Tag: wheelchair accessibility

6 Accessible Car Adventures Around Phoenix – Scottsdale (Scooter Not Required)

Adventurers of all mobility levels can enjoy the natural beauty surrounding the Phoenix - Scottsdale area from the comfort of a car seat on these six car-hikes. (Yes, car-hiking is a real and meaningful activity.) As someone living with an advanced medical condition, car-hiking around the expansive, desert terrain is a meditation on resilience. Extreme … Continue reading 6 Accessible Car Adventures Around Phoenix – Scottsdale (Scooter Not Required) →

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 →

How to Successfully Engage with People with Disabilities

Support Claire A woman on a mobility scooter, her husband on a bike, and their caregiver in a transport vehicle roll into a parking lot of the Grand Canyon when a stranger approaches them and says, "I'm disabled, but you're more disabled than I am. Good for you for seeing the park." (No joke.) The … Continue reading How to Successfully Engage with People with Disabilities →

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 →

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 →

Where are the ADA automatic front door openers at Regal Cinemas?

Support Claire Making Accessibility Happen Here's what I e-mailed the corporate headquarters of Regal Cinemas (a recently acquired subsidiary of the Cineworld Group), and why I say that their motto “The Best Place to Watch a Movie!” only applies if you can get in the door. Copy sent to: Regal Entertainment Group; Regal Oregon, Washington, Idaho … Continue reading Where are the ADA automatic front door openers at Regal Cinemas? →

LA Fitness Tualatin Upgrades Accessibility

Support Claire It's always uplifting to hear about a corporation putting people first. I'm happy to be the bearer of such good news. Since my post, LA Fitness: Why the “LA” Stands for Lacks Accessibility, first aired in February 2018 a lot has happened, good stuff, progress. And without a protest march, petitions or expensive lawyers. … Continue reading LA Fitness Tualatin Upgrades Accessibility →

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 →

Accessible Bridges and Boardwalks, Portland, OR

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 →

Driftwood Lodge, Springdale, UT (Zion National Park)

Support Claire I look forward to the day when all ADA accommodations are this well thought out. With ample space, appropriate bathroom fittings and easy access parking to a relatively new, ground-floor unit, Driftwood Lodge is the place to stay for accessible travel accommodations when visiting Zion National Park. But wait, there’s more! Entry: Upon arrival … Continue reading Driftwood Lodge, Springdale, UT (Zion National Park) →

ADA 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 ADA Accessible Zion National Park →

Heard Museum, Phoenix

Support Claire A friend told us about Phoenix’s Heard Museum over dinner. Intrigued, my husband and I went the very next morning, and were so glad we did. She was right: The museum’s collection of traditional and contemporary American Indian art (mostly southwestern) is simply superb. Each exhibit oozes quality over quantity. Great accessibility From … Continue reading Heard Museum, Phoenix →