Florida is a destination that has a special place in our hearts here at Seen in the City. It’s a fantastic state with something for everyone. And not only that, but it’s making significant strides in ensuring that attractions are accessible to all visitors, regardless of their physical abilities. From accessible sailboats and modified kayaks, to wheelchair-accessible glass-bottom boats and theme parks, the Sunshine State is committed to providing inclusive experiences that everyone can enjoy. In this article we take a look at how Florida is an accessible destination for all.
NATURE PARKS: IMMERSIVE AND INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES
With three national parks and 175 state parks, Florida is a paradise for nature-lovers. In the Everglades National Park, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie in North America, visitors can explore wheelchair-friendly trails, as well as enjoy accessible boat tours, and tram tours. The park also offers assistive learning devices and adapted arrangements, such as captioned films at the Ernest F. Coe and Shark Valley visitor centres for deaf visitors, allowing everyone to fall in love with the vast and beautiful Everglades.
Within sight of Miami, the Biscayne National Park is home to a rare combination of aquamarine waters, emerald islands, and fish-bejewelled coral reefs. It features wheelchair accessible facilities such as parking, bathrooms, and picnic tables, as well as scenic boardwalks and a trolley service, making it easy for all to explore the largest marine park in the National Park System.
Along these lines, Florida State Parks have significantly enhanced its boat tour accessibility. Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park recently introduced the Great Blue Heron, a wheelchair-accessible hybrid-electric river tour boat. Similarly, Silver Springs State Park offers the Chief Potackee-Betty Mae Tiger Jumper, a wheelchair-accessible glass-bottom boat.
Parks such as Fanning Springs State Park, Manatee Springs State Park, and Stump Pass Beach State Park offer beach wheelchairs and adaptive kayaks, ensuring a fully inclusive outdoor experience.
WATER SPORTS: ADAPTIVE AND ACCESSIBLE ADVENTURES
A visit to the Sunshine State wouldn’t be complete without trying one of its many water sports. Florida’s east coast has been a haven for surfers since the 1930s, with waves around piers and inlets attracting water lovers from far and wide. EZRide Surf School, with 14 locations from Cocoa Beach to Miami Beach, offers lessons for all ages and abilities. For deaf participants, instructors use lip-reading techniques to offer an amazing and inclusive experience.
Another great option for visitors looking for accessible water sports is The Oceans of Hope Foundation; a non-profit organisation established to offer individuals with limited mobility and spinal cord injuries the opportunity to experience the joy of riding the waves. All their events are free to attend and are run by trained and experienced volunteers. Those events include adaptive surfing with their customised surfboards and adaptive kayaking.
Shake-A-Leg Miami offers wheelchair users and their families the opportunity to enjoy accessible sailboats and modified kayaks via a fleet of specially designed and modified vessels, including the fully accessible “Impossible Dream” catamaran.
BEACH ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL
Florida’s beaches are becoming increasingly more accessible with many now equipped with Mobi-Mats and accessible parking. With plenty of accessible beach access points, Panama City Beach in northwest Florida is a great example of the work that has gone into making Florida beaches accessible. Those needing a wheelchair whilst visiting can rent sand-worthy chairs from Beach Powered Mobility, including powered beach cruisers, regular beach wheelchairs, and wheelchairs that can roll on the sand and float in the water. These can be delivered directly to the customers’ accommodation so they can start enjoying the beach from the second they arrive.
Another great example is the beach town of Hollywood Beach, which is a two-and-a-half-mile-long Broadwalk delivering stress-free pedestrian, bike, roller blade and wheelchair access to its restaurants, shopping, bars and entertainment. Navigating out to the beach is also convenient with eight Mobi-Mat beach access points and accessible parking nearby.
The award-winning Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, offers a 400-foot-long Mobi-Mat and wheelchair accessible facilities that include restrooms, concession stands, covered seating areas, and boardwalks. In other lifeguarded beaches in Sarasota (which include Lido, Nokomis, North Jetty, Venice, and Manasota Beaches), visitors can get a beach wheelchair from the lifeguard towers, free of charge, every day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
THEME PARKS: FUN FOR ALL ABILITIES
Theme parks such as Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, are renowned for their inclusive and accessible offerings, which include: wheelchair rental, accessible rides, queuing solutions for those unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period, sign language services, and Braille guides.
Attractions such as Sesame Street Land at SeaWorld Orlando Peppa Pig Theme Park and LEGOLAND are Certified Autism Centres, providing sensory guides and quiet areas, ensuring a calm and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
ACCESSIBLE DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT: ST AUGUSTINE
St. Augustine, located on Florida’s Northeast Coast, is the oldest city in the United States, and brimming with rich history and charm. Its cobblestone streets wind through centuries-old architecture, including Spanish colonial buildings and historic landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the country.
The St Augustine Braille Trail
The St. Augustine Braille Trail is a historic and accessible walking tour in St. Augustine, featuring seven sculptures around the Plaza de la Constitución. Established in 1573, this plaza is the oldest park in the U.S. and hosts many events, including a festive light display in November and December. The trail is a collaboration between the St. Augustine Art Association and the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, among others, aimed at making the city more accessible to visitors with vision impairments. The tour can be experienced through self-guided walks with braille signage and mobile audio guides, offering an educational journey through St. Augustine’s rich history.
Wheelchair Accessibility St Augustine
St. Augustine is a family-friendly and wheelchair-accessible destination with a rich history and many attractions, which have been carefully crafted into a suggested itinerary for people visiting with wheelchairs. Visitors can start off by exploring the Castillo de San Marcos, a historical fort, and then taking the Old Town Trolley tour for a city overview. The tour also includes stops at attractions like Potter’s Wax Museum and Kilwin’s ice cream shop.
Day two focuses on the Historic District, starting with a stroll down George Street to see landmarks like The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse. The Fountain of Youth is also a must, which offers various historical exhibits and a boardwalk. Transportation can be arranged with L.B. Cruisers, a service for wheelchair users.
On the final day, a visit to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park is recommended, before spending the afternoon at Anastasia State Park or Vilano Beach, both offering accessible beach facilities and wheelchairs.
To find out more, please visit www.visitflorida.com
