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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Known for its delicious ice cream and cheese, Tillamook County is one of those Oregon areas that’s often skipped over by hurried travelers. They rush off to Portland or Vancouver, or linger along the scenic coast, and just zip right on by this beautiful Northwestern Oregon area. And although a stop at the Tillamook Creamery is a must for a tasty treat, the Kilchis Point Reserve (www.tcpm.org/kilchis-point-reserve.html) tops the list if you want to explore several wheelchair-accessible trails and enjoy some pristine coastal views. So next time you visit Tillamook County, slow down when you hit Bay City, and spend a few hours at this serene coastal retreat.
A Space for Everyone
Trailhead Loop Trail at Kilchis Point Reserve
Located just off Highway 101, Kilchis Point Reserve is easy find once you reach Bay City. Just head south on Warren Street off of Highway 101, then make a left on Spruce Road. Granted, it doesn’t look like much from the parking lot, but first impressions can sometimes be deceiving.
As far as access goes, there’s accessible parking near the entrance, and level access to the accessible restrooms and the Trailhead Loop. There’s also a nice shaded picnic area with an accessible picnic table off to the right near the restrooms. So pack along a lunch to enjoy before or after your hike.
The reserve is owned and maintained by the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, and it’s funded through donations, grants and membership dues. Wheelchair access is a top priority at Kilchis Point, because the powers that be want everybody to be able to enjoy this beautiful area. To that end, all of the trails within the reserve are wheelchair-accessible; so the only decisions that need to be made are how long you’d like to stay and how far you’d like to hike. Additionally, if any access obstacles pop up because of weather or other damage, they are well marked, so it’s easy to dodge them.
Folks who can’t manage the distance on the trails can also opt for a golf cart ride out to the ocean-view gazebo. Because of staffing issues advance notice is needed for this service, so please try to make reservations at least two weeks in advance. Call (503) 842-4553 for more information.
Hit the Trails
The accessible trails begin in both parking areas on the Trailhead Loop. This .33-mile trail circles the entrance area and includes interpretive plaques about the natural history of the area. The level brick pathways are lined with native plants, and the trees provide a pleasant shaded canopy. The loop leads to the First Convening Circle, where it branches off into two different routes to the ocean overlook.
The Native American Trail (.18 miles) is on the left, while the longer Flora and Fauna Trail (.38 miles) is on the right. Both hard-packed dirt trails are nicely accessible, and they wind through the forest and over the wetlands. The wetland areas have boardwalks, and although the trails have a few dips, they are still well within ADAAG guidelines for accessible trails. Interpretive plaques line both trails, and every now and then there’s a bench to take a break.
Flora and Fauna Trail at the Kilchis Point Reserve
Both trails end at the the Second Convening Circle, where the .5-mile Pioneer Path leads out to a viewpoint on Tillamook Bay. This trail is also hard-packed dirt and has a few ups and downs, but it’s still relatively level. Near the end there is a clearing which has a group of benches, so if you want to have lunch on the trail it’s a nice spot to stop.
Caitlin Heusser Bird Watching Station
The Caitlin Heusser Bird Watching Station sits at the end of the trail, and offers a commanding ocean view. This elevated gazebo has ramp access, and several benches inside. It’s a great spot to get a gander at the local avian life, so bring your binoculars. And if you want a closer look, there’s also level access over to a viewpoint on the side of the gazebo. Either way, it’s an excellent – and very accessible — spot for a beautiful ocean view.
Ocean View From the Caitlin Heusser Bird Watching Station
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Located in its namesake town in Northwestern Oregon, the Tillamook Creamery is worth a stop on any road trip. There’s plenty of accessible parking near the front entrance, with elevator access up to the second floor for the factory tour. From that upper vantage point you can look down on the factory floor, while numerous videos and touch screen presentations describe the production process. Top it off with some samples at end, for the full Tillamook experience. Of course the self-guided factory tour is interesting, but real fans will definitely want to stop for a scoop – or two – of Tillamook ice cream at the ice cream counter. And if you still haven’t had enough, there’s also a cafe on the premises that serves up tasty cheese treats, and a market where you can purchase all of the Tillamook products. A fun stop for all ages, with excellent wheelchair access.
