Europe’s Most Accessible Countries

Lately there has been a lot of talk about of accessibility in America, more specifically Orlando Wheelchair VanRentals. But what if you eventually want to visit the old continent and are traveling with an accessible loved one, what then?

Europe is home to over 50 countries most of which have their own language and exceptional things to see and do with an accessible loved one. Being that it has a population that is aging, public awareness has influenced greatly in that Europe has accessible tourism for people with both physical and mental disabilities. Wheelers presents Europe’s most accessible cities.

Germany, Europe’s most accessible country

Just like in the US there are cities in Europe that set the bar high when it comes to accessibility and activities for everyone. Berlin is one of those cities that everyone has been talking about. The German government has had to rebuild their infrastructure from the ground up since 1990 and have been working with the public since 2000 to create a more accessible society. They have managed to build a fully accessible public transport system, broad sidewalks and tactile guidance systems at road crossings, they are also making great efforts to become 100% accessible and plan to have this completed by 2020.

Stockholm, Sweden a close second

For Berlin, being Europe’s most accessible city was no easy feat. They had to go against some major contenders such as Stockholm, Sweden which was for years Europe’s most accessible destination. The city has managed to implement pedestrian crossings with access ramps and contrast markings as well as accessible playgrounds. They also created numerous navigational apps for people with impaired vision to allow there to be an activity for all. All elevators, subway stations, busses and hotels are fully accessible and cater to the needs of anyone with any type of disability.

Accessibility in Rome

Although the city’s floor is cobbled on every corner, the city has made major efforts to create a more accessible environment by building ramps on the pavements and full on most hotels, restaurants as well as churches, galleries and museums. It may not have a Disney theme park so you won’t be able to solicit Wheelers Orlando Handicap Accessible Van Rentals but Rome is a great city that combines both traditional and modern architecture.

Accessible Paris

For all you Paris lovers you’ll be happy to know that although the city is not known for its cleanliness, the two major attractions (which also happen to be a couple of the most visited places in the world) the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower are fully accessible. The streets may be steep and cobbled but there are scooters and lightweight wheelchairs available for rent and public transportation is also accessible. So when you feel you’ve taken advantage of Orlando Accessible Van Rentals and wish to live a different experience, visit Paris.

Accessibility in London

Streets in central London feature wheelchair ramps and all hotels have 5% of their rooms set up for mobility impaired guests. Public transportation can be a mess during peak hours but all public transportation is fully accessible. If you find that you’ve visited Orlando many times using Wheelers Orlando Handicap Van Rentals London would be a great destination to visit.

WheelersVan Rentals may not have extended their coverage to European cities but they still offer their services in most major American cities and their Orlando Mobility Van Rentals service is being offered with free airport pick up and curbside delivery to ensure your safety and comfort.

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My Three Favorite Cities in California

As an accessible frequent traveler I need to know beforehand that the places I visit will be up to par with the standards I require and by that I mean that my presence will not be a burden and I can do things on my own. My mom and I recently came back from California and for those of you international readers (who have most likely heard of California) it the most populous U.S state home to one out of eight people who live in the U.S home to 38 million people. It is recognizable by it being the state where the city of Los Angeles is, Disneyland and Malibu.  But I was sure to stay clear of these places mostly because I’ve already been and because I’ve heard great things about San Francisco and San Diego. I’m aware of how far they are from each other but thanks to Wheelers Van Rentals and their California Wheelchair Van Rentals, we were able to fly out to California from New York and be picked up at the airport by a pretty cool almost brand new accessible van.

Santa Rosa, California

Santa Rosa Wheelchair Van Rentals

Our trip started by getting picked up in Sonoma County Airport by a very nice guy named John which handed us the keys. We just solicited Wheelers Santa Rosa WheelchairVan Rentals service and went to visit some old friends of my mother’s and stayed with them for a few days. I was quite hesitant mostly because it wasn’t one of the places I wanted to go but turned out to be a pretty cool city. Being a huge fan of Snoopy and Charlie Brown as a kid I was ecstatic to find out that Santa Rosa is actually the birthplace of Peanuts creator, Charles M. Schultz and they’re really proud of this too. There is a “boutique” style museum dedicated to the creator of Peanuts and his work over the years. It features his work and activities for kids not to mention a look back at his early work before Peanuts. Another positive note is that it is directly adjacent to Peanuts Themed Redwood Empire Ice-Arena which is a fun place for kids and adults of all ages.

