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.
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101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
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!
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101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
There are lots of self-named “big trees” in the world, but if you happen to be in Northwestern Oregon, be sure and stop in Rockaway Beach, for a gander at Oregon’s largest cedar tree. Lovingly nicknamed the Rockaway Cedar by the locals, this giant stands over 150-feet high, and is surrounded by an equally impressive forest. And believe it or not, it’s in a preserve in the middle of town. The best part is, the half-mile boardwalk that leads out to this local landmark is wheelchair-accessible. So slow down on your next trek down Highway 101, and stop in Rockaway Beach to enjoy a short walk through the forest to admire this stately giant.
A Wheelchair-Accessible Boardwalk
Rockaway Beach Old Growth Cedar Preserve Boardwalk to the Rockaway Cedar
It’s easy to zip by the small parking lot for the Rockaway Beach Old Growth Cedar Preserve. If you’re heading south, slow down when you see the giant hot dog on your left, and look for the parking lot just past Washington Street, on the left. There’s only six standard spaces in the lot, and two accessible slots, but the accessible ones are usually available.
From the parking area, the level boardwalk winds through the 45-acre old growth forest filled with skunk cabbage, salmonberry and coast sedge. About midway along there’s also a level boardwalk over to a viewing platform with a picnic table and benches. It’s a nice secluded spot for a lunch break.
And Oregon’s largest cedar tree – a 154-foot giant — sits at the end of the .6-mile trail. There are a few benches to sit and admire the giant, as well as another picnic table there. There’s also a short stretch of boardwalk that leads over to a more secluded bench if you’d like a little privacy. All in all, it’s a beautiful stroll through the forest, and a must-stop on any Pacific Northwest road trip. And while you’re in the area, be sure to plan a stop at the equally wheelchair-accessible Kilchis Point Reserve, which is just down the road in Bay City emerginghorizons.com/kilchis-point-reserve-a-wheelchair-accessible-tillamook-county-gem/.
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Beach Wheelchair and Beach Mat at Megans Bay, St. Thomas
Located along the northern coast of St. Thomas, about 15 minutes from Charlotte Amalie, Megans Bay is the first accessible beach in the US Virgin Islands. It’s the result of legislation to help make local beaches more accessible for disabled visitors. Megans Bay includes accessible parking, restrooms and changing rooms, as well as good pathway access to the concession area. There’s also a paved pathway from the parking area out to a beach mat, which allows wheelchair-users to roll out on the sandy beach. Additionally, a Waterwheels floating wheelchair is available for loan. This specialized wheelchair can roll over the sand and into the water, and allows wheelchair-users to safely enjoy the ocean. For more information about the wheelchair-accessible beach at Megans Bay, visit www.friendsmagens.org/focus-areas/traffic-accessibility/disability-access.
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101 Accessible Vacations: Travel Ideas for Wheelchair-users and Slow Walkers
Located in Hua Hin, these two wheelchair-accessible Thailand villas are a great holiday choice. Villa Coconut Grove and Villa Si Daeng both have two bedrooms and two adapted bathrooms. They each can accommodate up to six adults. Access features include a level entry, wide doorways, good pathway access and tiled floors for easy rolling. The bathrooms include a Continental shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead, and a fold-down shower seat. There are fold-down grab bars on both sides of the toilets, and the sinks have wrapped pipes and plenty of room for a wheelchair to roll under them.
Villa Coconut Grove and Villa Si Daeng
Villa Coconut Grove is located at the end of a dead-end street, in a small complex of 10 villas. It includes a large living area and a fully equipped kitchen, with level access out to the covered veranda surrounded by a tropical garden. The adjacent terrace includes a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi that can be accessed by a pool lift. It’s also just a short walk or roll to the beach, a mall, a bakery and a number of restaurants.
Villa Si Daeng is also located on a dead-end street, in the middle of a row of five houses. It has an open floor plan with a living area and a kitchen, and a spacious veranda. The pool and Jacuzzi can be accessed by a lift or stairs. As an added bonus, many small restaurants are located nearby, and the villa is about one kilometer from the beach.
Both of the villas come with a lot of extra adaptive equipment, including hospital beds, shower wheelchairs, patient lifts and beach wheelchairs. Dinner is included on the first night, and there’s also a free grocery package for breakfast the next day. Wheelchair-accessible airport transfers and local transportation in an accessible van can also be arranged; and a personal care assistant can be provided for an additional charge. Villa Coconut Grove also comes with a housekeeper and free laundry service.
Wheelchair-Accessible Hilton Head beaches are now a reality, thanks to a number of local programs and improvements.
For starters, many of the public beach parks and access points have beach mats down to the high water line. These mats allow wheelchair-users and slow walkers to access the beach without sinking into the sand. The beach mats can be found at these locations.
Alder Lane Beach Access
Burkes Beach Access
Coligny Beach Park
Driessen Beach Park
Fish Haul Beach Park
Folly Field Beach Park
Islanders Beach Park
Additionally, there are also loaner beach wheelchairs available at several beach locations. It’s easy to reserve a beach wheelchair on the town website. Just go to secure.rec1.com/SC/hilton-head-island-sc/catalog and create an account. Then look at the calendar and pick an available date.
