New Hampshire, with its diverse landscapes and charming towns, offers a wealth of wheelchair accessible attractions and accommodations. Here’s a detailed review highlighting accessible travel experiences, including transportation, accommodations, indoor and outdoor attractions, adaptive recreation activities, and specific accessibility features.
Transportation
- Concord Coach Lines: Provides bus services throughout New England, including routes to New Hampshire. Buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and securement areas.
- Manchester Transit Authority: Offers local bus services within the Manchester area. All buses are wheelchair accessible with ramps or lifts.
Accommodations
- Omni Mount Washington Resort (Bretton Woods): A historic resort with modern amenities. Accessible rooms with roll-in showers and grab bars. Accessible pathways throughout the property.
- Hampton Inn & Suites North Conway (North Conway): Convenient location near attractions with accessible rooms with roll-in showers. Accessible public restrooms. Accessible public restrooms with grab bars and lowered sinks.
Indoor Attractions
- Currier Museum of Art (Manchester): A renowned art museum with diverse collections that’s fully wheelchair accessible with elevators available. Accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
- Strawbery Banke Museum (Portsmouth): A living history museum showcasing centuries of history. Most buildings are wheelchair accessible, but historic buildings have limited access. Pathways are a mix of paved and packed gravel. Accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
Outdoor Attractions
- Franconia Notch State Park (Franconia): Scenic park with lakes, trails, and the famous Flume Gorge. Accessible trails, including the Flume Gorge trail with packed gravel pathways and boardwalks. Accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
- Lake Winnipesaukee (Central New Hampshire): Largest lake in New Hampshire with various recreational activities. Accessible boat tours available. Pathways and docks with ramps. Bathrooms varies by tour operator; check with individual companies for accessible restroom details.
- Canterbury Shaker Village (Canterbury): A preserved Shaker village offering insight into Shaker life. Most buildings and pathways are wheelchair accessible. The museum provides wheelchairs for visitor use. Also find accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
- McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (Concord): A science museum dedicated to space exploration and astronomy. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevators. In addition, find accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
Adaptive Recreation Activities
- New England Disabled Sports (Lincoln and Bretton Woods): Offers adaptive sports programs for individuals with disabilities, including skiing, snowboarding, cycling, and kayaking. Fully accessible facilities and adaptive equipment. Staff trained to assist individuals with various disabilities.
- Windsor Mountain International (Windsor): Offers adaptive summer camps and outdoor education programs, including hiking, swimming, and team-building activities. Accessible cabins and pathways. Adaptive equipment available for various activities. Accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
- Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center (Gorham): Offers adaptive biking, kayaking, and skiing programs. The center is fully accessible facilities with adaptive equipment. Staff trained to assist individuals with various disabilities. Accessible restrooms with grab bars, lowered sinks, and sufficient turning space.