San Francisco, California

San Francisco Wheelchair Van Rentals

Our next trip was an hour away and was to the ever popular hipster capital of the world (no offense, you guys are great) of San Francisco. We used the same vehicle but in case you’re in San Francisco you can just contact Wheelers and ask about their San Francisco Wheelchair Van Rentals which was on special at the time. San Francisco was a little more fun and it provided many more attractions but my favorite was hanging out on Pier 39, eating clam chowder, lobster and catching a Giants game. Pier 39 is the most popular destination within San Francisco being home to numerous restaurants and to all you animal lovers out there, you’ll be happy to hear that there are sea lions. Also, if you’re accessible and looking to visit “The City” (I suggest you call it that when you go and not anything else) it’s good to know that transportation in this city filled with hills is almost all accessible which means getting around is not an issue.

San Diego, California

San Diego Wheelchair Van Rentals

It took us almost 9 hours to arrive to San Diego but the calm winds and pristine beaches made it instantly worth the long trip. San Diego has its famous ‘Big Bay’ and ‘Sea World San Diego’ as its main attractions but there are other things to do as well that may be of your liking. There are Pandas at the San Diego Zoo, Whale Flukking and visiting a good amount of small time breweries. San Diego has a wide variety of accessible activities from the accessible Legoland to the educational museums of Balboa Park.

San Diego attractions keep visitors coming back for more and it’s no wonder why it’s known as “America’s Finest City”. All of these activities attract both children and adults of all ages to this amazing city where they get to see exotic animals from all over the world.

The state trip like the one we went on is a good way for you to bond with loved ones and even get to know yourself. We may all be Americans but in every state you get to see different cultures and traditions that come with the region. This was all possible thanks to Wheelers Van Rentals. With their yearly specials and constant state specials you know that you can count on them for all sorts of cross-country travel. Wheelers offers Santa Rosa Wheelchair Van Rentals, San Francisco Wheelchair VanRentals, San Diego Wheelchair Van Rentals but outside of California they offer their services in all 50 states and plan to have an office in every major American city in the not so distant future.

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Wheelchair Friendly Cities

As tourists most of us only have to worry about making sure we are accommodated at a comfortable hotel, finding good places to eat and maybe having access to a rental car to do some sightseeing. Wheelchair users however must worry about encountering more problems such as stairways, narrow doors, making sure bathrooms are accessible and transportation. This last one is big because there are many major cities in the country that aren’t as wheelchair accessible as they claim to be. In some cities it’s almost impossible for a wheelchair user to find transportation, an affordable accessible hotel let alone go for a city tour. Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals is here to tell you about America’s most accessible cities. 

San Francisco

This northern California city continues to set the bar high when it comes to innovation, quality of life and accessibility is no exception for San Franciscans. Despite it being a city full of hills and compact size it has grown to be very accommodating for our accessible brothers. The three major transit providers are very helpful given that they cover the entire city and are accessible streetcars, trolleys and buses. On the negative side the city’s most famous cable cars are not accessible. Hotels have also improved their facilities to provide fully accessible roll in showers that run for under $100. Enjoy the city by the bay by tasting their chowder along fisherman’s wharf, Ghiarardelli Square for shopping and watch the cable cars turnaround while having a delicious Irish coffee at the Buena Vista Café.

Boston

Second on our list we have Boston, MA and it is known as one of America’s oldest cities and home of big sport franchises like the Boston Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. It is a colonial era city and it’s a great place to learn about our nation’s history. It is very popular for avid sports fans, food lovers and history geeks but its most popular attraction is the Freedom Trail which happens to be accessible in its entire length. It begins in Boston Common in the center of the town and it is a trail made of a red line on the sidewalk and goes by many historical locations such as Granary Burial Ground, Paul Revere’s house, Old North Church and Faneuil Hall. It ends up at the battlefield of Bunker Hill. Keep in mind that the upper floor of Paul Revere’s home is not accessible, nor is the monument tower at Bunker Hill. For sports fans there’s Fenway Park which you can reach via an accessible subway station which happens to be America’s oldest system.

