Breaking Through Barriers: Accessible Travel & Outdoor Recreation

May is Accessibility Month, the perfect time to discuss the multiple ways that destinations around the world are making the great outdoors even more accessible to travelers.

These global destinations are doing their part to increase accessibility and make their attractions and accommodations open to everyone, regardless of their ability.

Barbados is breaking through barriers by making paradise accessible for everyone, and it begins upon arrival. Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) provides wheelchair assistance, ramps and elevators, accessible restrooms and dedicated parking. The ease continues along the island’s coastline with accessible beach wheelchairs, built especially to navigate the sugar-like sands and assist with entering the azure waters. Historical landmarks, such as St. Nicholas Abbey and the George Washington House, as well as outdoor pursuits, including Andromeda Botanic Gardens and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, also provide accessibility for guests with limited mobility.

The United States’ capital is full of accessible monuments and memorials to explore. The National Park Services (NPS) offers brochures in braille to each monument and memorial on the National Mall for free. All monuments and memorials on the National Mall are wheelchair accessible. Additionally, ASL interpreters are also free upon request, however it is suggested to book at least three weeks in advance.

The Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC are also rife with accessible options. They provide access services for public programs, such as real-time captioning and sign language interpretation, which can be arranged by emailingAccess@si.edu. There are also tactile elements available throughout many Smithsonian museums. The Smithsonian Institution guide and map are available in braille and large print at each museum’s information desk. DC also offers an extensive collection of wheelchair-friendly hotels and accommodations.

Outdoors, Washington DC is full of experiences for adventure seekers of all abilities. Rock Creek Park: spans over 2,000 acres, offering a variety of outdoor activities. Hiking and biking trails wind through wooded areas, past historic sites, and along the scenic Rock Creek. Visitors can also enjoy picnicking, horseback riding, and wildlife watching in this expansive park located right within the city. Visitors can kayak and canoe on the Potomac River. Cyclists can ramble along the Capital Crescent Trail from Georgetown to Silver Spring, Maryland or bike the Mount Vernon Trailwith views of the Potomac River, historic landmarks, and lush greenery as they pedal along this popular trail.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau is a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC), a designation granted by theInternational Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES).  Heidi Johnson-Wright, ADA coordinator for Miami-Dade County, along with the Sabrina Cohen Foundation, are advocates for visitors with mobility challenges and other disabilities ensuring these guests can experience Miami, Miami Beach and surrounding areas to the fullest. Many attractions, such as the Deering Estate and the Zoo Miami Florida, offer wheelchairs and other services.

The Miami Beach Botanical Garden has several paved pathways throughout the grounds allowing those in wheelchairs to admire the flora and fauna up close. For those who want to experience the beach, there are complementary push and motorized wheelchairs available designed to tackle the sand. Those seeking more adventure, such as sailing and kayaking, can engage the services of Shake-A-Leg-Miami, a universally accessible community watersports center with specialized activities for children, adults and families.

North Carolina has many accessible attractions, from historic destinations to participatory art studios, for travelers with limited mobility as well as those with autism.

High Point is the world’s first and only autism-certified destination that is designed to enhance accessibility, understanding and inclusivity. High Point’s Q’s Corner is an indoor sensory-based play facility catering to all ability levels. Distractions Art Studio offers art and creativity workshops with special sensory safe hours.

The cities of Raleigh and Durham offer the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, a discreet initiative where individuals with hidden disabilities are easily identified by wearing a sunflower lanyard. These lanyards are available upon request.

The historic Biltmore Estate in Ashville offers accessible tours and is equipped with ramps and elevators to ensure that every corner of this gilded mansion is available to view. The estate’s gardens feature paved pathways to make it easier for mobility-challenged guests to explore the tended grounds.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has implemented many programs, including accessible trails and facilities for guests with limited mobility.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh has taken significant steps to ensure a sensory-friendly experience

for autistic and sensory sensitive guests. Designated spaces provide a quiet, stimuli-free escape. The museum also hosts sensory-friendly events. A quiet zone is on the first floor, and guests can also request noise-cancelling headphones. The museum also provides visual guides

offering a preview of what to expect during a visit. There are also wayfinding beacons and sighted guides for visually impaired guests with sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired.

 The Orlando Museum of Art is one of the top accessible experiences for visitors to know about. It showcases local, regional, national, and international works of art. The museum is fully accessible, with complimentary wheelchairs and assisted listening devices available for loan. All entrances and public areas of the museum are wheelchair-accessible, and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located in the main lobby. Guide dogs are welcome at the museum, ensuring accessibility for visitors with disabilities.

