If you’d like to take a wheelchair-accessible Trinidad & Tobago beach excursion, then look no further than T&S Transport & Tours. This local operator offers wheelchair-accessible transportation in lift-equipped or ramped vans to favorite beaches, and includes the use of floating beach wheelchairs while you are there. Choices include Maracas Beach, Las Cuevas Beach, Manzanilla Beach, La Brea Beach and Chaguaramas Beach. And although all these beaches are beautiful, Maracas Beach is reported to be the most accessible choice. T&S Transport & Tours also offers wheelchair-accessible airport transfers, and other local excursions. For more information, visit www.wheelchairtransporttt.com/beaches.
Barrier-Free Travel
101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
If you’re looking for a wheelchair-accessible Paris taxi, then look no further than G7 (www.g7.fr/decouvrez-nos-services-taxis/g7-access-taxi-pmr), the leading taxi company in Europe. Their fleet includes over 600 vans that can accommodate wheelchairs. These vehicles have ramp access, and the drivers receive extra training to ensure they can provide appropriate assistance to disabled passengers. G7 also has other vehicles that can accommodate passengers who can transfer, including station wagons adapted for wheelchair-users. Service animals are also welcome in all G7 vehicles.
You can get a G7 wheelchair-accessible Paris taxi at a taxi stand; or order one on the G7 Taxi app, the G7 website or by calling 01 47 39 00 91. It’s the easy, affordable and accessible way to get around Paris.
Arches National Park now has an all terrain wheelchair available for loan. This Extreme Motus chair is fitted with three balloon tires, has a long wheelbase, and requires at least one person to push and maneuver the unit. It has a maximum user weight limit of 250 pounds, and a maximum user height limit of 6 feet. The Arches all terrain wheelchair is available for loan at the Arches Visitor Center on a first-come basis. A waiver must be signed prior to checking out the chair, and a ranger will provide a brief training session on how to use the chair. The park cannot store personal wheelchairs, so alternative arrangements must be made while using the Extreme Motus chair.
The Arches All terrain wheelchair can be used on these easy trails, with one assistant.
Landscape Arch Trail
Double Arch Trail
Skyline Arch Trail
Lower Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail
Double Arch Trail at Arches National Park
Although the Extreme Motus chair is not prohibited on the following trails, sections of them may have steps, uneven terrain and other obstacles that may require the assistance of more than one operator.
Balanced Rock Viewpoint and Trail
Broken Arch Trail
Park Avenue Trail (from Courthouse Towers Viewpoint)
Upper Delicate Arch Viewpoint Trail
Fiery Furnace (Viewpoint Trail only)
Delicate Arch Trail
Tower Arch Trail
Finally, it’s important to note, that the all terrain wheelchair is prohibited on these trails, as they are impassable without causing damage to the natural environment.
If you’re heading to North Carolina and want to enjoy the beach, then check out this helpful website, which has details about Outer Banks beach access for wheelchair-users (www.outerbanks.org/plan-your-trip/accessible-travel).
The site lists the location of beach wheelchairs in the area. It also includes a handy chart which details beach and sound access, and denotes accessible parking, walkways to the beach and the availability of Mobi-Mats. This site also offers access details on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. And last but not least, this access guide includes a full list of accessible parks, fishing spots and trails in Dare County. It’s a great North Carolina access resource!
Barrier-Free Travel
101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
Yurts are all the rage these days. An alternative to pitching a tent, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are pretty basic, while others offer all the comforts of home. They are all set in stunning locations, and since you just have to take along bedding and towels, it’s easy to pack for a yurting vacation. And the good news is, wheelchair-accessible yurts are popping up at campgrounds across America.
This accessible yurt is located in a popular state park in Northwestern Georgia. Spend a night or two and enjoy some of the views from the accessible Overlook Trail.
These two wheelchair-accessible yurts are surrounded by Colorado’s scenic beauty. One is located in Golden Gate Canyon, while the other is near Rocky Mountain National Park.
Located south of highly visited Sequoia National Park, this secluded yurt is in a campground with only 11 other sites. And it’s just a stones throw away from a wheelchair-accessible trail through the Sequoias.
This simple yurt is perched on a hillside overlooking a scenic Utah lake. Add in a spacious deck with a gas BBQ and you have a perfectly accessible retreat.
If you want to dodge the tourist crowds in popular Napa Valley, then head over to Boothe Napa State Park and spend the night in this wheelchair-accessible yurt. And then enjoy some of the wheelchair-accessible trails in the park.
South Beach State Park, which is located on the Oregon coast, features 23 wheelchair-accessible yurts. Add in some accessible trails and you have the perfect spot to stay for a few days.
Last but certainly not least, this wheelchair-accessible yurt is located in Ridgeway State Park, nestled at the base of the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. And it’s just a short drive from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Barrier-Free Travel
California National Park Road Trips
for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
If you’d like to explore the grounds of Grays Harbor Lighthouse in Washington, then make plans to reserve this Westport track chair. It’s available from David’s Chair, and it’s housed in the Westport by the Sea Condos, which are about a .4-mile roll from the lighthouse. There are level sidewalks with curb cuts along the way, but once you get to the lighthouse you’ll need the track chair to traverse the bumpy — and sometimes muddy — dirt trail.