Chicago

Personally, many of us prefer the windy city over the big apple for numerous reasons and one of them being a bit more compact and its downtown is also walkable with many things to do and see. Chicago has a large selection of hotels and transit options are an advantage for wheelchair users. All busses are equipped for wheelchair riders. Chicago’s main attractions such as Willis Tower, Navy Pier and Grant Park are all fully accessible. Another plus is Chicago is an accessible sport fan’s dream with both baseball stadiums being very friendly to the mobility challenged sports fan. Chicago’s food scene is also quite popular with Gino’s East being big for deep dish pizza, Fast Track Hot Dogs and be sure to visit Chicago’s shopping centers as well. The windy city has hotels for any and every budget. Wheelchair users are recommended the Embassy Suites hotels with breakfast included.

There are a variety of cities all over the world that are modernizing and raising awareness to become accessible and looking towards the future, let’s hope that in time every city in the world opens their doors to everyone regardless of physical or mental limitation. The doors are opening for all of us to plan amazing trips with our handicapped loved ones and no longer will a disability deter us from having the vacation of our lifetime.  Luckily there are also companies that rent out their equipment to make sure you can travel with nothing holding you back. Wheelers Van Rentals provides state of the art vans at competitive prices in all 50 states. Their services include Texas Wheelchair Van Rentals, Florida Wheelchair Van Rentals, Wisconsin Wheelchair Van Rentals, Michigan Wheelchair Van Rentals and NorthCarolina Wheelchair Van Rentals. Contact Wheelers today.

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What’s good in Missouri?

When most of my foreign friends talk about the United States, chances are they’ll refer to a big touristy attraction or location in a big and popular state. New York will spring up a connotation or two, as will Florida, California and Illinois. These are the most frequented states in the US along with other popular destinations such as Las Vegas (Nevada) and The Grand Canyon (Arizona) but if you talk to foreign tourists about states like Missouri, chances are they don’t know where it’s located or things to see. I’ve actually lost track as to how many of my foreign friends have asked where Missouri even is. Missouri might not be as flashy or easy to locate on a map like the aforementioned states, but it does in fact have its perks and its interesting history makes it worth researching and even visiting. It has a pretty cool list of locations and attractions for everyone to enjoy and luckily, they’re all wheelchair accessible! Missouri Wheelchair Van Rentals by Wheelers Van Rentals makes your trip to the Show-Me State a lot easier.

Kansas Cities

Before we begin let’s answer the question on most people’s minds and that is, “What’s the deal with Kansas City and where is it exactly?” Short answer is there are two Kansas Cities one in Kansas and the other in Missouri separated by an imaginary state line and the Missouri River. I’m not going to go into discussion as to why this is or how it came to be (we’ll save it for our next article) so let’s continue.

Kansas City, MO BBQ

Along with the Carolinas, Texas and Memphis, Kansas City is one of the most popular barbecue regions in the country. These 4 places have held an intense but friendly rivalry as to which barbecue takes home the prize as the best in the nation.  KC barbecue is characterized by a wide variety of meats such as pork, chicken, turkey and sometimes fish. They also have a wide variety of methods of preparation such as slow smoking and traditional barbecue (which is a slower method using indirect heat created by wood fueled fire for an extended period of hours). These ingredients and methods don’t sound too different when compared to the other barbecue capitals but the crusty tips of a brisket of beef or pork are distinctive to the city of Kansas City MO. There is a cornucopia of restaurants but if one managed to catch my attention it was Jack Stack Barbecue we went with our uncle (which happens to be quadriplegic) and not only was the food spectacular, meat off the bone ribs but we were immediately served and the service was excellent.

