtesy of Georgi Banchev
A ferry full of tourists departs from the boarding dock.
The Maid of the Mist is a boat ride up to the foot of the falls. To get to the boarding platform, visitors must use the elevator from the observation tower, another location with a great view of the falls. Staff will assist wheelchair users in boarding the ship across a ramp. There is a steep slope towards the front of the ship and
N I A
peering over the tall railings there; the side of the vessel offers a less steep slope and shorter ble, as it is only reachable by stairs. Beside the boarding platform, once you get off the boat, there is a stairway to Crows Nest, another observation point under the falls. Crows Nest is unfortunately not accessible. 20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
273
Attractions
The Niagara Falls Adventure Theater is located inside the Visitor Center, shown above.
Courtesy of Daniel Mayer
Niagara Adventure Theater 1 Prospect Point, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 278-5040 www.niagaramovie.com Bathroom
Hours
main entrance fully accessible Adults: $12.00 Youth (6-12): $8.00 Kids (5 and under): free Mon - Fri 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sat - Sun 9:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Showtimes every 45 minutes
The Niagara Adventure Theater, located in the visitor center, plays in Spanish, Mandarin, Korean and Japanese. 274
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
Niagara Falls, NY
The main entrance of the aquarium is not accessible due to stairs.
Aquarium of Niagara 701 Whirlpool Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14301 (716) 285-3575 www.aquariumofniagara.org
Bathroom Hours
N I A
main entrance not accessible; alternate accessible entrance by ramp behind building on Whirlpool Street Adults: $11.00 Youth (3-12): $7.00 Daily 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Aquarium of Niagara, originally founded by a group of scientists, hosts over 1,500 aquatic animals. The aquarium is accessible by ramps behind the building that lead up to the entrance. A staff-operlift to summon the staff to help. 20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
275
Attractions
The Gorge Discovery Center provides information about Niagara Falls.
701 Whirlpool St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 278-1070 www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/discovery-center.aspx Bathroom
main entrance fully accessible Adults: Youth (6-12):
$3.00 $2.00
Niagara Gorge Discovery Center is a place where visitors can learn about the natural and local history of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area. It is equipped with hands-on interactive displays showing several miles of Niagara Falls hiking trails. They also have a rock climbing wall with fossils and geological formations. 276
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
Courtesy of Daniel Mayer
An aerial view of Goat Island in winter.
Goat Island Niagara Falls is generally divided into two parts: the American Falls and the Canadian Falls. Goat Island is located in the middle. The island belongs to the United States and can only be reached from the American side. Attractions on the island include Cave of the Winds and Terrapin Point. Visitors can reach the island via Rainbow Bridge, or also via the trolley. For those with mobility issues, we recommend riding the trolley as the long distances can be tiring. The Terrapin Point observation area is paved.
N I A
Courtesy of Nicholas Schooley
Goat Island Terrapin
Point
Terrapin Point is an observation point on Goat Island. This is the closest obmade of metal bars through which wheelchair users may easily enjoy the view. 20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
277
Most areas of the Cave of the Winds are only reachable by stairs.
Courtesy of Lasart75
Goat Island, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 278-0337 www.niagarafallsstatepark.com/cave-of-the-winds.aspx Cave of the Winds is partially accessible; accessible by stairs accessible restroom at the Cave of the Winds
Bathroom
Hours
Adults: Youth (6-12): Sun - Thurs Fri - Sat
$14.00 $11.00 9:00 a.m. - 8:45 p.m. 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 p.m.
Cave of the Winds is a series of wooden platforms that extend right up to the falls, and visitors can stand right by the thundering water and soak themselves to the skin. However, wheelchair users can only access the lowermost deck, 75 feet away from the falls. While the view from this deck is scenic, the very long waiting time and low degree of accessibility make this attraction somewhat anticlimactic for wheelchair users. 278
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
There is a special viewing platform for wheelchair users, but it does not extend directly under the falls.
N I A
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
279
Hotels
in Niagara Falls
This randomly compiled list displays some of the hotels with accessible rooms in Niagara Falls.
Hotel Name
Star Rating
Address
Phone
Quality Inn
2
7708 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
(716) 283-0621
Driftwood Suites
2
2754 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
(716) 692-6650
Days Inn Niagara At The Falls
2
443 Main St, Niagara Falls, NY 14301
(716) 284-8801
2
1 Prospect Pointe, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
(716) 284-6835
Super 8 Niagara Falls/ Buffalo Area
2
7680 Niagara Falls Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14304
(716) 283-3151
Waldorf Niagara Hotel
2
795 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
(716) 284-9778
Sheraton At The Falls
3
300 3rd St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
(716) 285-3361
Quality Hotel & Suites At The Falls
3
Hampton Inn Niagara Falls
3
501 Rainbow Blvd, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Holiday Inn Niagara Falls
3
114 Buffalo Ave, Niagara Falls, NY (716) 285-2521 14303
Hotel
3
3
Embassy Suites Buffalo
280
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
4
240 1st St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 282-1212
310 4th St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303
(716) 285-6666
(716) 299-1100
222 1st St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (716) 299-0200 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 842-1000
Rooms
# with Roll-in Showers
Shower
Designated
4
0
none
yes
3.3
2
2
none
yes
7.9
6
6
chair by request
yes
1.8
5
0
chair by request
yes
2.3
4
1
chair by request
yes
3.3
1
0
chair by request
yes
1.6
12
12
chair by request
yes
1.7
7
2
none
yes
1.8
8
1
chair by request
yes
1.8
7
4
built-in bench
yes
2.2
14
4
built-in bench and chair by request
yes
1.8
2
2
built-in bench and chair by request
yes
1.8
14
7
built-in bench
valet parking
20
Downtown (miles)
20 States on Wheels Niagara Falls, NY
N I A
281