These wheelchair access travel notes refer to Zion Canyon National Park, Utah and my experience visiting the park as a wheelchair user. Hopefully, they will be of some use to any other disabled traveler interested in visiting the park.
The US Parks service is generally pretty good at providing information about their parks and accessibility. Before visiting any national park I recommend checking out their web site (and gleaning as much information as you can).
Route 9 runs right through Zion National Park and there are two entrances - a South Entrance at Springdale and an East entrance. You can drive into the park ($25 charge per car) but traffic is controlled and during summer months only shuttle busses are allowed to take the Zion Canyon scenic drive. There is a lodge in the park with handicapped accessible rooms although I did not stay there myself, and there are accessible camping sites. There are also many accommodation options outside the park.
The visitor center is at the South Entrance and is fully accessible with accessible rest rooms. The shuttle busses run through peak season and are all fully accessible. Most of the trails are not wheelchair accessible. The Pa'rus trail runs from the Visitor Centre and is listed as accessible, although I did not try it myself. I was running low in energy having spent the previous day beating around Bryce Canyon Park! I did take the shuttle to the Riverside walk which is also listed as accessible. The Riverside walk takes you right into the canyon and is really beautiful. The path is fully paved but there are many inclines, some of them quite steep. A fit young wheeler could navigate the path without assistance, but I depended on the kindness of strangers to get me over the steepest gradients! It is no problem at all with a walkie for occasional assistance and is very worthwhile. It's about a 2mile (3.2km) round trip so give yourself plenty of time.
The restaurant in the lodge is fully accessible and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Definitely worth a day trip although once you have done the two trails there are really not many other options left to you as a wheelie.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Riviera Hotel and Casino
These wheelchair access and travel notes refer to the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas.
Las Vegas is one of the most wheelchair accommodating cities in the US - I guess our money is as good as anyone else's when it comes to giving it away to the Casino! The hotel door personnel are fully au fait with wheelchair needs, and seem capable of getting a handicapped accessible taxi within minutes at any time of the day or night. I would feel confident booking any major hotel in Vegas. The Riviera is okay, but I would guess there is a lot better. The hotel is situated some blocks down from the main cluster of activity, not far from the Stratosphere. This is one of the older hotels on the strip, and it shows.
Like most Las Vegas Casinos, you end up wheeling long distances from the door to the registration to your room, over thick pile carpet. My room was in the Monte Carlo tower.
The room (king bed, accessible, bath) was not very big, with large furniture, and circulation space was tight. I could operaste only in a small track from the door, squeeze past the over-size cabinet with the TV on it, past the work desk and to one side of the bed, after moving an easy chair. The work desk was a comfortable size. There was an electric socket in the desk lamp that was easy to reach. I was unable to get the Wifi Ethernet to work. The TV controls were left in front of the TV and easy to reach. There was no coffeemaker - the hotel doesn't want you lounging around in the room having fun, you're supposed to be out on the floor giving them your money! The air-conditioning unit was the standard one mounted below the window, and the controls were located on it at a comfortable height.
The bed was height was fine and transfers in and out were no problem. The bedside light could be reached from the bed, but the room lights could not be turned off from in bed (so, as always, remember to turn them off before getting out of your chair!). The closet was easy to use - no door, but comfortable rack height.
The bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. The grab-rails by the toilet were well positioned. The toilet itself was of the raised ADA type, a little high for me to sit comfortable balanced. The sink had plenty of knee space underneath but was set back a bit which made it a little awkward for washing. My room had a bath. The bath was a little high and the grab rails were not in the best position. However it was usable although some might need assistance. There was no shower seat, although one is available from house-keeping if required. The shower rose was too high to be reached from the chair or when in the bath. Towels were placed at a comfortable height and easily accessible.
Although my room had been recently refurbished, this is an older hotel and feels like it. My only other experience in Las Vegas is with the Hard Rock Hotel, and that is far superior. However, the prices are also radically different - you get what you pay for I guess. The Riviera is fine, but if you can get somewhere newer, take it!
Las Vegas is one of the most wheelchair accommodating cities in the US - I guess our money is as good as anyone else's when it comes to giving it away to the Casino! The hotel door personnel are fully au fait with wheelchair needs, and seem capable of getting a handicapped accessible taxi within minutes at any time of the day or night. I would feel confident booking any major hotel in Vegas. The Riviera is okay, but I would guess there is a lot better. The hotel is situated some blocks down from the main cluster of activity, not far from the Stratosphere. This is one of the older hotels on the strip, and it shows.
Like most Las Vegas Casinos, you end up wheeling long distances from the door to the registration to your room, over thick pile carpet. My room was in the Monte Carlo tower.
The room (king bed, accessible, bath) was not very big, with large furniture, and circulation space was tight. I could operaste only in a small track from the door, squeeze past the over-size cabinet with the TV on it, past the work desk and to one side of the bed, after moving an easy chair. The work desk was a comfortable size. There was an electric socket in the desk lamp that was easy to reach. I was unable to get the Wifi Ethernet to work. The TV controls were left in front of the TV and easy to reach. There was no coffeemaker - the hotel doesn't want you lounging around in the room having fun, you're supposed to be out on the floor giving them your money! The air-conditioning unit was the standard one mounted below the window, and the controls were located on it at a comfortable height.
The bed was height was fine and transfers in and out were no problem. The bedside light could be reached from the bed, but the room lights could not be turned off from in bed (so, as always, remember to turn them off before getting out of your chair!). The closet was easy to use - no door, but comfortable rack height.
The bathroom was large with plenty of turning space. The grab-rails by the toilet were well positioned. The toilet itself was of the raised ADA type, a little high for me to sit comfortable balanced. The sink had plenty of knee space underneath but was set back a bit which made it a little awkward for washing. My room had a bath. The bath was a little high and the grab rails were not in the best position. However it was usable although some might need assistance. There was no shower seat, although one is available from house-keeping if required. The shower rose was too high to be reached from the chair or when in the bath. Towels were placed at a comfortable height and easily accessible.
Although my room had been recently refurbished, this is an older hotel and feels like it. My only other experience in Las Vegas is with the Hard Rock Hotel, and that is far superior. However, the prices are also radically different - you get what you pay for I guess. The Riviera is fine, but if you can get somewhere newer, take it!
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