Sports Franchises

It may not be the most trophy winning city compared to Boston, LA or New York City but Kansas City MO is home to some pretty prominent sports teams playing in the MLB, NFL and MLS. Professional sports teams in Kansas City include the Kansas City Chiefs (3x AFC champions and one time super bowl winners 1969), Kansas City Royals (2 AL pennants and 1 World Series 1985) and Sporting Kansas City in soccer (2013 Champions). The chiefs began their career as the Dallas Texans in 1960 but moved to KC in 1963 their home stadium is Arrowhead Stadium. The Royals were founded in 1969 and are the only major league KC team that has always been from KC and have always been called the Royals. They defeated their intercity rivals in the St. Louis Cardinals in the “Show-Me Series” in 1985.

There you have it, Missouri may not have as many things going for it compared to more visited states but it is remembered for having received the most powerful earthquake to strike the US in 1811, (shook the area of a million square miles), the state held the first Olympic games on US soil in St. Louis 1904, Missouri became the first state to free its slaves, Dr. Pepper was introduced to the world at the world’s fair in 1904. Missouri’s Department of Conservation is also working to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from enjoying the outdoors and so far it has been a success. The state has been building new facilities and renovating older properties. This makes it easier for everyone regardless of age or physical limitation to enjoy the Show-Me State. WheelersVan Rentals and their Missouri Wheelchair Van Rentals service takes you to these places and much more at competitive prices. They also provide WisconsinWheelchair Van Rentals, Florida Wheelchair Van Rentals, North CarolinaWheelchair Van Rentals, and Michigan Wheelchair Van Rentals.

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Texas Wheelchair Van Rentals: Texas Rangers Guide

Texas Wheelchair Van Rentals: Texas Rangers Guide

For your next visit to the Dallas/Forth Worth Metroplex, check out a Texas wheelchai rvan rentals. With Texas wheelchair van rentals from Wheelers they can meet you curbside at the large DFW airport or the much smaller Love Field airport. Both locations are convenient to fly into and when Wheelers meets you at the airport it couldn't possibly be more convenient to get to the Global Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers are looking to bounce back in 2014 after a successful yet disappointing season.

They managed to win 90 games again last year, but failed to make the playoffs. Though this is a spectacular season for most franchises, the fans in Dallas/ Fort Worth have come to expect more from their boys in blue, red and white. With back to back World Series appearances in 2010-2011, the team is looking to rekindle that fire with an aging squad.

As far as starting rotations go, the Rangers are going to have a solid starting five. On the back of Cy Young caliber right hander Yu Darvish, the Rangers should easily be able to squeak out 90 plus wins again. Though after him there are inexperienced leftys Martin Perez and Matt Harrison, whom have a shaky history. This means they will need solid run support and a bullpen that can hammer down when it needs to. Pitching staff is sold for the AL Central, but will struggle late in the season with tired arms.

The Texas Rangers will have an aging, yet effective infield through the 2014 season. Adrian Beltre is a reliable power hitter in the hot corner, but the question is can he stay healthy enough to give this team .320 and 30HRs? The former gold glove winner is a perennial all start looking for a ring, but his home run numbers have started to decrease rather than plateau or increase in recent years. To round off the infield, they ha e Elvis Andrus and Prince Fielder, two more super stars that would love to bring this team to the promised land. Andrus should steal 40 bases again this year and be a huge factor at SS for double plays.

To take a look at the outfield, The Texas Rangers will be starting Shin-Soo Choo in Left Field. The South Korean born outfielder will debut with the Rangers after a phenomenal 2013 with the Reds in which he made his mark with a walk off HR in the wild card playoffs. Choo was rewarded with the Boras-esque contract of $130 Million and expectations haven’t been this high for a player coming to Arlington since Alex Rodriguez was signed in the early 2000s.

To see these starts and more take the field at Global Life Park in Arlington try a Texashandicapped van rental from Wheelers accessible vans. They pick you up at the airport and have a wonderful roadside assistance program so your mind can be at ease. The vast fleet of vans is ready to accommodate any need in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and they look forward to serving you.

