Recommendations. Reflections. Advocacy.
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
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
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
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
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
Support Claire Note: Although this post specifies my Scottsdale home base, its cautionary message applies nationwide, urging increased driver awareness of mobility device users sharing the road. Dangerously so, it happened again this morning: Scottsdale drivers came close to hitting my mobility scooter while I was transiting a crosswalk. Many of these chronic traffic violators … Continue reading Scottsdale: Hell on Wheels
Support Claire Blooming brittlebrush, hummingbirds tipping the tops of Palo Verde trees, the occasional equestrian, beautiful ironwork bridges, mountain vistas and accessible paved trails for any kind of mobility device...there are plenty of reasons why spinning The Loop in Tucson is addictive outdoor adventure. With a network of 120 miles of shared-use paths (soon to … Continue reading Top ADA Spins Along The Loop in Tucson, AZ
Support Claire With over 10,000 roses on display, there's a lot of ground to cover--4.5 acres to be exact--at Portland’s International Rose Test Garden (commonly referred to as Portland Rose Garden). Thanks to voters’ passage of the 2014 Parks Replacement Bond, enhanced ADA accessibility makes exploring this beautifully landscaped park easier for those of us … Continue reading Accessibility at Portland’s International Rose Test Garden
Support Claire The unassuming city of Cottage Grove is the home of one of Oregon’s most gorgeous recreational multi-use trails, the Row River Trail. The paved, mostly flat path offers the perfect adventure: spectacular scenery, interesting history and great accessibility for mobility devices of all kinds. It’s a perennial day trip from Portland for my … Continue reading Scootering the Row River Trail, Oregon
Support Claire After wintering in the desert, it was great to reacclimate to the luscious Pacific Northwest with one of our favorite ADA accessible outings, one we’ve done over a dozen times: rolling a section of the Springwater Corridor into and around downtown Portland’s riverfront. Scenic cityscapes peek through punctuated clearings of natural wetlands, making … Continue reading Accessible Bridges and Boardwalks, Portland, OR
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 ADA Accessible Zion National Park
Support Claire The Rio Salado Pathway connects you to some of Mesa and Tempe’s most scenic urban landscapes. Colorful to say the least, this wheelchair/scooter accessible pathway offers plenty of visual surprises. I won’t give them all away, but I will say this: within an hour we marveled at everything from gray-blue cranes perched on the banks … Continue reading Scenic Urban Accessibility in Mesa and Tempe, AZ
Support Claire As with all things, education has opened my mind, and exploration has opened my eyes. Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve has taught this Oregonian snowbird a lot about something I once only considered barren, dusty and dangerous: the desert. Thanks to two accessible nature trails, a brave new world has seeped into my soul. Where I … Continue reading Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Support Claire Some places just get it, they make their venue as accessible to everyone as much as possible. Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden is one such place, a city treasure that my husband Lou and I discovered by chance on a bike/scooter ride through Papago Park one December day. On our two subsequent visits, we were … Continue reading Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix
Support Claire So, let’s start with who I am, and about Claire and myself. I’m Lou, Claire’s husband and life partner, AKA Mr. Turner, Mr. Tucker and Mr. Flip-it (the colorful caregiver monikers to be clarified at a later time). I am 75-years young with Claire being 53-years young. (That’s right, we’re the exact same … Continue reading Confessions of a Caregiver, Vol. 1, First Comes Love
Support Claire You can tell a lot about a city by the way it greets visitors with disabilities. Palm Springs does a good job in this regard at its Visitors Information Center North. Even though you may have sorted your desert paradise accessible vacation online, it’s still worth a twirl to this iconic building (if … Continue reading Palm Springs Visitors Center
Support Claire Making Accessibility Happen Every city wants your business. Let them know what you need and want in order to make that business happen. Here's what I sent to: City of Astoria - Mayor and City Council To the City of Astoria: The Astoria River Trail is a gem. A bit bumpy in places, … Continue reading Astoria River Trail
Support Claire Making Accessibility Happen Every city wants your business. Let them know what you need and want in order to make that business happen. Here's what I sent to: City of Scottsdale - Mayor and City CouncilScottsdale City Hall, 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 City of Scottsdale, Clean and scenic, indeed! And … Continue reading Rolling Right Along in Accessible Scottsdale