NEWSLETTER
The Catskills have long served as a playground for winter outdoor adventure enthusiasts thanks to the region’s excellent ski mountains, picturesque hiking landscapes, cozy resorts, and happening farm-to-table dining scene that makes for the perfect ski and apres ski experience.Located within a short drive of New York City, the region also happens to be one that is welcoming to people with disabilities thanks to organizations like the Adaptive Sports Foundation at Windham Mountain Club and SOAR Experiences that make it their mission to ensure that everyone can experience New York State’s natural wonders.
Follow along with Nikki, @nikkiwalsh.adaptfit, and her sister, Jenny, as they make memories exploring exciting adapted outdoor recreation opportunities and cozy winter lodgings. Explore their three-day Catskills itinerary below to get inspired for your next accessible getaway in New York State! Photo courtesy of James Mitchell / Adaptive Sports Foundation.
Explore This Article:
- Day 1 - Adaptive Skiing at Windham Mountain
- Day 2 - Adaptive Winter Hiking with SOAR Experiences
- Day 3 - Relaxation at the Emerson Resort & Spa
- Other Places You May Want to Check Out
- More Places to Eat
- Getting There
DAY 1:
Adaptive Skiing at Windham Mountain
Photo courtesy of James Mitchell / Adaptive Sports Foundation
The main event of any ski trip is, well, the skiing. For travelers with disabilities, the Adaptive Sports Foundation at Windham Mountain Club is one of the few programs in the United States offering people with a range of disabilities comprehensive access to winter sports experiences.
With equipment ranging from bi- and mono-skis to a uniquely adapted “Snow Kart”, and options for skiers and snowboarders who can ski standing up but need additional support, volunteer-led ski lessons are accessible to anyone who identifies as a person with a disability over the age of five. Whether you’re a first-timer or budding Paralympian, want to take it slow or try your hand at jumps, every experience is customized to you. Both half ($110) and full ($150) day lessons are available to adaptive skiers and include lift tickets and equipment rentals.
The Gwen Allard Adaptive Sports Center, which serves as the program’s home, also offers tasty lunches on weekends and during holiday periods for purchase at the ASF Lodge. You can also go to the Windham Mountain Club base lodge for their dining options, which include everything from an elevated cafeteria to an outdoor sushi bar.
Photo courtesy of Wylder Windham
After an adrenaline-filled day on the slopes, head to your mountainside lodging at the luxe Wylder Hotel Windham, where you can partake in one of the resort’s unique crafty activities or listen to live music, before heading to dinner at the onsite Babblers Restaurant, lauded as having some of the best food in town. If it’s on offer the night you are there, don’t miss the S’mores Bar, where you can make your own gooey treats at a crackling campfire under the clear starry skies. (Note that while ADA bathroom access is good, rooms are a little tight and beds are on the taller end, so double-check dimensions with the hotel to ensure they meet your transfer needs. The solid bed frames are not compatible with a Hoyer lift.)
DAY 2:
Adaptive Winter Hiking with SOAR Experiences
Photo courtesy of SOAR Experiences
Anyone who uses a wheelchair knows how much of a nemesis snow can be, but not so with the ActionTrackChair, whose tank-like tires make rolling over any terrain a breeze. SOAR Experiences, a non-profit organization in Ellenville, NY, lends these chairs to people with disabilities completely free of charge for volunteer-guided hikes through their gorgeous 75-acre private mountain-top forest property.
Not only can you frolic in the veritable winter wonderland, but you can also try your hand at adaptive air marksmanship, drone workshops, ride-alongs, and adaptive off-road driving.
Continue on to your next hotel, The Emerson Resort & Spa. After checking into your spacious, accessible suite, have dinner right on-site at The Catamount, where rustic charm meets contemporary sophistication. ADA suites feature spacious sleeping areas with space under the bed that should be able to accommodate a Hoyer (double-check exact dimensions with the hotel) and thoughtful features like remote control-operated window blinds.