Fun Facts for Saint Louis and Missouri wheelchair van rentals

Missouri Loves Company 

Travel to Missouri is instantly made easier when you choose to use Wheelers Missouri wheelchairvan rentals. St. Louis is the international hub and major port located on the eastern side of the state of Missouri. St. Louis was founded in 1764 by French explorers. Its rise to mediocrity has continued through the 21^st century and is now home to such three star attractions as the 1904 summer Olympic games site and the gateway to the west.  The city is less than glamorous, but at least the service you receive from Wheelers is top notch.

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Special Needs Vacation Spots to Keep in Mind

Disabled travel was something that was unheard of years ago. Families with accessible

relatives were limited to staying home for during summer and winter vacation due to lack of places to travel. Accessible travel was not only rare but very expensive and only available to

those who could afford it. Nowadays there are places that are fun for the whole family and at

affordable prices. National parks are now wheelchair friendly and consider every physical or mental disability so no one is left out. Thanks to this, parents with a disabled child can now

be certain that these destinations will make planning a vacation a lot easier.

With so many disabilities now recognized what works for some parents might not work for others.  There is autism, Downs syndrome, food allergies just to name a few and all need specific planning. 

Resort Travel

Resort travel is included on the list but note that research should be done on resorts before making reservations. A lot of them advertise having fun activities for the whole family but this is not always the case.  Look for places that offer accessible taxi service for offsite activities, poolside tables, paved walkways to the beach, unisex restrooms and a pool chairlift.

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz, California is a popular summer spot due to its beautiful beach and boardwalk. Santa Cruz is also home to Shared Adventures, a nonprofit organization that has an impressive collection of fun activities through the summer for children and adults with special needs. They also have a big event in July on the annual day on the beach in which the organization offers assisted kayaking, scuba diving and canoe rides. Every year, dozens of volunteers assist in creating paths for easy wheelchair access and the organization provides live music and free food. 

Club Getaway, Kent Connecticut

Club Getaway as the name suggests is a convenient getaway for urban inhabitants of the tri-

state area (NY-NJ-CT). Club getaway is part of the Berkshires and is located in Kent,

Connecticut. The setting is beautiful and has lots of things to do for children and adults of all

ages. Parents and children take part in activities such as kayaking or trying out the flying trapeze over the lake. The club is convenient as it is safe, calm and relaxing. Club Getaway is the perfect vacation spot for people looking to participate in fun activities not overly stimulating. Special Parents & Kids Getaway programs occur in August.

Ski Resorts in Colorado

We all know skiing is ubiquitous in Colorado. Skiers have a lot of choices when it comes to adaptive ski programs. For those who don’t know, adaptive skiing is the ability to go beyond your limitation and adapt yourself to the environment which in this case is skiing. Any sport can be an adaptive sport and there are many types of adaptive skiing. The Breckenridge Ski Resorts offer lessons for alpine skiing, snowboarding and cross country skiing at Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Vail. Families need to call ahead of time for schedules and to check availability. The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center provides lessons in all types of adaptive skiing and the fee includes one-on-one instruction and specialized equipment.

Cruises

Royal Caribbean became the pioneer in disabled travel and was even the first to be certified as “autism friendly” in 2014. Thanks to them families with special needs are traveling more often. The cruise line provides autism friendly movies and modified kids programs for those

with disabilities. Not to mention dining will be easier for those with dietary limitations as the cruise line now offers more meal options including gluten-free and intolerant options. Assistance from the crew has also improved as the staff has hands on training that help with assisting those with special needs on the ships. Cruises are fun for the whole family as they provide activities for children (and adults) of all ages. 

Disney Resorts

When it comes to fun the whole family can enjoy, we have to bow to the all time leaders in family fun. Disney theme parks year after year continue to top the charts as the most popular tourist destinations. It’s hard to beat the Disney resorts in pretty much any category, and we all know that catering to special needs of children has always been their bread and butter. The downside to these locations is the huge crowd that emerges out of every corner and humid weather which becomes more aggravating with the long lines on almost every attraction. Regardless of all of that, Disney resorts manage to personalize service for families with special needs. These parks offer guides that show mobility requirements for each attraction and if you make reservations ahead of time, you can avoid waiting in long lines!

