Disability-Friendly Beaches

Tips on How and Where to Plan an Accessible Vacation at the Shore

Jul 10, 2009 Megan Drummond

Visiting the beach can be a great summer vacation or simply a fun weekend getaway. Don't let your wheelchair stop you from enjoying the sun, sand and surf.

Wheelchairs and sandy beaches don’t necessarily make for a good combination. With a little research and some planning on your part, you can spend your next vacation enjoying the beach and all it has to offer.

Boardwalks, Trails and Beach Mats

Boardwalks and bike trails are the most common types of beach access. They are a great option for people in wheelchairs because no special equipment, such as a beach wheelchair, is needed.

Boardwalks and bike trails usually offer level access from a nearby parking area and offer good views of the beach. Depending on the sand conditions, some also offer direct access to the water.

Rehab Point in Oxnard, California features a 900-foot paved level path that curves around the dunes and the boardwalk offers access to the ocean. Also in California, Half Moon Bay State Beach has an accessible boardwalk that extends into the snowy plover nesting area. The boardwalk at Virginia Beach allows visitors to enjoy beach views while avoiding the sand if they so choose.

Beach mats, hard rubber mats that are placed over the sand to create a smooth surface, are gaining in popularity. Beach mats offer people using wheelchairs access to the water while avoiding the sand, so as not to require any special equipment.

Hilton Head, South Carolina, was one of the first cities to install beach mats. Most of the resort town’s beaches now use beach mats. They are also used on the beaches of South Padre Island, on some Hawaiian beaches, Coney Island and several of Chicago’s Lake Michigan beaches.

Beach Towns and Resorts

San Diego recently received a grant from the California Coastal Conservancy to add power wheelchairs to Coronado City Beach, Silver Strand State Beach and Oceanside City Beach that are free for visitors with disabilities. The electric beach wheelchairs are a step up from traditional beach wheelchairs and they allow the people using them more independence.

The Jersey Shore offers many accessible beaches. Beach Haven offers an accessible beach and playground and Avalon Beach has accessible beach wheelchairs available. Visit Rehoboth Beach in Delaware to enjoy the bustling boardwalk, complete with ramps to the beach and “Beach Wheels” wheelchair availability

The Bay Islands Beach Resort in Honduras far exceeds ADA standards. All the beach level rooms are accessible, and there’s a hard boardwalk that connects the buildings in the resort so you don’t have to manage a wheelchair across the sand. In addition to having the basic accessibility, the resort has a spacious 44 acres and has a dive staff that’s trained to work with divers with physical disabilities so everyone can explore the deep (or maybe just snorkel).

Tips for Planning Your Beach Vacation

Do your research. You’ll want to know how you’re going to get onto the beach, how you’re going to get around once on the sand and how to deal with the water.

Although many beaches have wheelchairs available, if you’re a frequent beachgoer, you may want to make the investment and get your own beach wheelchair. Check out the selection available at Landeez. When ordering a beach wheelchair, explain your specific needs so you get the appropriate chair.

When you’re heading to an island resort, plan backup transportation, whether that means bringing a manual wheelchair in addition to a motorized one or keeping a list of accessible taxi companies with you to call just in case.

The copyright of the article Disability-Friendly Beaches in Disabilities is owned by Megan Drummond. Permission to republish Disability-Friendly Beaches in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.