Breathtaking views–be they of urban splendor from a skyscraper’s observation deck, or natural beauty from a national park vista–are part of the thrill of traveling. For those with disabilities, however, getting there has been a challenge.
But now, with good planning and a little extra effort, wheelchair users are finding better access from metropolises to the middle of nowhere.
Access is crucial to us because Heidi, who has rheumatoid arthritis, uses a wheelchair for mobility. Since the passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act, landmark federal legislation aimed at boosting access for more than 50 million people with disabilities in this nation, much has improved in the world of barrier-free travel.
The first step to accommodate a traveler with a disability is to arrange bulkhead seating on the plane, because it is easier to get to and has more legroom. The next flight tip is to book a route that guarantees jet bridges, so there is easy wheelchair access between plane and airport at the departing and destination cities.
Then you have to make sure the destination city has a public transit route that can accommodate a wheelchair-using traveler. The final step before dreaming of sandy beaches and windswept evenings is to secure a barrier-free hotel room. The best accessible rooms have roll-in showers, which a wheeler can roll into, then transfer to a bench for easy bathing.
When you call a property directly to confirm that roll-in shower (which you should), you might also check on other mobility enhancements.
We had a splendid tropical swimming experience at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island of Hawaii. This innovative property has a portable pool lift that could be used at several of its pools. The lift gently transfers mobility-impaired guests to the soothing water of an oceanside infinity pool.
Elsewhere on the island, Rainbow Falls in Hilo has a paved sidewalk that leads to a concrete ramp and raised platform where wheelchair users can gaze at the shiny, silvery waters that gush into the serene gorge below. We discovered the accessibility of this treasure by contacting a local disability advocacy group in advance.
Boardwalks are a wonderful way for “wheelers” to access everything from historic architecture to cypress swamps to ocean fishing to an ecological environment unlike any in the world. In South Florida, barrier-free boardwalks are abundant from Palm Beach County to the Keys. Internet research on federal, state, county and local park sites helped us uncover these accommodating treasures.
Everyone should experience the classic beach vacation, but standard wheelchairs and sand aren’t a good mix. The good news is seaside mobility available to Miami Beach visitors.
The Beach Patrol Station behind the Deco Welcome Center at Ocean Drive and 10th Street has a beach wheelchair available free of charge. The seaworthy chair has a safety belt, detachable umbrella and wide tires for negotiating sand.
Las Vegas has been called many things, but we call it a great destination for wheelchair access–from the bright lights of the Strip to the charm of the Nevada desert.
One reason is the city’s newness. Many buildings have been built or undergone renovations since the 1990 passage of the ADA. On the casino floor, ramps always lead to the action, and most gaming areas have some lowered tables so disabled gamblers can wheel up to a more accessible hand of blackjack.
Las Vegas features wheelchair lift-equipped city buses, easy access at the airport and lift-equipped ground transportation to hotels. Downtown’s Fremont Street provides a safe pedestrian environment for wheelers to take in discount buffets, fabled old gambling halls and kitschy souvenir shops–not to mention famed neon art.
Drive a half hour west of Vegas and you’ll feel about a million miles away from the glitz and neon. You may even befriend a wild burro or two. Red Rock Canyon is perfect for experiencing spectacular desert scenery. Ancient Indian tribes once lived in this gorgeous canyon formed by complex geologic processes resulting in a fracture in the earth’s crust.
The barrier-free visitor center has accessible parking and restrooms. There are paved trails behind the center, and a lowered telescopic viewer for wheelchair users who want to focus on the distant rocky cliffs.
The key to national park access is calling ahead well before booking the trip and talking with rangers–many are good at figuring out which trails are good for wheelers.
Southwestern Utah’s Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks are within driving distance of Las Vegas, yet are a world apart. The two parks feature reasonable access, including barrier-free visitor centers at each.
Zion has the best wheelchair access and the most barrier-free trails, such as the Lower Emerald Pools, Pa’Rus and Riverside Walk.
Bryce Canyon, a two-hour drive from Zion, has trails running along the top of cliffs that offer breathtaking views of the deep canyon below. The Sunset and Sunrise Points’ Rim Trail opens up to reveal a spectacular drop-off into the canyon below. Wheelchair journeyers can enjoy other-worldly views of pink and red hoodoos–spire-like rock formations created by millions of years of wind and water.
Speaking of other-worldly, New Orleans is unlike any town on the planet–which is why we love it so much. The Big Easy also is arguably the best dining city in America, but some of its gourmet rooms and bistros are in old, less than completely accessible buildings.
The option is to get help bumping a wheelchair up a few steps and past a narrow door. Sometimes it’s worth it to make arrangements for assistance. Other times, the best plan is to scout ahead and find fine dining within barrier-free confines.
NOLA, Emeril Lagasse’s outpost in the French Quarter, is in a historic building –but it has a level entrance. An elevator provides access to the popular second-floor dining area. For old-fashioned Crescent City seafood, head up to Lake Ponchartrain and enjoy ramped access and down home ambience at Bruning’s Restaurant.
Another key to a memorable vacation by wheelchair is to pick a place that is densely developed with hotels, restaurants, shops, entertainment, activities, parks, museums and other attractions all within a few blocks of each other. Older East Coast cities often fill the bill, with lots to do in a relatively small area of ground to cover in New York, Philadelphia and Boston’s architecturally picturesque neighborhoods.
We also seek out new developments that are compact. The Nationwide Arena District in Columbus, Ohio, was planned with the pedestrian in mind, with street life abounding and curb cuts at every corner to make street crossing a breeze for wheelers.
The 95-acre development features unique restaurants, a posh urban movie house, a grand downtown park and a concert venue–all anchored by an acclaimed civic arena. Every building has opened in the past two years, so each one features state-of-the-art wheelchair access, including seating in all price ranges at Nationwide Arena, home of the National Hockey League’s Blue Jackets.
Whether it’s swimming by the ocean, walking and rolling through a national park, checking out the action in a legendary city or exploring the nightlife of a new town, travel by wheelchair is better in the 21st Century than it ever has been before.
The key is to plan ahead, stay positive, be persistent and practice perseverance. With those golden rules in mind, travel by wheelchair can be a joy.
WHAT TO ASK
Can your lodging accommodate me with:
– A guestroom on a lower floor (seventh floor or below) with a minimum entrance width of 32 inches to the lobby, guestroom and guestroom restroom?
– A roll-in shower, or a tub/shower equipped with grab bars and bath bench?
– A conventional frame bed that allows the legs of a Hoyer lift (a device used to lift persons with mobility impairments safely and comfortably from one location to another, such as from a bed to their wheelchair) to fit beneath the frame?
– A property that clearly understands they must allow me to bring a service animal on the property?
Can your airline accommodate me with:
– Jetway to jetway service (no stairs to ascend/descend), or if jetway service is not available, planing/deplaning via a mechanical lift?
– Access throughout the terminal via ramps or elevators (no steps or escalators)?
Can your ground transportation accommodate me with:
– A modified wheelchair-accessible van with a lift, or ramp for a wheelchair and wheelchair tie-downs?
– Wheelchair-accessible taxi or shuttle bus service to/from the airport?
Can your car rental service accommodate me with:
– Wheelchair-accessible shuttle service from airport to car rental agency?
– A car equipped with hand controls or other special modifications?
Can your restaurant accommodate me with:
– A level or ramped main entrance, or if access is via a mechanical lift, can you guarantee the lift is fully functioning and that all workers know how to operate so I won’t be delayed entering and exiting the restaurant?
– A 36-inch continuous path of travel from the entrance, through the dining area and to the restrooms?
— S.W. and H.J.W.
