I don’t usually share travel information when I’m traveling without my wheelchair user, but when Kristen reached out about her latest travel experience and asked if she could share, it made sense. As disability moms, we’re always on the lookout for the things that will work well for our families and we stay alert for things that won’t. Below, Kristen Perso of Cherry Blossom Vacations shares her experience in the Florida Keys, including what would work with a wheelchair and what wouldn’t. It’s a good reminder of the ways we need to adapt for disability travel.
A Different Kind of Trip
We usually travel as a family of 6, which includes my son who is a wheelchair user, but when my oldest daughter graduated, we decided to do a trip with just the two of us to the Florida Keys. Even though we did not need our usual level of accessible activities, as a travel lover, it is always on my mind about how destinations work for families and those living with a disability, so I had a mental list of pros and cons going as we enjoyed the hot (and humid!) Keys.
My daughter is adventurous and loves all things water, so the Keys was a good fit for her. The highlights of the trip were a snorkel tour and kayaking through the mangrove forests. Both were beautiful but came with definite challenges for families who might be traveling with small children or be less adventurous.
The snorkel tour was with Sundiver Tours in Key Largo. It takes you about six miles off shore (weather dependent) to a coral reef for about an hour of swimming/snorkeling. The boat, captain, and guides were great, but this would be a tough or impossible (unless not getting off the boat) excursion for those with a disability as it required climbing up and down a ladder on the boat to get in the water and the water was quite choppy on the day we swam so it was not easy swimming.
Our kayak tour was with Florida Keys Kayak and Paddle tours in Marathon. We spent just over two hours kayaking through some open water and then through very tight mangrove tunnels. While it was an amazing experience, it would be very difficult for those with limited arm mobility or small children, even if they were only sitting in the kayak. Branches from the mangroves stick out everywhere and the tunnels can be very tight in places, requiring you to stop paddling and use the branches to move the kayak through. Florida Keys Kayak also offers manatee tours which would likely be more suitable in open water for families.
Accessible Options
One of the accessible highlights was the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. It was an awesome tour, with up-close sea turtle viewing and feeding. It was very informative about how they rescue and care for turtles from southern Florida. There is one step during the main part of the tour, but could easily be avoided by an alternate route outside the building.
We also visited Sombrero beach in Marathon which was a small beach with parking that was close on a weekday. It would be a great family beach as the area includes bathrooms, a play area, and covered picnic tables. The ocean is a short distance from parking.
Where to Stay
Our stay included two hotels.
Fairfield Inn and Suites in Marathon
I highly recommend the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Marathon. It was so clean, the pool was lovely, and they had on site activities like kayaking, bike rentals, and a restaurant on site.
Reefhouse Resort and Marina
We also stayed at the Reefhouse Resort and Marina in Key Largo. While our room needed a refresh due to some chipped paint etc., the hotel was clean and the amenities are worth the price. They have a beautiful pool and private beach with swimming area that is so convenient.
Reefhouse is also very close to Pennekamp State Park, a spot we visited early one morning. While the trails were not as expected (either difficult to walk on or closed due to flooding/damage), we really enjoyed the visitor center, which had a large aquarium, a movie about the park, and a number of small exhibits to look at.
Pennekamp has several accessible amenities including:
- A wheelchair-friendly glass bottom boat, the Spirit of Pennekamp.
- A wheelchair-friendly snorkeling vessel, the Encounter.
- A wheelchair-friendly dock for rental kayaks and canoes.
- A wheelchair-friendly playground area.
- Far Beach access by Mobi-mat.
- Beach wheelchair available upon request at visitor center and aquarium building.
- Accessible restrooms.
- Accessible picnic pavilions, tables and benches.
- Accessible campsites.
- Large-print formats for Florida Park Service publications and some other literature available upon request.
- Assisted listening devices in the visitor center and aquarium auditorium.
Where to Eat
If you love seafood, the Keys has SO many options! As neither of us are huge seafood fans, eating out wasn’t the most important part of the trip, but I would definitely recommend Burdines Waterfront restaurant, especially in the evening. We had some delicious hushpuppies with our dinner and saw an amazing Florida Keys sunset. The eating area is on the second level, but they do have an exterior elevator so everyone can enjoy! Also, there is a restaurant nearby called Castaway and our kayak guide said you can often see manatees swimming near the canals next to the outdoor tables.
I hope these tips help some other families find some new experiences to explore!
For more on accessibility in the Florida Keys, check out the destination accessibility page and check out Cory Lee’s trip. Find beach wheelchairs here.