Thanks to the work of David’s Chair, loaner track chairs are now available at a number of Oregon (and Washington) locations. These rugged wheelchairs are outfitted with tank tracks instead of wheels and they can easily travel over sand and other obstacles found on inaccessible trails and beaches.
About the Track Chairs
Three types of track chairs are available — standing models, seated models and a youth chair. All have a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds. Although the majority of the chairs are available at fixed locations, there are also several several models in the tow-and-go program. This program includes a track chair in a ramped trailer that can be towed by a personal vehicle. Tow vehicles need to have a two-inch ball with a straight four-prong trailer hookup and safety chain hooks.
Advance reservations are required for all loaner track chairs, and a liability waiver must also be signed. Some locations offer limited time slots, so plan ahead to avoid disappointment. Reservations for fixed location chairs can only be made at davidschair.org/request-fixed-location-chair/, while reservations for tow-and-go track chairs can be made at davidschair.org/request-tow-n-go-chair/.
Track Chair Locations
Fixed Locations
Seaside Elks Lodge #1748
324 Avenue A
Seaside, OR 97138
This seated model can be only used at the beach, which is located 2.5 blocks from the lodge.
Manzanita Visitor Center
30 Laneda Avenue
Manzanita, OR 97130
This seated model can only be used at the the beach off of Laneda Avenue, which is a short roll from the visitor center.
Gold Beach Visitor Center
94080 Shirley Lane
Gold Beach, OR 97444
This seated model can only be used on the beach near the Gold Beach Visitor Center.
Heceta Beach County Park
88466 1st Avenue
Florence, OR 97439
This seated model can only be used on the beach north of Driftwood Shores Resort, which can be accessed by the Heceta Beach access point.
Don and Ann Davis Park
840 West Olive Street
Newport, OR 97565
This seated model can only be used to access the beach near Don and Ann Davis Park.
The Pelican (Cape Kiwanda Parking Lot)
33180 Cape Kiwanda Drive
Pacific City, OR 97135
This standing model can only be used to access Pacific City Beach from the nearby parking lot.
Mount Pisgash Arboretum
34901 Frank Parrish Road
Eugene, OR
This seated model can only be used at the Mount Pisgash Arboretum.
Lithia Park Cabin
340 S. Pioneer Street
Ashland, OR
This seated model can only be used in Lithia Park.
Westport by the Sea Condos
1600 W Ocean Ave
Westport, WA 98595
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
19255 SW Pacific Highway
Sherwood, OR 97140
Happy Camp Hideaways
825 Happy Camp Rd.
Tillamook OR 97141
This chair can only be used on the beach off 825 Happy Camp Road.
St Mary by the Sea Catholic Church
275 S. Pacific St.
Rockaway Beach, OR 97136
This chair can only be used on the beach that can be accessed via the St Mary by the Sea parking lot.
Tow-and-Go Locations
White City
This location has a standing model, a seated model and a youth chair.
Coos Bay
This location has a seated model.
For more information about these programs, visit davidschair.org/.
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Factory Tours offer a fun peek into the manufacturing process, and many even give out free samples and substantial discounts at their factory stores. And although not all areas of many factories are wheelchair-accessible, more and more companies are making their factory tours doable for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Additionally, factory tours are easy on the the wallet, as many are low-cost or free. With that in mind, here are some fun wheelchair-accessible factory tours across the US.
At the top of the list of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is Ben & Jerry’s in rural Waterbury, Vermont. This fun tour chronicles the story of childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and details how they started their business by taking a correspondence course on ice cream making.
Accessible parking is available near the information booth (just follow the signs), but if you can’t do distances, there is a drop-off point in front of the main building. There is level access to the lobby, and a wheelchair is available for loan at the tour desk. The entire tour is wheelchair-accessible, with level access to all areas.
