Your Fall Accessible Travel Guide

Wheelchairtraveling.com’s Ashley Lyn Olson offers tips and advice for planning your fall trip to the beach, a national park, a weekend getaway in the city or to see the fall colors.

Fall break, a weekend getaway, an off-season vacation—whatever your reason, fall is the perfect time to get away. Ashley Lyn Olson, the creator of wheelchairtraveling.com, recently chatted with us about travel and offered a few tips on planning a fall trip to a few favorite destinations: the beach, national parks, a weekend getaway and the best places to get a glimpse of amazing fall colors.  

About Ashley Lyn Olson

Paralyzed in a car accident when she was 14, Ashley Lyn Olson began wheelchairtraveling.com in 2006. The mission: to empower people with limited mobility to access and experience the world of leisure and adventure travel.  “When more of us are out and about doing what we love, the world responds by becoming more accessible,” Ashley says. “For us to be heard, we need to be seen.” The site has grown into a comprehensive travel resource offering detailed guides, tips and reviews on accessible destinations, transportation, accommodations and activities worldwide. 

Wherever you’re planning to travel this fall, Ashley offered a few insights on planning your next trip. 

“When you’re planning any trip, you have to think about your objective,” Ashley says. “What is it you want to do? Do you want to just chill or hang out at the hotel? Or, do you want to explore? Have an adventure? How active do you want to get?”

In addition, Ashley advises travelers to think about their physical needs as well as the environment of their destination when planning a trip. 

“Have an honest conversation with yourself about your physical needs,” Ashley recommends. “Do you need to take a break in the middle of the day? Will you be transferring in and out of the car a lot or pushing your chair on bumpy roads? What about temperatures and altitudes your body isn’t used to? These are all things you need to think about. It’s also a good travel practice to have a conversation with caregivers and companions about their needs and expectations. Understanding generates flow.” 

Heading to the Beach? 

A fall beach vacation can be a wonderful time to enjoy the sand and surf without the larger crowds of summer (depending on when and where you decide to go). 

What to Pack

In addition to the usual beach gear, like towels and sunscreen, Ashley recommended bringing along adaptive equipment like:: 

• Beach mat or rug
• Beach-friendly footwear
• Cooling towel to help regulate your temperature
• Adaptive floating devices or any adaptive sports gear you might want to enjoy
• Portable shower chair to use to rinse off
• First aid kit and waterproof smartphone in case of an emergency. 

Ashley’s Advice

A little research before your trip can go a long way, especially if you want to rent a beach wheelchair. You may be able to reserve a beach wheelchair before you go, but if not, your research will help you know where to go once you arrive. “Lifeguard towers are a good place to start,” Ashley says, “but most of the time they’re in the middle of the sand, so a companion might have to go out and ask. If they don’t have beach wheelchairs there, they should know where they’re located. 

Sometimes beach wheelchairs are locked up in an accessible area with a phone number posted. Lastly, try calling the lifeguard headquarters, although getting a hold of a live person can be challenging. ” More and more, vendors are starting to rent beach chairs near popular beach locations, Ashley says. While vendors often charge a fee for usage, beach wheelchairs offered by the state and city are often free. Most beach wheelchairs need to be pushed by someone else, but a few power beach wheelchairs exist. 

Destinations to Consider 

• San Diego, California: “San Diego and the greater San Diego Area is definitely one of the best beach destinations in the world in terms of accessibility, pathways and beach chairs,” Ashley says. Santa Monica and Santa Cruz, both close to San Diego, are also good options. 
• Florida: “Florida is just one great, amazing beach,” Ashley says. Options include Clearwater Beach and Fort De Soto Park, which offers access to the beach as well as a scenic walkway. Siesta Key Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Pensacola Beach, Juno Beach Park, and Delray Beach also are great choices and have beach wheelchairs and walkways.
• Lakes: If a lake is more your speed, Ashley suggests Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe in Nevada, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, Flathead Lake in Montana or Lake Michigan’s Warren Dunes State Park. Fishing and kayaking are great ways to enjoy access to lakes. Another way to see the biggest lakes in America is to take a cruise around the Great Lakes. Other ideas include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana Dunes National Park, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Presque Isle State Park. 

Planning a Trip to a National Park? 