For pulse-pounding excitement on land, take the wheel at Revolution Adventures. Or, fly through trees at Orlando Tree Trek Adventure Park. In addition to its theme parks, Orlando also has great outdoor experiences. Hike or bike through the West Orange Trail, a 21-mile paved path that starts in Winter Garden near Walt Disney World and runs north to Apopka. Play tennis together in a professional setting – the United States Tennis Association National Campus. Get outside with Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures to experience air boating through the swamp at Lake Tohopekaliga or experience the family fun at NONA Adventure Park, a water park for the whole family.

Redding, located just below the Oregon border and in the shadow of Mt. Shasta, is known for its many outdoor pursuits. Touted as the “Trails Capital” as well as the “Unofficial Kayaking Capital,” Redding has plenty of ADA-friendly places to play.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, one of the last places President John F. Kennedy visited before his assassination in 1963, has miles of trails for hiking, trail running, mountain biking and horseback riding. Many can accommodate mobility-challenged adventure seekers, including:

Guardian Rock Trail – the half-mile section of paved trail, which starts at Horse Camp and continues to Clear Creek Gorge Overlook, is mostly flat with a wheelchair-accessible vault toilet at Horse Camp’s trailhead. Trail access is off of Paige Bar Road, below Whiskeytown Environmental School and Whiskeytown Dam.

Crystal Creek Falls Trail – this paved, flat, 10-foot-wide trail is just under a half mile and leads to a view of Crystal Creek Falls. Access to this popular trail is off Crystal Creek Road on the western side of the park.

Tower House Historic District – this section of paved trail, known as the Camden House Trail, leads from the Tower House Historic District parking lot to just outside the historic Camden House. Four wayside exhibits interpret the rich history of this park.

San Francisco, California, offers a Wheelchair Accessible Travel Guide to make things easier for anyone with a disability. Wheelchair users can ride trains, city buses and most street cars without having to leave the comfort of their chair. Accessible transportation in San Francisco includes Muni, BART and Caltrain which all have features such as lifts, elevated platforms and reserved seating .

If visitors do not want to take public transit, wheelchair taxis can be ordered on demand within the city and at San Francisco International Airport, with wait times less than 30 minutes on average. Due to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the vast majority of hotels in the United States are wheelchair accessible and have rooms with roll-in showers

It is possible to access major attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and sightseeing ferries in a wheelchair. Accessibility in San Francisco is a point of pride, and its cultural institutions are all part of it. The Asian Art Museum prioritizes accessibility with a white zone for drop-off/pick-up, accessible parking and wheelchair availability. Elevators ensure access to all levels and guide and service animals are welcome. Special accommodations include complimentary admission for one accompanying a visitor with special needs, large-print labels, ASL interpretation and complimentary mobile guides

The California Academy of Sciences caters to diverse needs. Special accommodations include reserved seating, assistive listening devices, and complimentary admission for interpreters accompanying visitors with hearing impairments. The Exploratorium provides a seamless experience for all visitors. Discounted tickets are offered for individuals with disabilities and their ADA assistants. The entire museum is wheelchair-accessible, facilitating effortless exploration for everyone. For more details about this destination, visit the gay travel San Francisco.

The US Virgin Islands is a destination that not only breaks down barriers, but also redefines the boundaries of adventure. Visitors here can experience the beauty of the environment in all its splendor without sacrificing comfort or accessibility.

 St. John is home to the stunning Virgin Islands National Park, which offers numerous wheelchair-accessible hiking trails, including Cinnamon Bay Self-Guided Trail and Francis Bay Boardwalk, and viewpoints. Explore the tranquil bays and beaches like Trunk Bay and Hawksnest Beach, which are equipped with accessible facilities so everyone can enjoy the beauty of the shores. Experience adventure without limits with a variety of accessible activities in the US Virgin Islands. Take a wheelchair accessible boat tour along the coast of St. Thomas to experience the beauty of the Caribbean Sea up close.

St. Croix is an accessible paradise for travelers with special needs. Here, visitors can explore historic sites like Christiansvaern Fortress and enjoy accessible beaches like Sandcastle Beach. The Buccaneer offers accessible accommodation for your stay and the terrace restaurant at the Hotel offers an upscale atmosphere and a varied menu of local and international dishes.

Experience accessible hospitality at world-class resorts such as The Ritz-Carlton on St. Thomas or The Westin St. John Resort Villas, which offer special facilities for guests with mobility impairments.

 Vienna is one of Europe’s most stunning cities. While many of its buildings hail from centuries past, travelers with mobility challenges will discover many conveniences and attractions. The Vienna Tourist Board offers detailed guidance for planning an accessible trip.

Many of Vienna’s historic buildings and attractions have limited access; however, the city has implemented several measures to accommodate guests with limited mobility. Vienna’s extensive subway system and trains are wheelchair accessible with ramps and elevators leading to passenger platforms. Subway and train stations are equipped with guiding strips to allow the visually impaired to find and navigate stairs, escalators and elevators.

There is also marked transportation for hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses equipped to carry one wheelchair upon request.