DAY 3:
Relaxation at the Emerson Resort & Spa
Credit: @emersonresort on Instagram
Today is all about pampering and self-care, so treat yourself to a treatment at the Emerson’s spa where you can enjoy everything from a signature facial to side-by-side massages with your traveling companion to a Reiki healing treatment. Adjustable massage tables can be set to different heights and feature an option to raise the headboard for easier transfers.
After your spa morning, visit the Phoenicia Diner, located just across the road from the Emerson. There, you can soak in the atmosphere and treat yourself to an order of their famous pancakes or a delicious corned beef skillet. Take your time in the spa because breakfast is an all-day affair here. Gluten-friendly and vegan menu items make this an easy choice for everyone in your party.
Credit: @newyorksherpa on Instagram
Head back to the Emerson in time to take in a show inside what the Guinness Book of World Records notes is the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope at an impressive 60 feet tall and 37.5 feet in diameter. An embodiment of the Catskill’s hippie past and spirit of creativity, the kaleidoscope show is an immersive, multi-sensory spectacle that is not to be missed.
After you’ve been wowed by the kaleidoscope, it’s time for some retail therapy at the Shops at Emerson. These unique boutique shops feature everything from clothing to toys to a “kaleidostore” selling all things kaleidoscope. Grab a souvenir and start planning your next getaway trip, because if there’s one thing sisters Nikki and Jenny agree on, it’s that a Catskills ski trip is annual tradition-worthy!
Other Places You May Want to Check Out:
Credit: @pamela.capri on Instagram
Downtown Woodstock: The town’s hip main street, Tinker Street, is home to great eateries, art galleries, and boutiques, many of which do have wheelchair accessible entrances, including the Woodstock Artists Association, Sunflower Market, Birchtree, Jean Turmo LTD, and Mirabai of Woodstock. While mostly pedestrian friendly, there are some steep and uneven sidewalks and 1-2 corners may lack a curb cut.
More Places to Eat:
Credit: @hellofellowcafe on Instagram
Gaby’s Cafe (Ellenville): Authentic Mexican cuisine, including great guac and sizzling fajitas in fully accessible surroundings.
Tibet Pho (Woodstock): Cozy spot that blends Tibetan and Vietnamese culinary traditions. The main level and bathroom are wheelchair accessible; however, the main dining room is down a few steps. Accessible seating is available on the main level.
Fellow Mountain Cafe, pictured (Hunter): Delicious breakfast and lunch dishes surrounded by mountain views. A lift on the right side of the building provides wheelchair access to the cafe and there is an ADA-accessible bathroom onsite. Please call 518-628-5216 for assistance with operating the lift.
Getting There:
A personal vehicle is by far the best way to travel to and around the Catskills. The closest adapted wheelchair van rentals are available from Bussani Mobility in Kingston and MobilityWorks in Albany, NY. There are no wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) rideshare or taxi services in the Catskills.
By car:
Hudson: 40 minutes
Albany: 1 hour
Kingston: 1 hour
New York City: 2 hours 45 minutes
Syracuse: 2 hours 45 minutes
Long Island: 3 hours (Nassau) to 3.5-5 hours (Suffolk)
Philadelphia: 3 hours 45 minutes
Rochester: 3 hours 45 minutes
Montreal: 4 hours 30 minutes
Buffalo: 4 hours 45 minutes
By train:
If you require a WAV, take Amtrak to Albany, NY, and rent an adapted vehicle from Albany MobilityWorks, or pre-arrange a wheelchair-accessible taxi or ambulette.
If you can transfer into a standard vehicle and collapse your wheelchair: take Amtrak to Hudson, NY and pick-up your pre-reserved Enterprise rental car or take a taxi or rideshare to your destination in the Catskills.
By plane:
Fly into Albany International Airport.
By bus:
Adirondack Trailways runs direct buses from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City to the Windham bus stop. The bus trip takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes one-way. Trailways buses are lift-equipped and can carry up to two wheelchairs with prior reservation. However, you would need to collapse your wheelchair and transfer into a standard taxi (the local operator is called Dawn 2 Dusk) or rideshare vehicle to reach Windham Mountain, which is 0.5 miles away from the closest stop.