Tag: accessible travel

Simple Tips for Keeping the Holidays Merry and Bright While Living with Muscular Dystrophy

Lights! Family! Holiday action! Yep, it's that time of year again. To keep your holiday season sane and enjoyable while living with muscular dystrophy or a similar condition, here are some best practices gathered from our community. Pace yourself Living with a challenging condition often necessitates greater self-knowledge of how much and how long you … Continue reading Simple Tips for Keeping the Holidays Merry and Bright While Living with Muscular Dystrophy →

Accessible Plays and Stays in Cedar City, Utah

Nestled in the burgeoning college town of Cedar City, Utah, lies two gems of accessible leisure travel: Cedar Breaks National Monument and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Limited mobility is not a problem at either venue, and there's every reason to go. In July 2023, my husband Lou and I, together with our caregiver Josh, took … Continue reading Accessible Plays and Stays in Cedar City, Utah →

Accessible Adventure In and Around Moab, Utah (Scooter Not Required)

Car-hiking at its best! Seriously. If your soul longs to be immersed in mile upon mile of spectacular scenery, head to Moab, Utah (preferably April through October). There's plenty of accessible adventure for people of all mobility levels. Moab, Utah is a lovely and convenient home base to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Scenic … Continue reading Accessible Adventure In and Around Moab, Utah (Scooter Not Required) →

Accessibility at Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton

Hoodoo Moab offers excellent accessibility lodgings with a touch of luxury - with one glaring exception, which I will get to momentarily. Conveniently located near Moab's many natural attractions, this hotel makes for an enjoyable and relaxing vacay for travelers with accessibility requirements, travelers like us. My husband and I, along with our caregiver, recently … Continue reading Accessibility at Hoodoo Moab, Curio Collection by Hilton →

Bending Focus: Lessons from a Rare Disease

Support Claire Facing adversity is the acid test of our character. At no time in my life has this been more true than when confronted with the impact of a rare disease called facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD or FSH). As muscle groups from the face to the feet atrophy, affecting my ability to walk, lift, … Continue reading Bending Focus: Lessons from a Rare Disease →

Let’s Talk About Caregiving (and Muscular Dystrophy)

Support Claire The quality of mercy is not strain'd. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes. Shakespeare Whether you are a caregiver or in need of one, navigating the art of caregiving can be tricky. This article … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Caregiving (and Muscular Dystrophy) →

Scootering Sedona’s Red Rock Scenic Byway (Arizona SR 179)

Support Claire This is a spin for the bucket list! With breathtaking vistas of ancient sandstone formations flanked by scented junipers spiring into bright blue Arizona sky – some of the most photographed scenery in the world – this scooter ride is spectacular! Getting There From Phoenix, take the I-17 north, exit 298 onto SR-179 … Continue reading Scootering Sedona’s Red Rock Scenic Byway (Arizona SR 179) →

Spinning Scenic Needle Rock Rd – Rio Verde, AZ

Support Claire   Not far from Scottsdale lies a scenic gem of the Tonto National Forest known as Needle Rock Recreation Area. Its sole byway is Needle Rock Road. Pictures don't do justice to the beautiful vistas that unfold along this 3-mile stretch, (though I will certainly post a few).   Four Peaks in the … Continue reading Spinning Scenic Needle Rock Rd – Rio Verde, AZ →

Top Tips When Booking Accessible Travel

Support Claire Traveling differently abled has never been better. ADA legislation coupled with ever growing consumer demand has greatly improved the availability of quality accessible travel in the USA and abroad. That said, as someone who travels as often as possible while managing FSH muscular dystrophy, I find that the following measures best ensure successful … Continue reading Top Tips When Booking Accessible Travel →

Scootering New River Trail, Peoria, AZ

Support Claire Given beautiful weather, my husband and I often head to Peoria's New River Trail for some scenic urban spinning. This popular trail system has it all, including easy accessibility for mobility devices. Getting there Handicap parking and ADA restrooms are readily available at Rio Vista Community Park (8866 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria). This … Continue reading Scootering New River Trail, Peoria, AZ →

