with kids 
Now that Halloween is over, it’s officially time to plan Christmas getaways! (Come on, you can’t wait to plan until after Thanksgiving!)
The highlights are a bit different when you’re looking for wheelchair accessible holiday festivities. We avoid the BIG one because we find we’re just plowed over by the crowds with a wheelchair that’s only waist high to most people. I love that we had that experience, because it pushed us to look for other holiday options. Here are our favorites that we’ve discovered along the way! These are short descriptions meant to inspire, but each is linked to fuller itineraries!
1. Washington D.C.
D.C. is a favorite any time of year. They have the most accessible metro system I’ve seen in the U.S., and the most consistent accessibility throughout the city.
They do it up for the holidays with big trees and lights all around. The Wharf is decorated and hosts several events; the National Tree makes for a fun bucket list item; Enchant Christmas has a city location, the National Harbor has events throughout the season, and Gaylord National has both free and ticked displays and activities. So much festive in one city – and it’s all easy to get to!
2. Williamsburg, VA
Just a few hours farther south and you can hop back in time for a Colonial Christmas. There is nothing else on earth like accessible Williamsburg at Christmas, voted #6 in the top Hallmark Christmas Towns. Wide, paved, pedestrian-only paths make it easy to navigate the historic center. There are a variety of events throughout the holidays and you can mix old and new with Christmas markets and Busch Gardens Christmas Town. Bring it up a notch and spend a day at the most accessible indoor waterpark we’ve found.
3. Fredericksburg, Texas
This “Little Bavaria” is small enough that you don’t have to worry about transportation, and there’s still plenty to fill your time for a weekend getaway. With great wineries, coffee shops, and Bavarian bakeries lining the quaint streets, there’s something for everyone. The shops are level with the sidewalk for easy access, and quaint doesn’t mean inaccessible! Marktplatz has a beautiful Holiday display with a nightly tree lighting ceremony, in addition to their many weekend events and markets.
4. St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is one place where you can actually combine old and accessible – and they’re one of the best places in the world for Holiday lights! We took the wheelchair accessible trolley tour through the Nights of Lights. In addition to the trolley, they have free accessible shuttles and great workarounds for getting into even the oldest of structures. Absolutely mind blowing light displays all through town.
Bonus: it’s not that cold!
5. Lancaster County, PA
I’ll tell you what, this place I call “home” is growing on me more and more. They say there’s no place like home for the holidays, but I’m pretty sure this mostly applies to ME.
We have Santa and goats (the farm is not fully accessible, but it’s absolutely worth it for what you can still access). And Amish home cookie tours. (Last year the selected homes were accessible. I need to confirm for this year.)
How about one of the only wheelchair accessible historic steam engines on the planet, offering Santa’s Paradise Express, Night Before Christmas Train, and a Christmas Tree Train?
You can’t miss the Messick’s light show – where tractors perform the nightly music and lights entertainment.
(Updated Christmas in Lancaster post coming soon! I’m just waiting for a few dates to be finalized!)
Anywhere
In any destination, we’ve found drive-thru light shows and theme parks to be our best bets for accessible Christmas light displays.