This track chair needs to be reserved at least seven days in advance. Transfer assistance cannot be provided, so if you can’t transfer independently you’ll need to bring along some help. This track chair has a maximum capacity of 350 pounds. For more information, or to request the Westport track chair, visit davidschair.org/request-fixed-location-chair. And for details on some wheelchair-accessible trails and lodging suggestions in the area, visit emerginghorizons.com/westport-a-wheelchair-accessible-pacific-northwest-gem
Barrier-Free Travel
Washington National Parks
for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
If a trip to Slovenia is in your future, then check out these two helpful wheelchair-accessible Slovenia Resources.
The Roll with a Smile blog has an informative entry about travel to Slovenia at https://rollwithasmile.com/slovenia/. It includes information about transportation, wheelchair-accessible lodging and sightseeing in the country. It’s a helpful site with lots of first-hand information and tips.
Visit Ljubljana (www.visitljubljana.com/en/visitors/travel-information/essentials/accessibility-of-ljubljana-by-wheelchair) also has some helpful resources, including details on local wheelchair-accessible taxis and how to get to and from the airport. This site also includes information on where to borrow a “SPEED3X trailer” (a electric handbike attachment with a range of 40 km), to make navigating the downtown area a little easier in a wheelchair.
Barrier-Free Travel the Grand Canyon for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
Located on the Orihuela Costa in Spain, this wheelchair-accessible Costa Blanca villa can sleep up to nine people. This Villamartin unit features ramp access, wide doorways and an open floor plan. The accessible bedroom is furnished with a single hospital bed and a portable lift (visitors must provide their own sling). The accessible bathroom is equipped with a roll-in shower with a hand-held showerhead and a rolling shower-commode chair. The toilet grab bars are attached to the toilet, and there’s plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair around the bathroom.
Outside there’s a large private swimming pool that’s equipped with a ramp. Accessible airport transfers to and from Alicante and Murcia airports are included with each Costa Blanca villa rental. Additionally, an accessible van is available for day trips to beaches, markets, Spanish towns and Zenia Boulevard. For more information visit www.costablancawheelchairfriendly.com.
Barrier-Free Travel
California National Park Road Trips
for Wheelchair-Users and Slow Walkers
Air Canada recently updated its wheelchair policy, which will make travel easier for many wheelchair-users and slow walkers. The new Air Canada wheelchair policy gives customers more flexibility, as it allows a wider range of mobility aids and includes the ability for passengers to track them while in transit.
The new policy allows customers to bring along up to three mobility aids at no charge. These can include:
Wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility aids
Adaptive sports equipment, such as adaptive skis or handcycles
Patient lifts
Other transfer devices
Additionally, if a mobility aid is too large to travel on the same aircraft as the customer, Air Canada Cargo will complimentarily transport it within Canada.
“Travelling with a mobility aid can involve significant planning, and we recognize the uncertainty customers may feel when they are separated from equipment that is essential to their independence,” said Kerianne Wilson, Director, Customer Accessibility at Air Canada. “This new policy is about giving customers more consistent choices, clearer expectations and greater confidence when they travel with us.”
In order to make their natural areas more accessible to wheelchair-users and slow walkers, a number of Texas state parks offer loaner assistive wheelchairs . These manual and power models help folks navigate over sand, rocky areas and other obstacles that standard manual and power wheelchairs cannot handle. The following models are now available in select Texas State Parks. Visit tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/accessibility/assistive-chairs for more information on the specific state parks that offer these loaner assistive wheelchairs, .
GRIT Freedom Chair
GRIT Freedom Chair
The GRIT Freedom Chair is a cross between a manual wheelchair and a mountain bike, and it allows wheelchair-users and slow walkers to access rugged terrain or sandy beaches. Built with mountain bike parts, the GRIT Freedom Chair has three wheels – two standard wheelchair wheels on the sides of the seat, and a smaller wheel in front of the chair. It’s easier to self-propel than a standard wheelchair, thanks to the lever handles installed on each side of the seat; however there are also push handles on the back of the chair for folks who need more assistance. Add in some all terrain tires, and you have a rugged wheelchair, built to tackle rougher terrain.
Motorized Track Chairs
Action Track Chair
Several motorized track chairs models are also available at select Texas State Park. These rugged wheelchairs are outfitted with tank track instead of wheels and can traverse over rugged obstacles. They are user-operated, but there is also an option for a companion to operate the track chairs. The motorized track chair models that Texas State Parks offer include the Action Trackchair (weight capacity 400 pounds), the EcoRover (weight capacity 350 pounds), the X8 and the Terrain Hopper. These motorized track chairs can be used on designated park trails, and even though they can be operated independently a companion is suggested. You may also bring you own wheelchair-cushion to use on these models.
Tandem Hiking Carts
Cascade Tandem Hiking Cart
The Cascade Tandem Hiking Cart allows a “sherpa” (that the wheelchair-user provides) to pull a passenger in the cart which is attached to a backpack. These carts can traverse over sand, snow and singletrack trails, and they are built for backcountry access that some all-terrain wheelchairs can’t always reach. Although they are rated to carry passengers of up to 150 pounds, Texas State Parks sets the recommended passenger weight limit at no more than 100 pounds for “new users”. Additionally, the total weight of the passenger and the gear must not exceed 50 percent of the sherpa’s weight. A helmet is recommended for the rider; and cushions, adaptive supports and other comfort items can also be brought along. The sherpa should be in good physical condition, and it’s best to plan for a shorter hike on your first outing.
So make plans to enjoy a Texas State park with one of these loaner assistive wheelchairs. It’s a great – and very accessible – way to enjoy the outdoors.
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Utah National Parks for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