With more places becoming accessible friendly and taking measurements to have their location not discriminate against anyone, travelling with a disabled relative has become easier and more affordable than ever. As long as you plan ahead, most places will accommodate your family and make sure you have the time of your life. There are also third party companies that make planning your vacation a whole lot easier. Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals offer their services all over the country at competitive prices and have the customer satisfaction you can trust. Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals has been in the industry for over 25 years and offer van rentals, wheelchair rentals, scooter rentals in all 50 states. Wheelers also plans to have rental affiliates available in every city in America. Contact Wheelers today and ask about Iowa Wheelchair Van Rentals, Texas Wheelchair Van Rentals and Orlando Wheelchair Van Rentals.

Accessible Travel in Universal Orlando

As a person that has been accessible my whole life, I am used to having family try to accommodate our vacations for me and making sure I have fun. To be quite honest, it isn’t as fun as that sounds. The idea is to plan a trip as a family so we can all have fun and share memorable moments like we did last summer.

Visiting most places with a disabled loved one can be an anxious time for families if not planned properly. Will the location be wheelchair accessible? What are the best activities that we can all enjoy? And will my loved one have fun? These are the types of questions that seem to go through the minds of parents and guardians of children with any sort of disability before any trip. There are more recognizable disabilities now than ever before, and not all of them are visible. For that reason is why most theme parks in Orlando FL, have been set up in a way that it can be fun for the whole family without making anyone feel left out. Regardless of their disability whether its mental or physical, dozens of parks are now set up to have special care for everyone and Universal Orlando is no exception.

For those of you that have never attended Universal Studios, it is a huge place. It’s the largest resort in Orlando and the second largest resort in greater Orlando after Walt Disney World. It is composed of two theme parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. Upon entering it is pretty intimidating because I thought my parents and siblings were going to be more focused on making sure I have fun rather than enjoying themselves the way I wanted them to. Luckily we soon found out that it wasn’t what I expected. I was skeptical about waiting in line because due to the length of these lines what if when I got to the front, the person in charge told me due to my condition I couldn’t get on?

Universal Studios provides the facility of avoiding these long lines and making sure you know beforehand what rides you may go on. A disability will no longer deter your possibilities of having a good time. What you have to do is ask for (or download) the riders guide for safety & guests with disabilities guide provided by Universal. This guide tells you exactly the attractions that are mobile friendly and it gives all ride restrictions, including height and health concerns that you need to know before you get in line.

The first thing you do is acquire a note from your doctor providing a list of the accommodations you need. Upon arriving to Universal Studios (with your doctor’s note of course) you may proceed in obtaining an Attraction Assistance Pass (AAP). It is a card with a bar code at the bottom and contains return times to the attractions. If you have further questions as to which rides you may take part in, ask to be evaluated. The guest service attendant will see if the person is able to hold his/her head up, sit up, and be able to hold tightly to a restraint. Also make sure to ask for documentation to carry around which states the rides you or your family member can ride.

When you receive your pass you must keep it handy because it is what you must show to attraction greeters. Remember, these passes are not meant for immediate entrance, they just reduce wait times. If the posted wait time is less than 30 mins, you will be directed to a shorter line like the Express Pass queue or possibly a different route. However, if the line is longer than 30 minutes, the greeter will indicate a specific return time on the reverse side of the pass. Please note that you may only have one active return time reservation at a time.

Recent times have seen advances in awareness for people of all disabilities. Pretty soon

every theme park in America will be accessible friendly and planning vacation trips will no longer be a subject of concern. There are also companies that facilitate the transportation for you to get to these places of interest. Wheelers Accessible Van Rentals has been in the industry for over 25 years and stays ahead of the competition by providing wheelchair van rentals to all 50 states and plan to expand their services to major cities as well, further establishing themselves as the authority for wheelchair van rentals. Wheelers is also proud to announce the opening of their new Orlando location. If you want to travel to Universal and require Orlando Wheelchair Van Rental, contact Wheelers today.