New York Botanical Garden

Description

Checklist

Surface of lot:  paved
Distance to venue:  close
Transportation to venue offered:  no
Terrain:  flat
Places to rest:  benches throughout
Paths and walkways:  some concrete, some brick
Doors:  double doors, push button assist
Number of floors:  varies according to building
Elevators:  lift in Conservatory, lift to main entrance of Library, elevator in library
Ramps:  where needed
Steps and staircases:  to main entrance of Conservatory and Library,
Width of aisles:  wide, spacious
Places to sit:  benches throughout the Garden
Location of restrooms:  in Conservatory and Visitors' Center
Type of restroom:  multi-stall, handicapped-accessible,
Ease of entry and exit:  easy
Baby changing station:  in both Conservatory and Visitors' Center
Available food services:  cafe, and full service restaurant (Hudson Garden Grill)
Friendliness of staff:  helpful and pleasant
Notes:  The Tram that winds around the Garden is wheelchair accessible. "Each tram can accommodate one wheelchair. Every effort is made to accommodate groups of wheelchair users." (website)

Read More

On the last Friday of the Orchid Show we took ourselves to the New York Botanical Garden.  “This 250 acre, National Historic Landmark, foundedin 1891, supports over one million living plants in extensive collections… Included are a remarkable diversity of tropical, temperate and dessert flora…” (brochure) we knew we would not be disappointed.

As we entered the parking lot we noticed an entire side of the lot dedicated to handicapped parking.  If you can park here you are very close to the main entrance. We had to continue to “additional parking” which we thought would be quite a distance.  What we discovered was that there are several other entrances quite close to where we parked.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that we were close to the Conservatory, which was where the Orchid Show was housed.

Paths and walkways are a variety of concrete and smooth brick – easy to traverse.  The Garden is easily navigable with accessible trails clearly marked.  Benches are located in many spots. One will also find either a ramp or lift in locations that have steps.  “We strive to ensure that the Botanical Garden, its buildings and its tour vehicles are accessible.  However, due to the Garden’s naturally varied topography, portions of the historic landscape may be inaccessible.” (website)

We took the nine steps to the double door main entrance of the Conservatory (with push button assist). There is also a ramp.  Once inside this beautiful glass building, getting around was fairly easy.  Although the surface of the floor changes several times all are easy to traverse.  Aisles are wide, a few benches are located near the main entrance and a lift is availbe to get to the lower level.

We were just iin time to get a docent led tour of the Orchid Show.  It was a beautiful exhibit, this year entitled “Chandeliers.” The variety of orchids is astounding, more than 30,000. Wow! Orchids of so many more colors and sizes than we knew existed were a feast for our eyes.  Orchids here, orchids there, orchids everywhere.   Even when we thought the display was over, we found a sign pointing us to even more of the gorgeous bloooms.

Resstrooms in the Conservatory are easy to enter and exist,  multi-stall, handicapped-accessible, with baby-changing stations.  Restrooms can also be found in the Visitor Center, near the main entrance.  These are also multi-stall, handicapped-accessible, with baby-changing stations.

After the Orchids we took a 1/2 hour narrated tour on the tram, which is wheelchair accessible. “Each tram can accommodate one wheelchair.  Every effort is made to accommodate groups of wheelchair users.” (website) The tram made several stops as it wound its way around the Garden. One can get on and off as he/she wishes.  We decided to stay on for one entire loop before deciding where to go next.

One of the tram stops is the Library, a building with some displays, as well as a lending library. A lift is located to the left of the steps to the main entrance.  Once inside there is an elevator to the upper floors.  “Wheelchair seating areas are reserved at the top of the Rose Lecture Hall.” (website)

As usual,  we couldn’t miss eating and shopping.  Located near the main entrance, the Shop in the Garden is a large, one level store with a variety of lovely choices from living plants to household items. Next to the shop is the building that houses the restrooms.

Across the way we found the “Pine Tree Cafe,” with a variety of food items and lots of seating, both inside and out.  We chose to walk back toward the Conservatory to the Cafe we had eaten in on our last visit.  As we entered through the double doors we were surprised to find a new restaurant in its place.  No longer a “serve yourself cafe,” there is now “The Hudson Garden Grill,” a full service restaurant  (see listing).

The New York Botanical Garden is a special place that all can easily enjoy.

As always, we at Desstination Accessible advise you to check a venue’s website,www.nybg.org, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”

update – December 4, 2019 – Winter is definitely in the air. We came to see the Holiday Train Show.  (see listing for NYBG Holiday Train Show)

Location

Nearby