Best Scootering in the Sonoran Desert – Apache Wash Trailhead, Phoenix

Support Claire Spoiler alert: This ADA accessible desert adventure will make others pale in comparison. It has for us. Since discovering Apache Wash Trailhead, my husband Lou and I go a couple of times a week. For spectacular spinning, it's simply one of the most beautiful accessible trail systems we've encountered in the Phoenix area … Continue reading Best Scootering in the Sonoran Desert – Apache Wash Trailhead, Phoenix →

Beyond the Casino: Top Accessible Travel in Reno-Sparks, NV

Support Claire If you're looking for excellent accessible travel experiences in the Silver State beyond casinos, Reno-Sparks has some wonderful choices. Here are our top picks for where to sightsee, stay, and spin your wheels in "The Biggest Little City in the World": Where to sightsee National Automobile Museum What I look forward to most … Continue reading Beyond the Casino: Top Accessible Travel in Reno-Sparks, NV →

Where to Play and Stay in Accessible Santa Fe

Support Claire Santa Fe, the country's oldest state capital, is chock full of accessible adventure. Whether you're going for the art, a fabulous meal, incredible (window) shopping, or an outdoor spin, this picturesque city delivers in spades. Maximize your experience by knowing the best places to play and stay for accessibility. Here are our top … Continue reading Where to Play and Stay in Accessible Santa Fe →

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe

Support Claire Uplifting and informative, the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is an accessible travel must. This collection of works by the "Mother of American modernism" exudes the empowering dynamics of a talented artist who learned the rules, and then unabashedly proceeded to reinvent them on her own terms with great commercial success - yeah, she rocked … Continue reading Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe →

Accessibility at the Utah Shakespeare Festival

Support Claire In July 2019, I attended four Utah Shakespeare Festival performances in three different theaters, all via motorized powerchair. Uber-talented actors, gorgeous costumes, and state-of-the-art set design made it clear that "the play's the thing" at this Cedar City based event. Each production was simply jaw dropping fantastic, most notably Twelfth Night. The ADA … Continue reading Accessibility at the Utah Shakespeare Festival →

Neon Boneyard, Las Vegas

Support Claire Sure, like so many others on mobility devices, we took in dinner and a show after cruising The Strip. (I got around easily in my Jazzy red power chair.) But, by far, the most interesting thing my husband Lou and I did in Las Vegas was to take a one-hour guided tour of … Continue reading Neon Boneyard, Las Vegas →

Accessible Adventure at Vernonia Lake and Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon

Support Claire In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous. – Aristotle Although the entire 21-mile Banks-Vernonia State Trail has felt the tred of my red scooter tires, the section my husband and I return to most frequently starts at the Vernonia Lake adjunct. (See map.) Super accessibility The paved loop around … Continue reading Accessible Adventure at Vernonia Lake and Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon →

Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Support Claire I have often teared up at a theater, but at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, I teared up because of the theater. Let me explain: OSF‘s dedication to Access for All its patrons is an impressive example of social responsibility — and a smart move for the ongoing success of the theater organization. From … Continue reading Oregon Shakespeare Festival →

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Las Vegas

Support Claire For travelers with or without disabilities, Las Vegas is becoming less about the casinos, and more about “The Experience.” Whether you’re looking for award-winning cuisine, color beyond compare, or a blast of contemporary culture, you’ll find it in “the city that never sleeps." And with great accessibility. I’ve never seen more scooters per capita … Continue reading Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, Las Vegas →

Best places to spin, sup, and sleep in accessible Zion National Park

Support Claire Of the twelve southwestern national parks encompassed within The Grand Circle, Zion is the jewel in the crown. Here are some tips to maximize accessible travel for people with disabilities. Get yourself an Access Pass (You can thank me later.) The national parks issue an Access Pass for US citizens with permanent disabilities. You … Continue reading Best places to spin, sup, and sleep in accessible Zion National Park →