It might have just turned spring in the northern states, but many of us are already focused on the summer ahead. The weather is warm and the sun is shining (most days, at least), which means everyone is eager to be outside and enjoy it while they can.
If you use a wheelchair to get around to most places, there are still a lot of great options out there for you to celebrate summer. To help with your outdoor adventuring, we put together a simple list of fun, wheelchair friendly summer activities.
Some of them might require just a little research before hand but nothing big enough to stop you from having a bit of fun in the sun.
Parks, Trails, and Camping
Few things are as outdoorsy as camping and hiking. If you’re a wheelchair user, however, you might not think it’s much of an option for you. The truth is, there are a lot of great options for you to take your wheelchair out into the woods and enjoy the smell of trees and campfires.
Whether you’re looking for an open campsite, a cabin, or just some trails to roam, you have plenty of options available to you.
Of course, not every park or trail is going to be accessible. It shouldn’t be too difficult for you to find what’s out there though. Many states have them listed on their own websites.
For example, Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources has a section called Accessible Outdoors that lists parks, trailers, campsites, and more. You can view that here.
Let’s Go to the Beach
Going to the beach is arguably the most summer-like activity there is. Of course, sand and water don’t always mix very well with wheelchairs. The good news is, there are still plenty of wheelchair accessible beaches to be found.
Similar to parks, a quick web search should be able to tell you if a beach is wheelchair friendly or not. If you’re looking to be a little more exotic, Curb Free put together this list of 10 of the world’s most accessible beaches. You can read it here.
Wheelchair Sports and Physical Activities
Wheelchair sports can be a great way to stay in shape, have some fun, and enjoy the weather. There’s a wheelchair friendly version of almost every popular sport and activities from soccer to fishing to kayaking to rock climbing and more.
Disabled Sports USA does a great job of providing a number of sporting and recreation events happening all across the US. Check their website here and see if there’s anything in your area.
Don’t see your area on there? Don’t worry! There’s plenty of other organizations hosting wheelchair accessible sporting events and competitions.
Amusement Parks
Amusement parks have come a long way in accommodating people who use wheelchairs, walkers, and more. Most major parks even have a section of their website devoted to information and assistance.
Here are just a few examples:
That’s Not All
There are near endless activites you can do in the summer, far beyond what’s listed above. You can go on a cruise or attend baseball games. You can take a road trip to New York or wheelchair vans for sale, you can make sure to stay busy while enjoying the summer heat.
Did we leave out your favorite activity? Let us know how you plan to spend your summer in the comments below!