Although Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park already has many accessible trails, campgrounds and picnic areas, more access improvements and upgrades are coming to the park. Here are some of the highlights of their Accessibility Transition Plan, which was released in July 2021. Some improvements will be immediate, while others are in the long term plan; but in the end they will add up to better access for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. Continue reading
Tag Archives: trails
Why I Do What I Do
I’ve been covering accessible travel exclusively for the past 25 years, and believe me, I do get a lot of strange questions about the subject. I try to educate whenever I can, and I understand that this is a subject that most people don’t understand unless they have some personal experience with it. Continue reading
Yosemite National Park – What’s Open and What’s Not
Updated: June 23, 2020
Yosemite National Park recently reopened on a limited basis after the COVID-19 shutdown. The park is now operating on a reservation system.
For more information on the reservation system, visit http://barrierfreetravels.com/2020/06/yosemite-slated-to-open-reservations-for-day-use-required/.
And here’s the rundown on which facilities are open, and which ones are closed for the season. Continue reading
New Grand Canyon Access Resource Now Available
Just in time for the 100th birthday of Grand Canyon National Park, I’ve released my newest accessible travel title — Barrier-Free Travel; The Grand Canyon for Wheelers and Slow Walkers (www.barrierfreegrandcanyon.com). Not only does this helpful resource include Grand Canyon access information for wheelchair-users and slow walkers, but it also features a comprehensive access guide to Arizona’s Interstate 40 and Route 66.
Support Florida State Parks!!
I don’t really post too many political things here, but I’d like to take a moment to encourage all of my Florida friends to give a shout out to their state legislators in support of Governor Rick Scott’s recommended 2017 budget — especially where Florida State Parks are concerned! Continue reading
Friends and Family Discount on Newly Released Florida Book
I have two pieces of good news to share today. As I sit here in my Icelandic sweater, shivering in front of my keyboard, I’m happy to announce the release of my newest book, “Barrier-Free Travel; Favorite Florida State Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers”. Ah, to be in the warm Sunshine State again!! Continue reading
Access Plusses Abound in Sequoia National Park
After spending the past three weeks exploring Sequoia National Park for my next book, Barrier-Free Travel; Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for Wheelers and Slow Walkers (www.barrierfreeyosemite.com) I’ve come away with some observations about access in this often overlooked national treasure. Of course, as with any research trip there was good and bad, but on the plus side I have to say that the good far outweighed the bad on this Sequoia visit. With that in mind here are my top three “access plusses” – access features that totally wowed me – in the land of the giant sequoias. Continue reading
Access Upgrades Abound in America’s National Parks
In celebration of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service, I’d like to share some of my favorite wheelchair-accessible upgrades to our national treasures. Continue reading
My Letter to Mr. Jones
Every now and then I read something that just can’t go without comment. Today it was an article on Penn Live by David Jones. Apparently Mr. Jones is vehemently against private development in Pennsylvania’s state parks, but he tries to make his case by saying that if the parks were developed then “people who don’t belong there” (aka disabled people) would flock to these parks. He also uses some very derogatory language to describe the habits and abilities of wheelchair- and scooter-users. Continue reading
A Rainy Day in Rockford
So what do you do when your long anticipated down-time with friends comes around on a rainy day? Well if you’re like our little group, you make lemonade from lemons, and head indoors to the wonderful Nicholas Conservatory and Gardens. Continue reading