A study about people’s summer vacation plans indicates road trips are the most popular form of travel. The survey conducted by The Vacationer found that 75% of Americans plan on at least one road trip this summer, most within 100 miles from home. Considering almost 40% of Americans live within 100 miles of the ocean, it would probably be safe to assume much of that travel will be to the beach. Who doesn’t love a vacation where mom and dad can relax on a beach chair, soaking in the tranquillity of ocean waves lapping rhythmically onto the sand and basking in the warmth of the sun, while the kids play King Arthur and Camelot in their intricate castles, complete with moats and drawbridges?
Sounds great, right? Close to home for many Americans, the beach is a great option for family time, and relaxing time, that is relatively inexpensive compared to alternatives that involve other forms of travel. But what if one in your family has a disability? What if they can’t walk, are in a wheelchair, or can’t walk long distances? What if they have strength or balance issues like many grandparents have? Then the ideal vacation becomes a logistical nightmare. Does Grandma stay in the hotel room while the rest of the family is on the beach? Does the child in the wheelchair sit with mom and dad while his siblings are frolicking in the waves and boogie boarding onto the sand?
Dealing with a disability is never easy, but the extra time you take to plan can make a beach vacation fun for all and create lasting memories for everyone.
When I became a mom, one of the most important things for me was creating memories for my kids. Many of us want to recreate the memories we had as children, but it’s important to understand we can never recreate our memories, we can only create new ones. Our memories are just that, memories. You might be able to go to the same places, eat at the same restaurants, do the same activities, but they still won’t be your memories. There will always be someone or something missing. So don’t try to recreate those memories, instead, concentrate on creating new ones that work with your family. I worked for an airline when my kids were young, so air travel worked for us. It was cheap and allowed us to travel wherever we wanted to go. We could experience the world for less money than most families might spend on a Disney vacation. But I loved to travel and wanted to inspire that love in my kids. Fast forward 20 years and my kids still love to travel, but without airline employee benefits, they must find alternatives closer to home. Does that mean they can’t make memories? No, it just means they must make new memories that work for their families.
If you are dealing with someone in your family with mobility issues, don’t let it deter your plans for a family beach vacation. The world is becoming more and more accessible as people find innovative ways to make experiences more inclusive and accessible.
Back to that beach vacation and creating new memories for your family! States have been working on making their state parks and beaches more accessible, so you will likely be able to find accessible beaches in most of the coastal states. Even though many of these states have boardwalks, you need to do your research to find out which ones offer beach wheelchairs. I have used these numerous times, and they are amazing!
There are different types of beach wheelchairs, so make sure the beach you are going to has the kind you need. There are two kinds of chairs, one that can be pushed on the sand, and another that has floats surrounding the chair, allowing it to be pushed into the water where it will float, giving the person with the disability the chance to experience the water.
Most states will offer the chairs free of charge. They can usually be picked up at the lifeguard station, fire station, or police station. Keep in mind while planning, most places only have one or two chairs and are on a first-come, first-served basis. If that is the case, plan on getting to the beach early! The more people with disabilities that travel, the harder they will be to find. Make alternate plans in case one is not available.
Google is your friend! Search beach wheelchairs and the state you are visiting. Many times, each coastal county will have their own chair(s), so if one is not available, you might be able to move down the beach a short distance.
Here are some beaches that offer wheelchairs:
Jones Beach State Park, New York.
Located on Long Island, Jones Beach State Park is a great option for an accessible beach on the East Coast. Its boardwalk stretches for miles, offering smooth pathways for wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments. The park provides beach wheelchairs free of charge, allowing visitors to enjoy not only the boardwalk but to venture onto the sand.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach continues to be a popular destination for families year-round. Virginia has an amazing boardwalk that families can spend hours exploring. You will find multiple places along the beach where free beach wheelchairs are available. But again, they are on a first-come basis. Those locations are on 2nd St., 17th St., and 24th St. These are only available during the tourist season, April to October. If you plan on being there at other times of the year, beach wheelchairs are available to rent.
North Carolina Beaches
North Carolina has great accessibility on their beaches. Most coastal counties offer the use of beach wheelchairs free of charge, which is on a first-come basis. But Carolina Beach has become one of the most accessible beaches on the East Coast. Carolina Beach is located in New Hanover County, just south of Wilmington. Carolina Beach has over twenty beach wheelchairs available, U-shaped beach mats, and 1,800 square feet of accessible beach that allow total independence for the wheelchair user. The 1,800 square feet are covered by beach mats, allowing access to the sand and sea by wheelchair.
Hilton Head in South Carolina and Jekyll Island in Georgia both have beautiful white sand beaches that are easily accessed by wheelchair beach mats, in addition to a ramp on Jekyll Island. Beach wheelchairs are available free of charge but limited and first-come, first-served.
With hundreds of miles of beach in Florida, it is not difficult to find accessible beaches. Though many of the beaches have a limited supply of beach wheelchairs, many now have Mobi-mats or wheelchair mats that extend through the sand and into the water.
Texas publishes the accessible beach guide, which is a great resource to help you plan a beach vacation.
California also has a very robust program for accessible beaches. Check out the listings for beach wheelchair availability in California. This also includes lake areas that are accessible.
It wasn’t that many years ago that accessible beaches were few and far between, but great strides have been made in recent years to create accessible beach/lake access for everyone. So don’t put off that beach vacation because you think someone will be left out! Enjoy those grandkids, make those memories, bask in the sun and frolic in the waves. Don't wait until someone is gone to wish you had taken that vacation. Make memories now- no excuses!
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