Many major cities offer at least one free or low cost audio walking tour. They come in many different flavors -- MP3 tours, cell phone tours, and even CD driving tours -- but most are a good option for wheelchair-users and slow walkers. You can take them at your own pace, take a break whenever you want, and even fast-forward through parts that don't interest you. And although some tours may have a few access obstacles, most run along a barrier-free route.

MP3 City Tours
By far the most popular type of audio tours is the downloadable MP3 audio tours. You just save the MP3 file to your hard drive and transfer it to your MP3 player. These free walking or rolling tours take in the major sites, and are peppered with local history and interesting facts about the city. Unfortunately there’s no central database of these tours, so best bet is to inquire at the local visitor’s center or search for them on Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) websites.

Selected as America’s most accessible city in 2008, Houston offers three MP3 tours; one of the downtown area, one of the Museum District and one of Discovery Green. They are narrated by local celebrities and are available here. Boston offers two tours of the harbor area, while Chicago offers one that focuses on the history of Chicago blues and another of Millennium Park. And then there’s Los Angeles, which boasts an impressive four tours, complete with PDF maps.

Cell Phone Tours
Although not as popular as MP3 tours, cell phone tours can be done with very little advance preparation. You just call the listed number and then listen for instructions. Most tours require that you enter specific numbers when you get to certain places along the tour route. Then you just listen to the recording and follow the instructions.

Elfreth's Alley in Philadelphia (585-627-4152,), Washington D.C (800-217-7740,) and Alexandria, Virginia (703-229-8632,) all have cell phone tours, with maps and instructions on the corresponding websites. And as with the MP3 tours, there’s not a central database, so ask the local CVB if they have any available.

CD Driving Tours—Very Accessible
Last but not least, let’s not forget CD Driving tours. These can be downloaded from the internet and played in your car. They are an excellent option for more rural places, and for those that don’t have many wheelchair accessible pathways.

For example the excellent audio tour of the Creole Nature Trail offers visitors some good wildlife viewing tips and background information about this scenic route through the bayous and marshlands of Louisiana. Likewise the reasonably priced Canyonlands Audio Driving Tour is an excellent option for folks who tire easily or would have problems exploring this somewhat inaccessible national park.

So do your research and find out if any audio tours are available for your next accessible travel adventure. Not only will you save a little money, but you’ll also make the trip a little bit more accessible.