Wheelchair Vacations

Published: May 8, 2014

Traveling in a wheelchair can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, there are numerous travel destinations that are quite well-suited to wheelchair use. If you yourself are confined to a wheelchair, or a loved one relies on a wheelchair for his or her transportation, you may want to consider the following popular travel destinations. Remember, the world is out there just ready to be explored!

Museums

Perhaps one of the best destinations for a traveler in a wheelchair is a museum. Nearly all museums have spacious and wide corridors, and if there are multiple floors, there are sure to be elevators. Museums also make it easy to view the collections on display – everything is at floor level or higher, so children, adults and individuals in wheelchairs alike can all enjoy the same viewing experience.

Amusement Parks

Many amusement parks offer wheelchairs for mobility impaired individuals, and most also make it easy to move around the grounds. Amusement parks like Disneyland and Disney World have a reputation for accommodating disabled travelers; if you or a member of your party is in a wheelchair, you can enjoy front-of-the-line privileges and assistance getting in and out of attractions. A couple of things to be mindful of when attending an amusement park in a wheelchair: whether or not the grounds are hilly and what the daily attendance is.

Beaches

You may not think that beaches and wheelchairs go hand-in-hand, and in most cases, you'd probably be right. However, if you or your loved one has an all-terrain wheelchair, you may be surprised to find how accessible a public beach can be. Additionally, many larger beaches offer wheelchair rental options, which may include off-road or beach wheelchairs so that disabled guests can enjoy the experience. Though smaller, less-known beaches may not be as accessible, larger beaches – such as those in Hawaii, Southern California and Florida – can be terrific destinations for wheelchair travelers.

Historic Sites

If you're interested in historic sites, you may be surprised to find out that many of them are wheelchair accessible. Though this may sound counter-intuitive, given the age of these attractions, most are now major tourist destinations, complete with visitor centers, guided tours, and wheelchair accessibility. If you know of a specific historic site that you would like to visit, you can find out what concessions are made for visitors in wheelchairs on its website.

Nature

Though spending time outdoors may seem difficult if you are disabled or mobility impaired, there are actually many outdoor destinations that make it easy to explore by wheelchair. Even if you don't have an off-road wheelchair, many national parks – such as Yosemite and Yellowstone – include boardwalks and wheelchair-accessible trails. Disabled individuals and their families are also eligible for a National Parks Access Pass, which grants the pass holder with free admission to over 2,000 federally owned parks for life. The options for outdoor adventure are nearly endless!