Beach wheelchairs are available for loan in eight-hour blocks from 8 AM to 4PM, seven days a week. They must be reserved at least three days in advance. After you’ve made your selection, you’ll be prompted to sign a waiver, and then enter a payment method for the $25 refundable deposit. The deposit will be refunded within three business days after the beach wheelchair is returned. Once the transaction is complete, you’ll be given instructions on when and where to pick up your loaner beach wheelchair.
So make plans to explore the wheelchair-accessible Hilton Head beaches.
Barrier-Free Travel 101 Accessible Vacations Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
If you’d like to explore some of the more rugged trails and beaches in Southeastern Texas, then pick up this Texas Tow & Go track chair from David’s Chair in Huntsville. Although most track chairs are required to be used in specific places, this loaner comes with a trailer so you can tow it to the location — or locations — of your choice.
This track chair, which has a maximum capacity of 350 pounds, is located at the 10 Mile Ranch in Huntsville, Texas. Reservations are required to borrow the track chair, which comes with a fully enclosed trailer that has ramp access in the rear. In order to tow this trailer you’ll need a vehicle with at least a 1,500-pound towing capacity, that has a 2-inch ball and a straight 4-prong trailer hookup with safety chains. The driver must provide a current drivers license and proof of insurance. Tow & Go reservations must be submitted at least two weeks in advance, and the reservations may not exceed seven days. This Texas Tow & Go track chair is a great option for an active vacation. For more information or to make a reservation, visit davidschair.org/request-tow-n-go-chair/.
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The good news is, Daytona Beach is very accessible; in fact it’s known for it’s hard-packed sand beaches. You can drive on the beach, and wheelchair-users have no problems rolling over the almost cement-like sand surface. That said, if you’d like information on loaner beach wheelchairs, visit volusia.org/services/public-protection/beach-safety/beach-information-for-the-disabled.stml. There’s also information about accessible beach parking there.
And for a detailed information on Daytona Beach wheelchair accessible activities, including, accessible trails, dining, transportation and itinerary suggestions, visit daytonabeach.com/accessibility/. Compiled by local accessibility expert Steve Deal, this helpful resource includes copious information about each listing, so visitors will have no problems determining what will and what won’t work for them,
Check out these two great resources before your next Daytona Beach visit.
Barrier-Free Travel Favorite Florida State Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
Chance Baker is a self-admitted tinkerer. He picked this up while doing garage projects with his dad when he was young, and honed his skills when he joined the Marine Corps and became an avionics technician. After his discharge, he built bicycles with electric motors and power recumbent scooters, before he designed the Beach Buggy — a power beach wheelchair.
Today he’s the owner of Beach ‘N Buggys, which offers sales and rental of his designs on the Alabama Gulf Coast. And as an added bonus, with the help of a Marine buddy Baker has donated his Beach Buggys to disabled veterans.
Beach Buggys
Baker has three different styles of Beach Buggys available for rent in Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Peridido Key. They are available for daily rental, but discounts are available for longer periods.
The Lobster is a mid-size model that is adequate for most people, while the Heavy-Duty Lobster is the best choice for heavier folks. And the Sand Flea is a good pick for lighter kids and young adults. All of the Beach Buggy models can be operated independently, and they all will fit through doorways and pool gates. They are also narrow enough to allow access to the boardwalks, so you can fully enjoy the beach. For more information, or to reserve a Beach Buggy, visit beachnbuggys.com/.
Barrier-Free Travel 101 Accessible Vacations Travel Ideas for Wheelers and Slow Walkers
If you’d like to hit the beach while you are in Honolulu, but you’re a wheelchair-user or slow walker, rest assured it’s still possible. Thanks to the Department of Parks and Recreation, beach mats and beach wheelchairs are available at many Honolulu beaches.
The hard plastic beach mats make it easy for wheelchair-users and slow walkers to navigate over the soft sand. And if you’d like to pave your own way, the beach wheelchairs make that possible too. The beach wheelchairs have three balloon tires, and have a weight capacity of 300 pounds. They are available on a first-come basis, in two-hour increments. It’s important to note that the beach wheelchairs cannot be self propelled, so you must bring along a companion to push you around the beach.
The following locations have beach mats and beach wheelchairs.
Beach Mats
Waimea Bay Beach Park
Ehukai Beach Park
Waimanalo Bay Beach Park
Sans Souci Beach at Kaimana Beach Hotel
Kuhio Beach Park
Hale’iwa Ali’i Beach Park
Hunananiho
Beach Wheelchairs
Kualoa Regional Beach Park
Hanauama Bay Nature Preserve
Beach Mats & Beach Wheelchairs
Kailu Beach
Ala Moana Beach Park
For more information about the Honolulu beach wheelchairs and beach mats, visit www.honolulu.gov/dpr/therapeutic-recreation-beach-wheelchairs/. That site also has a helpful map of all the beach mat and beach wheelchair locations. So get ready to enjoy the sand and surf on your next Honolulu trip.
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