Discover the difference of being able to do it all
I’m worried that I’ll lose credibility as a disability travel blogger if I tell you we just had a trip where we went hiking, kayaking, biking, and golfing without ever having to leave our son in a wheelchair behind.
It’s true.
This is the power of planning a trip to a Wheel the World Certified Destination like Central Oregon.
Instead of wondering whether a trail would work, calling restaurants to ask about steps, or crossing activities off our list before we even arrived, we spent our week choosing between adventures. We tackled rugged hiking trails with the AdvenChair, paddled alongside Oregon Adaptive Sports, explored miles of accessible bike paths, and discovered a destination where accessibility wasn’t an afterthought. That impact began before we even left home.
Instead of digging to find something we could do, I had to narrow down what we could reasonably squeeze into one trip… and I like to play hard!
Oregon has long been a favorite of mine because of the diverse scenery that’s always within reach, but becoming the first U.S. state to earn the “Accessibility Verified” designation from Wheel the World bumped them even higher on my list. Mountains, lakes, forest, desert, and small towns – and you can access something everywhere. That combination of splendor and welcome makes them a great starting place for families with disabilities trying to figure out how to vacation again, or for adventurers who have already tackled every style of trip.
In partnership with Visit Central Oregon, I shared our full itinerary to make it simple to copy and paste epic accessible adventures. Inside, you’ll find the accessible trails, adaptive experiences, restaurants, resorts, and planning tips that made this one of our favorite family vacations.