Accessible vacation homes come in all shapes and sizes, but finding a rental that suits your needs can be a real challenge. Truth be told, there’s not a centralized database that lists all the available choices. But since this lodging option is growing in popularity, look for that to change in the near future. For now, you have to do a lot of research in order to find them; the good news is they are out there. And to prove that point, here’s a sampling of a few of my favorites.
First stop: North Carolina’s Outer Banks
Located just 90 miles south of Norfolk, Virginia, it’s the perfect place to unwind, enjoy a little natural beauty, and relax. Seaside Vacations offers two wheelchair-accessible vacation homes: The Carolinian (7710) and Feelin’ Good Again (7905). Both cottages are located on the beach in South Nags Head.
The seven-bedroom Carolinian features wide doorways, good pathway access and elevator access to all three floors. The accessible bedroom is located on the second floor and features a private bathroom with a roll-in shower, grab bars in the shower and around the toilet, and a roll-under sink. There is sliding-door access to the second-floor deck from the accessible bedroom and a great view of the ocean from just about anywhere in the bedroom. There is also an accessible boardwalk over the dune out to the beach, with stairway access down to the beach. Additionally, a wheelchair lift-equipped swimming pool is located on the private first-floor patio.
Feelin’ Good Again also has good pathway access, elevator access to all floors and a lift-equipped swimming pool on the ground-floor patio. This nine-bedroom cottage features several bedrooms that are appropriate for slow walkers, but the most accessible choice is on the third floor. It has a private bathroom with a low-step shower (with a five-inch lip), a soaking tub, and grab bars that are attached to the toilet. This home also has a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk out to the beach, with stairway access down to the beach.
Accessible Vacation Homes in Orlando
Moving south, Orlando, Fla. also offers a wide selection of vacation homes, many of which are wheelchair-accessible. For the most part these large homes are called villas, and they come equipped with all the latest luxuries: from pools and Jacuzzis to wireless Internet access and flat-screen TVs. All Star Vacation Homes offers one such property: Villa 8032, located near the major Orlando attractions in the gated community of Acacia Estates.
Access features in this six-bedroom home include wide doorways, tile floors and barrier-free access to all first-floor areas, including the back patio which has a lift-equipped pool. Two bedrooms are located on the first floor, including a master suite with a private bathroom. Access features in the bathroom include a roll-in shower with a built-in bench and a hand-held showerhead, grab bars in the shower and on the side of the toilet, a roll-under sink and a full five-foot turning radius. There is stair-lift access to the second floor, but none of the upstairs bathrooms have access adaptations. It’s a very accessible home, and a great place for a family gathering.
Accessible Vacation Homes in Branson, Missouri
Another destination with a family-friendly atmosphere is Branson, Missouri, where one enterprising local recently built two accessible town homes. Constructed in 2007, these three-bedroom vacation rentals are located next door to one another, with accessible parking in front. Each unit has wide doorways, a level entry and an accessible ground floor suite. The accessible suites feature a bathroom with a roll-in shower with a hand-held showerhead and a fold-down shower seat, a roll-under sink, a grab bar behind the toilet and an extra large 72-inch wide doorway. There is barrier-free access to the rest of the ground floor areas, including the large screened-in porch. A third bedroom and bathroom are located upstairs.
Each town home sleeps 10, and they are the perfect choice for a family getaway; in fact, David Neitz designed them so families could have a comfortable and accessible space to spend time together.
Arkansas Getaway
If a mountain cabin is more your idea of a vacation getaway, then check out Christian and Carolyn Eck’s Happy Lonesome Log Cabins in Calico Rock, Arkansas. Located 130 miles north of Little Rock in the heart of the Ozark National Forest, these rustic log cabins are strategically perched above the White River in the middle of the Eck’s 190-acre parcel.
Cabin 3 features ramp access to the adjacent parking area and plenty of room to roll around on the spacious front porch. This one-bedroom cabin has wide doorways, level thresholds and wooden floors throughout for easy rolling. Inside, it’s furnished with a 26-inch high double bed. It also includes a small sitting area, a dining room table, a gas fireplace and a compact kitchen.
The bathroom has a roll-in shower with grab bars, a hand-held showerhead and a portable shower bench. There’s plenty of room to navigate a wheelchair or scooter inside the bathroom, which also features a pedestal sink with a hand-held sprayer. It’s just a very pleasant and accessible place to get away from it all.
Research Pays Off
In the end, a little computer time can yield a wide variety of accessible vacation rentals. Believe it or not, I found all these properties online. Best bet is to just sit down and Google “wheelchair accessible vacation rentals” and see what pops up. Accessible Properties also has a small but growing vacation rental section, and of course I also post my favorites in our travel resources section at Emerging Horizons. So start surfing—you’ll be amazed at what you find.
Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit her blog at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com for access news, resources, and industry updates.
