Whether it’s a milestone birthday, an anniversary celebration, or a holiday brunch, family reunions are always full of laughter, old stories, and big hugs. But if you have ever tried to host one, you already know it can quickly go from heartwarming to chaotic in a matter of minutes.
Someone’s allergic to the dog, Nana can’t climb stairs anymore, your cousin might be worried about gravel parking, and the kids only care about a pool and unlimited snacks. So how do you manage everything without leaving anyone out?
This guide walks you through planning an accessible family reunion, from venue selection to transportation planning and early communication, so all guests feel excited to show up.
Benefits of an Accessible Family Reunion
The following are some of the benefits of arranging an accessible family reunion:
Strengthen Family Connections
As parents and grandparents get older, they deal with arthritis, joint pain, balance problems, and other mobility issues that make it difficult to attend any event. Plus, most destinations have uneven terrain, steep stairs with no railings, long walks between areas, and inadequate seating, so they ask you to go ahead without them because it’s easier than admitting the setup makes them uncomfortable or tired.
With an accessible family reunion, they can watch the kids splash in the pool, join the group photo, and engage in conversations without worrying about the location or logistics.
Reduce Stress for Caregivers
Caregivers, whether it’s your parents or your partner, often carry more mental load than anyone else at an event. They’re the ones managing medications and mobility aids, coordinating meal times, and unloading the car while everyone else settles in. This can leave them exhausted before the fun even starts.
However, if you arrange an accessible reunion with easy access, adaptive rooms, and a convenient layout, caregivers can actually relax and participate rather than spend all day problem-solving.
Create Joyful Memories
When an event is inaccessible, people start missing the good stuff. The group hike? Off-limits. The bonfire on the beach? Too far from the parking lot. The game night upstairs? Out of reach.
While one person gets excluded, other family members feel awkward about carrying on without them. Accessibility fixes that imbalance. When everyone can participate comfortably, those moments of connection become whole, so you end up making long-lasting memories.
How to Choose the Perfect Venue for an Accessible Family Reunion
When planning an accessible family reunion, the venue can make or break the whole experience. Start by thinking about your family’s specific situations: Do any of your relatives use mobility aids? Anyone with sensory sensitivities, dietary restrictions, or low vision? Once you know that, you can rule out half the pretty but impractical places right away. The issue is that most venues claim to be accessible, but the reality rarely matches the promise.
If it’s your first time organizing an inclusive family gathering, the following markers will help you quickly identify an accessible venue:
- Step-free entrances with properly installed ramps
- Smooth pathways without any gravel, thick grass, or uneven surfaces
- Handicapped parking located close to the main entrance
- Accessible restrooms featuring grab bars, enough turning space, and non-slip flooring
- Flexible seating for those who can’t manage benches or high stools
- Shaded or climate-controlled areas to prevent overheating and fatigue
- Adequate lighting with clear signage for low vision guests
- Quiet zones or low-sensory areas
Like what you’re reading? Subscribe to our newsletter and get new updates directly to your inbox.
Best Venue Types for Accessible Family Reunions
Feeling lost? Consider the following venues and destinations for your next family gathering:
Theme Parks
Theme parks are an amazing choice for accessible reunions, especially when you are dealing with mixed ages and attention spans. Most major parks offer accessibility passes, smooth pathways, wheelchair-friendly rides, and accessible restrooms. Kids can hop on rides, parents can catch up, and grandparents can enjoy shows, so you don’t have to plan games or activities.
Luckily, Disney, Universal Studios, and even smaller regional amusement parks usually have apps that show accessible routes, rest areas, and ride requirements, so you can check minor details before making your plan.
National Parks
Since grandparents and even busy adults rarely get a chance to enjoy the great outdoors, why not consider a national park for a family reunion? The good news is that many parks offer paved scenic trails, accessible visitor centers, shuttle systems, and wheelchair-friendly viewing areas.
Just make sure to choose mobility trails with picnic areas nearby, so you don’t have to trek half a mile just to sit down and eat together.
Beaches
If you’re planning a family reunion during spring, the beach is an easy crowd-pleaser. From slow shoreline strolls to sizzling barbecues and casual frisbee games, there is something for everyone. Look for beaches with accessible boardwalks, beach wheelchairs, Mobi mats, and shaded pavilions near restrooms.
