Accessible family travel tips for Arizona and beyond
I met Kristen at a Chinese restaurant in Philadelphia. We were both there celebrating Chinese New Year with our little boys in wheelchairs. When she found out I run a disability travel blog for families, she shared her job running Cherry Blossom Vacations – giving away free vacation stays to adoptive and/or disabled families! When she offered to share her experiences from her recent trip, I was all over it. The world is a better place because of the community of disability moms who share as they learn. Thanks, Kristen Perso for the following article!
Accessible family trip to Scottsdale
20 years ago, my husband and I visited Scottsdale, Arizona for our honeymoon. A few weeks ago we traveled back for the first time as a family of 6. Our family includes some unique needs between being a large(ish) family, having a son who uses a power wheelchair, and another son who has some extra needs due to being on the autism spectrum. However, we LOVE to travel so we always find a way to make it work!
Tips for flying with a power chair
We started our trip from Newark, NJ flying direct to Phoenix. The biggest thing for our family in starting our trip is making sure Aiden’s wheelchair is safely transported throughout the plane ride. We have flown five times with his power chair and, thankfully, it has always arrived in the same condition, although we know it is the norm for something to arrive broken when wheelchair users travel.
In order to minimize the risk, we take as much off of Aiden’s chair as possible (joystick definitely) and fold the back rest down. We have never had an issue bringing an extra bag on the plane for wheelchair parts, which includes the charger so that we don’t have to worry about losing it with lost luggage. Also, consider the size of the plane you are flying on to be sure they have a large enough cargo entry door so that your wheelchair can go in upright and not lying on its side. Lastly, we put signs with instructions (with pictures!) zip tied to the chair and ALWAYS wait with it until the ramp agent comes for it. We go over the instructions about how to lock and unlock the wheels and where to lift with the agent. Also, we make sure to take pictures of the wheelchair before they take it and if able, while they are loading it.
When traveling with a wheelchair, you will need tools (Allen wrenches, etc) to take parts off and back on your chair. Make sure they are under 7 inches in size. Security in Phoenix stopped us for an 8 inch pliers that we needed and did let us pass, but it took about 20 extra minutes of waiting for approval. We know the risk of traveling with Aiden’s chair and the possibility of it being broken, but also know that leaving his chair at home means a significant loss of independence for him so we always try to bring it when traveling if we can.
Getting around
We rented an accessible Honda Odyssey from VMI accessible vans in Phoenix and had a great experience. They delivered it to the airport parking garage, so it was waiting for us when we arrived. On departure, we were able to leave in the garage again so, very easy and smooth!
Our first morning brought another new challenge-a flat wheelchair tire! We tried to use the air tire pumps at Costco, but they are computerized, so we found a manual pump at a nearby gas station that fixed it up quickly!
What to do
Accessible trails
Most of our trip was spent enjoying the outdoors. We tried to go on walks/hikes most days and found some awesome, accessible trails near Scottsdale. The best and most accessible is the Jane Rau Brown trail that is part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve at Brown’s Ranch in North Scottsdale. We also did the Bajada trail (also a part of McDowell Sonoran Preserve) a little farther south which had an interpretive, accessible trail.
Pinnacle Peak is another nearby trail that we visited. Not as accessible, but a moderately easy hike for anyone who does not have mobility issues and ends with amazing views. Seeing wildlife is another bonus! The trail at Brown’s Ranch also got us up close and personal (at least more than we expected) with a rattlesnake on the side of the trail!
Each location was free admittance and had additional trails for more experienced hikers ranging from easy to difficult, so something for everyone!
All things trains
Our favorite and most unexpected outing was to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale. Entry is free and it is a must do for anyone who has even the smallest interest in trains! The park includes a huge model train exhibit, a museum, a walk through Pullman car that was used by multiple US presidents, and a ride on-train for just $3 a person that is ALSO accessible for power chairs! There is also a play area, pavilions, and a gift shop so definitely be sure this one is on your list when in the Scottsdale area.
Penske Racing Museum
The Penske Racing Museum was a quick, but very memorable (and free again!) thing to do on a rainy day. They have two levels of various racing cars and also allow you to walk through some of the high end car showrooms like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Rolls Royce.
Old Scottsdale
We shopped for a few hours in Old Scottsdale and this was one of the more difficult outings. The stores were very small and tight for maneuvering and the sidewalks are not very wide. There are some unique shops, but mainly touristy items with touristy prices. Parking is also more difficult on a busy day.
Sedona
We spent one day in Sedona and did the “moderate” tour (as opposed to the typical very bumpy tours) with Sedona Jeep Tours. It worked for Aiden because he is small enough to be transferred by my husband, but would be very difficult for anyone who needs assistance getting up and into the back of a Jeep. The tour also started on main roads so consider the need for car seats or safety for everyone attending the tour.
Catch a sunset
For one more free item, make sure to catch at least one Arizona sunset. We found a great spot with great views from North Scottsdale on Pinnacle Peak road near North Church Road. Get there a little before sunset, pull off on the side, and watch the sun set behind the beautiful mountains in the distance.
Where to stay
Our accommodations were at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Scottsdale Resort. They have ground entrance accessible rooms (however the shower was not roll in, but was large enough to accommodate the shower seat they provided). There are multiple pools around the complex so easy access from most condos. Most of the pools are heated and include hot tubs, aside from the pool complex with the play area and slide. They also have a game room and craft/activity room that is a little small but doable if it isn’t busy. The location is in close proximity to grocery stores, Walmart, Walgreens, and within about 20-25 minutes of all the activities we did.