When planning a holiday trip, you want to make sure the destination is fun and relaxing, and wheelchair-accessible. To help you plan the perfect holiday trip, we’ve compiled a list of the best holiday vacations for seniors to help you take a well-deserved break.
Boston, Massachusetts
Aside from its historical significance, Boston provides something for everyone, from the beaches of Cape Cod to the western Berkshire Mountains. On top of that, much of the city is easily accessible, including taxis, public transportation, sidewalks, tourist attractions, and hotels. Wheelchair users can travel to Boston and rely entirely on the public transit system to get to the city’s major attractions, almost all of which are accessible.
If you are visiting Boston for the first time, you should consider buying the CityPass, which includes admission to Boston’s four most popular attractions at a discount of 48%. With your CityPass in hand, you’ll get to visit:
- New England Aquarium – Discover the Secret World of Penguins and meet more than 80 penguins who call the aquarium home.
- Boston Museum of Science – Explore more than 700 interactive exhibits. This museum has everything from experiencing realistic lightning storms to watching live animal presentations. At the Butterfly Garden, you can unwind while mingling with up to 500 butterflies, or you can see a movie at the Mugar Omni Theatre, which features the only dome-shaped IMAX screen in New England.
Additionally, CityPass allows you to choose two of the attractions below:
- Boston Harbor Cruises – Discover Boston by taking a cruise. Take a 90-minute historical sightseeing cruise with Boston Harbor Cruises and enjoy the entertaining and educational content on board.
- Franklin Zoo Park– Meet hundreds of exotic creatures from around the world in Boston’s historic Franklin Park. With over 72 acres of wildlife sanctuary to explore, you’ll be inspired by their dedication to conservation.
- Harvard Museum of Natural History – Discover the stunning Ware Collection of Blaschka Glass Flowers, which are both beautiful and botanically accurate. Before leaving the museum, don’t forget to see the Great Mammal Hall and the 42-foot-tall skeleton of the extinct sea reptile Kronosaurus.
You can also check out other attractions like the Freedom Trail, which leads to 16 historically significant sights, the USS Constitution Museum, which houses the oldest commissioned warship, and Faneuil Hall, which is one of the most famous revolutionary-era sites in the US.
Daytona Beach, Florida
Start exploring this beautiful city by watching a movie at the unique and wheelchair-accessible Paragon Theatre. Relax at Daytona Beach, which features hard-packed sand that allows wheelchairs to easily roll across the beach. Experience the thrill of a racetrack by touring Daytona International Speedway for a NASCAR race or visit Jackie Robinson Ballpark to get a heaping helping of baseball history.
Phoenix, Arizona
Within a short drive of Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport, you can witness the exotic beauty of the Sonoran desert, stand in the shadow cast by gigantic saguaro cacti, relax on a houseboat on Lake Mead, or take in the panoramic views at the Grand Canyon. While you’re there, check out the Musical Instrument Museum, which features 6,600 instruments from 200 different nations and territories, along with an Experience Gallery.
For golf, upscale shopping, and serene spa getaways is Arizona’s Valley of the Sun. As the fifth-largest city in the US, Phoenix has plenty of vibrant nightlife, major sports franchises, and cultural institutions to check out.
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Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a must-see destination because of its iconic California mountain views, hot springs, golf resorts, and spas, all of which made them worthy of a spot in the best holiday vacations for seniors. Due to the significant number of senior travelers to the area, there are hundreds of accessible accommodation options and resorts.
Start your trip with an immersive experience of the native desert plants of the region at Morteen Botanical Garden. Next, go see the vintage World War II and Vietnam War aircraft at Palm Springs Air Museums. End your trip by witnessing the beauty of Greater Palm Springs in the world’s largest rotating tram car, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Branson, Missouri
Branson is a bustling city that’s full of entertainment, hospitality, and thrilling attractions. It’s also the ideal substitute for Las Vegas, given its title of “Live Music Show Capital of the World” and the fact that its’ significantly cheaper, quieter, and simpler to navigate.
At Beyond the Lens, one of Branson’s newest and most innovative attractions, you can experience an intriguing journey behind the scenes of popular culture, making them one of the best holiday vacations for seniors. Put on your cowboy hat and prepare to be amazed by the 32 horses, a sizable ensemble of superb stunt riders, and outstanding country fare when you dine at Dolly Parton’s Stampede. Meet the crew and become a passenger of the Titanic by visiting the Titanic Museum Attraction and end your trip by enjoying a visit to Silver Dollar City, an 1800s-themed adventure park.
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Colonial Williamsburg is one of the best holiday vacations for seniors because it’s an entertaining and educational location that visitors of all ages enjoy. Visit the Living History Museum, which is located in Williamsburg’s historic district and has several hundred 18th-century structures that have been restored. It also features a Level 2 Certified Arboretum with over 30 historic gardens.
You can also enjoy a day of sun and surf at Yorktown Beach or Virginia Beach. At Busch Gardens, a European-themed adventure park, you can reserve a wheelchair or scooter (standing or sitting) through their ride accessibility program and experience exhilarating thrills.
Remember that, in Williamsburg, the gardens, streets, and numerous outdoor activities are generally easily accessible to visitors that use mobility devices. That said, the majority of the buildings in the historic district have steps, and some streets may feature cobblestone that can be hard to navigate.
Alaska
Alaska is a beautiful state that’s made incredible progress toward making its indoor and outdoor attractions more wheelchair accessible.
If you’re an adventurous wheelchair user, head outside at midnight in January or February to see the Northern Lights, one of the state’s most breathtaking natural phenomena. Take a wheelchair-accessible boat or railroad tour and enjoy a spectacular experience as you take in the sights at Prince William Sound. At the Anchorage Museum, explore Alaska’s past through its vision, spirit, and culture and enjoy local food and drinks at one of its many restaurants and bars.
Plan your next trip now!
Traveling is a blast; we hope this list has given you some tips to confidently plan your next vacation. So if you are ready to relax and enjoy new experiences, don’t forget to book your wheelchair-accessible rental van now!