Museums and Cultural Venues
Museums, aquariums, and botanical gardens make excellent spots for family reunions because they’re climate-controlled, walkable, and usually ADA-compliant. Audio tours, interactive exhibits, and quiet seating corners give everyone something to enjoy at their own pace. Many offer free entry for seniors or discounted group tickets. The best part? Many of these places also have cafés for coffee breaks and rest areas for epic sibling debates about who got the family nose.
Vacation Rentals and Resorts
If you can’t make accessible upgrades to your house, vacation rentals or resorts are the next best thing. Thanks to maximum privacy and home-style comfort, you can roam around in your pajamas past noon, cook big family breakfasts together, play board games with kids, or plan a movie marathon for the night.
Questions to Ask Before Booking a Venue
Before you commit to an Instagrammable venue, ask the following questions to avoid any last-minute issues:
- What’s the distance from the parking to the main entrance?
- Do guests have to cross slopes, gravel, grass, or uneven surfaces?
- Can seating be rearranged so everyone is at the same tables?
- Are the main areas (dining, sleeping, bathrooms) on one level?
- Can the staff assist with mobility or sensory requirements?
- How do emergency exits work for guests with disabilities?
If possible, ask them to share photos of entrances, bathrooms, and bedrooms. If they hesitate or give vague answers, that’s your cue to look elsewhere.
Seamless Travel Planning for an Accessible Family Reunion
When there is a family get-together, everyone’s headed in the same general direction, but not quite at the same speed. To avoid issues, plan ahead and communicate early.
Share all the venue details upfront. Include photos, floor plans, and notes about parking, ramps, or elevator access. Ask guests about any specific needs, whether it’s a walker, a cane, an oxygen tank, or a power chair, so you can manage it beforehand. Also, make sure someone knows how to dismantle or fold equipment for storage.
When coordinating arrivals and departures, remember that not everyone will be coming from the same city or even on the same day. For instance, one cousin might be flying in from New York City, while your aunt might be driving five hours with half the family’s snacks. Ideally, you should create a shared group chat or document to track arrival time and ask who might need a hand with transport from the airport or station.
Talking about transport, airlines have specific limits on mobility devices, public transit systems can be crowded, taxis rarely offer much trunk space, and ridesharing apps can be hit-or-miss. If possible, consider renting wheelchair-accessible vehicles that allow families to travel together instead of splitting into separate cars or attempting risky transfers.
Why Accessible Transportation Matters for an Inclusive Family Reunion
Accessible transportation might seem like an extra step, but it’s the glue that holds the reunion together. When you have arranged a modified ride, Grandma doesn’t have to sit one out, your uncle doesn’t have to pull a back muscle lifting walkers into the trunk, and your sister does not have to spend the entire day playing transportation coordinator.
Modified vehicles come with features that make a real difference, including lowered floors, wider doors, wheelchair lifts, adjustable seating, and securement systems that keep mobility devices stable throughout the ride. Thanks to the spacious interior, your guests don’t have to worry about a backache from sitting in an awkward position.
Accessible transportation also lowers stress in the most noticeable way. Caregivers aren’t constantly on alert, while hosts aren’t calculating who to shuttle first or where to stash the walker.
Best of all, accessible transportation improves pacing. When everyone arrives together and on time, meals start on schedule, activities do not stall, and energy stays high. That may sound small, but anyone who has ever waited forty minutes to cut a birthday cake knows the struggle when someone is late.
Bring Everyone Together With Wheelchair Getaways
With over 210 locations nationwide, Wheelchair Getaways helps families focus on catching up, laughing over old memories, and creating new ones, rather than stressing over transportation logistics.
Our fleet includes both rear- and side-entry wheelchair-accessible vehicles, so you can choose the setup that best suits your family’s mobility needs. We also offer convenient pickup and drop-off options at airports, hotels, private homes, and care facilities.
Thanks to our flexible rental periods, you can plan around long weekends, extended reunions, or last-minute schedule changes. Ready to book your ride? Fill out this form or call us at (866) 224-1750. Don’t forget to check our year-round deals and discounts to make this reunion even more budget-friendly.