6 journeys for travelers with disabilities

6

Journeys for Travelers With Disabilities

vacation is a universal joy that everyone should be able to savor. I understand that the idea of planning a getaway can be intimidating if you have A a disability. With a little research, you’ll discover that many of the most iconic and interesting travel spots in the United States can be experienced by people with special needs or mobility restrictions. Please take a look at my bucket list destinations for people with disabilities in the USA.

Tour Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital does an impressive job of making its museums and great attractions highly accessible for people with disabilities. Nearly every attraction in D.C. is accessible by wheelchair. Even the Washington Metro system is highly accessible with help from touches like elevators for every stop. You’ll also find that the central part of Washington is mostly flat. That means that getting around the city to tourist spots like the Lincoln Memorial, the National Mall and the Washington Monument is doable by wheelchair.

Visit Morgan’s Wonderland in San Antonio, Texas There’s quite a bit to do in San Antonio if you’re a traveler with a disability. However, the attraction that draws so many to the River City is Morgan’s Wonderland. The first and only theme park in the world where every single ride is accessible for guests in wheelchairs, Morgan’s Wonderland offers a fun sensory experience for people of all ages that looks like any other fun theme park at first glance. The park offers 25 wheelchair-accessible rides spread across 25 fun acres. There’s even an award-winning splash park thrown in the mix!

Relax on the Beach in Key Largo, Florida Key Largo is my top pick for a beach that offers easy accessibility for people with disabilities due to its extensive network of ramps and wooden walkways providing direct beach access. Known as the Dive Capital of the World, Key Largo doesn’t exclude anyone from the fun just because they have a disability. Local tour companies like Tranquil Adventures specialize

in making ocean tours accessible to all people by using special wheelchair lifts.

Enjoy the Sparkle of Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas does a fantastic job of providing accessibility to people with disabilities. First, you’ll notice that there are benches everywhere. Navigating Vegas is also breezier than you’d expect due to the city’s flat terrain and wide sidewalks. You can also get around easily using the city’s fully wheelchair-accessible RTC service. Also, popular museums like the Neon Museum, the Bellagio Conservatory and Madame Tussauds Las Vegas are all designed to be toured by wheelchair without disrupting your experience one bit! You’ll find the same is true at all the big Casinos and venues. I also recommend the dazzling lights show that takes place every 30 minutes at the Fountains of Bellagio for a fun, free wheelchairfriendly activity. When you get five miles out of the city to visit the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, you’ll find plenty of viewing spots that can accommodate wheelchairs.

Savor Hawaiian Paradise in Hanauma Bay, Honolulu Praised for being one of the most wheelchair-accessible beaches in the country, Hanauma Bay is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with clear waters that are ideal for snorkeling. Hanauma Bay pulls out all the stops to be an inclusive slice of paradise. First, the beach provides a shuttle that will take you to the entrance if you’d like to avoid what can be a pretty long trek to the beach. This beach is also one of the only ones in the country to provide access to free beach wheelchairs. These wheelchairs are spectacular because you can roll them right up to the water.

Navigate a Desert City in

Albuquerque, New Mexico Situated in the high desert, Albuquerque makes the list of the top vacation spots for people with disabilities because it’s a very flat city that’s easy to navigate. That means it’s fairly easy to cover the great restaurants and shops in downtown and Old Town Albuquerque by wheelchair. Albuquerque’s transit system also happens to be one of the most accessible in the USA. What’s more, visitors can use wheelchair-friendly buses to get around via public transit. Another reason why Albuquerque makes my list of top cities for travelers with disabilities is its extensive trail network. These trails make it easy to enjoy the beautiful scenery without getting off the beaten path. You’ll need to research specific trail routes ahead of time because not every inch of Albuquerque’s trails can accommodate wheelchairs perfectly. However, I’ll confirm that the River Trail is a perfect pick for wheelchairs because it’s a wide, paved path that happens to be dotted with stops for the city’s wheelchair-accessible bus line. It’s not uncommon to spot hawks or jackrabbits while exploring this beautiful trail.