The 30-minute tour begins with a movie about the history of the company, then continues to the mezzanine viewing walkway. Although you don’t go directly in the factory, you get a good birds-eye view of the ice cream making process from this overhead vantage point. There are free samples at the end of the tour, but if you’d like more than a sample, there’s a scoop shop outside. And although it’s not on the tour, be sure and visit the Flavor Graveyard outside. There is a small charge for this popular tour, and it’s a good idea to get your tickets online to avoid disappointment.
Hyundai
www.hmmausa.com
For a look at how Hyundai and Genesis vehicles are made, make sure and take the Hyundai Factory Tour in Montgomery, Alabama. There’s plenty of accessible parking in the visitors lot, with level access to the visitors center, where you’ll find a display of newly minted Hyundai and Genesis vehicles.
The 1.5-hour tour begins with a short movie, after which visitors are escorted to a wheelchair-accessible tram. Head sets and safety glasses are issued to everyone, and then the tram begins its trek through the factory. Along the way the tour guide explains the production process as the tram weaves through the stamping shop, welding shop, general assembly shop and engine shop. The tour ends with a short trip out to the test track. It’s a very interesting tour, and although it’s free, advance reservations are required. The tours are offered during the days on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and in the evenings on Thursdays. Sorry folks, no free samples on this one.
Next up on our list of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is Abita Brewery. Located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, this Louisiana mainstay brews a healthy selection of craft beers and craft sodas.
There is level access to the factory, except the bottling room, which has one step. Still you can get a good look at the bottling process without entering the bottling room. The informative tour last 30 minutes, after which visitors can enjoy a pint in the Tap Room. Alternatively the family-friendly tour offers a walk or roll through the craft soda section of the brewery. This 20-minute tour offers a close-up look at the brewing process, and includes samples of the sodas brewed there. As with the craft beer tour, this tour also offers good wheelchair access.
There is a charge for both tours, and although tickets are available in advance, spots are also held for walk-ups on every tour. These guided tours are held daily in the afternoons, except on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Closed toes shoes are required for all tours.
If you’ve ever wondered how jelly beans are made, than a trip the the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, California is a must. There’s a small charge for this self-guided tour, but advance reservations are not required. Accessible parking is available in front, with level access to the building. And if you can’t manage the short walk from the parking lot, there’s also a drop-off area near the front door.
All areas on the self-guided tour are wheelchair-accessible, with an elevator up to the second floor gallery that circles the plant. Employees are stationed along the way to answer questions, and videos detail the whole production process. There are even lowered windows in the viewing gallery, so wheelchair-users get an excellent view of everything.
The sugary confections start out as slurry which is poured into molds to create the jelly bean centers. The centers are then transferred to spinning drums filled with sugar to form the hard outer shell. Finally the beans are polished in another set of drums filled with syrup. After all that, they are stamped with the Jelly Belly logo, packaged and sent on their way.
After the tour visitors can browse through the art gallery, which contains jelly bean mosaics of presidents, rock stars and fashion icons, have a jelly bean shaped burger in the cafeteria, or try some fudge in the chocolate shop. And don’t forget to pick up some tasty treats in the gift shop.
Last but not least on our roundup of wheelchair-accessible factory tours is the Tillamook Creamery. Originally established as a cheese shop in the 1950s, this Oregon cheese factory has offered free tours since 1968. And although it’s probably the most touristed attraction in town, it’s still worth a stop.
There’s plenty of accessible parking in front, with level access to the building. The self-guided factory tour starts in the Farm Exhibit Hall, which focuses on the basics of cow care by Tillamook farmers. After that, visitors take the elevator to the second floor gallery, which offers an expansive view of the factory floor. Videos and touch screen presentations help describe the production process, as the cheese is transported from station to station on conveyor belts. Visitors are able to view the whole process from start to finish, after which they they head back downstairs for a sample of the finished product.
There is level access to the first-floor sample buffet, where you can try the many different varieties of Tillamook cheese. And if you’d like to take home some cheese, there’s also a cheese shop nearby. There’s level access to the adjacent restaurant which features a variety of cheesy treats. And don’t forget to stop by the ice cream counter to order a scoop of Tillamook ice cream. It’s the perfect way to top off a Tillamook Creamery visit.
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