A fall trip to one of America’s national parks might be the perfect way to celebrate the season, but they do take a bit of planning and forethought. “Energy and stamina are important when planning a trip to a national park,” Ashley says. “You also have to think about the kind of terrain you’ll be on—if it’s sand, small rocks, wet or dry. Altitude changes may physically affect bodies or equipment. Air cushions definitely require monitoring.” Ashley also advises researching and checking in with adaptive recreation organizations in the area to see what kinds of activities might be available, like adaptive biking, paragliding, nature walks or more. 

Ashley’s Advice

If your trip involves camping, it’s best to try to reserve an accessible site ahead of time. “I’ve been to parks where there is a first-come, first-served accessible camping site in addition to ones that may be reserved,” Ashley says. “It can be good to inquire about various  options, such as bathroom approximation,  electrical hook-ups to charge your power chair or other equipment, or the best view.”

What to Pack or Consider

Special items or gear you might want to bring along include: 

• Portable generator so you can power up your chair or other equipment between trails or other activities that use a lot of battery
• Sleeping bag and a cot if you’re camping (“Cots are raised off the ground and are easier to get on and off,” Ashley advises.)
• Portable toilet 
• Portable ramp (shortest and lightest for chair)
• Transportation: Some parks may provide in-park accessible transportation; inquire at the visitor’s center. 
• Picnic lunches or snacks, especially if you’ll be hiking or exploring
• A sense of adventure: “Bring an open mind and the need for adventure,” Ashley says. “And, most importantly, bring the utmost respect for Mother Nature.” 

Destinations to Consider

Fall can be a great time to visit national parks, especially if you’re looking for fall colors and cooler temps. But autumn is also the perfect time to visit desert locations, which can be less crowded and just as beautiful in the fall. Here are a few parks to consider:

• Mammoth Caves National Park
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• Congaree National Park
• Acadia National Park
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Grand Teton National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• Utah National Parks: Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and more

Want the Perfect Weekend Getaway in the City?

Fall is a great time for a weekend getaway, and the United States is full of fun cities to visit, depending on your location and whether you want to travel by car or airline. When planning your visit, Ashley suggests doing research beforehand to figure out what sites you want to see or activities you might want to do as well as understand where accessible bathrooms are generally located and what transportation options exist. 

Ashley’s Advice

“Attractions in the city are closer together than in national parks,” Ashley says, “but don’t feel like you have to cover everything.” Instead, Ashley suggests taking your time to really experience the place you’re visiting, whether it’s a historical site or museum or something else. “You travel to observe and experience a culture,” she says. “If you’re rushing around you might miss out on the details and that’s where the good bits are. Don’t try to do everything.” 

Destinations to Consider

Major cities like New York City and Chicago are perennial fall travel favorites, Ashley says, but the U.S. has plenty of amazing sights to offer in autumn, including: 

• Albuquerque or Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Monterey or Santa Barbara, California
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Savannah, Georgia
• Austin, Texas
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin (“They have Midwest charm down,” Ashley says.)

Ready to See Some Fall Colors? 

There’s nothing quite like the changing leaves of fall, and America offers a variety of places to glimpse all the shades of orange, yellow, red and gold you can imagine. 

What to Pack

In addition to the things you’d pack for a fall trip that involves some time outdoors (i.e. bring your jacket or coat), Ashley recommends: 

• If you’re flying, bring along a few tools, such as an Allen wrench or extra caster wheels, in case your chair is damaged during travel 
• If you have a power chair, it might be good to also bring along a manual chair or a back-up that you’d be comfortable in if something went wrong with your power chair 
• Seat cushion and/or back cushion
• Extra clothing and medical supplies
• Anti-slip padding or belts
• Adaptive clothing and comfortable shoes
• First-aid kit, wipes, sanitizers, hygiene equipment

Destinations to Consider

In addition to the national parks Ashley recommended earlier, other destinations include: 

• Wine Country: “They are so beautiful in the fall, even if you don’t drink wine,” Ashley says. “Just visit the area and enjoy the beauty of it.” Her suggestion? Calistoga, California in the Sonoma Wine Country. The Napa Wine Train is an option for some wheelchair users. Visiting one of Oregon’s wine regions is also worth considering. 
• Deserts and other locations that are cooler in the fall: “Anywhere that’s ridiculously hot in the summer, go there in the fall,” Ashley says. The location, such as national parks located in the desert or warm weather locales like beaches can be just as beautiful and rewarding to visit in the off-season. 

For more travel ideas and tips on planning your next accessible vacation, check out Ashley’s website, wheelchairtraveling.com.