Finding Adventure Nearby: A Practical Guide to Accessible Day Trips

Imagine: sitting on the red train seats, looking out the window as the sun goes down (the way I am as I write this article). Or, laughing at the bus tour guide’s jokes in the valley between two enormous mountains. Or, tucking a used paper map of that day’s excursion into the sun visor before pulling out of the parking lot. Each of these travel moments strikes a vibe of something new, exciting, and perhaps adventurous, maybe even in a different city. Travel, however, doesn’t always require you to go to a faraway place. Each of these moments can happen in your own corner of the world, with a little bit of planning and a whole lot of willingness to try something new.

Day trips are the often-overlooked little siblings of the travel world. While cross-country road trips, international flights, and train sleeper cars are all far more popular, more well-known versions of traveling, day trips can be a great way to enjoy the excitement of going somewhere else without the pressures of overnight packing and repacking. They can also be a way to make traveling a bit more accessible for those of us who struggle to be away from the convenience of accessible homes. Here are a few tips to get you started on planning the perfect day trip:

1. Choosing the Right Destination

Start by choosing a nearby location that interests you. You may want to pick a city, town, or natural landscape within a two to two and a half hour’s distance from you. Shorter distances will reduce fatigue and stress, but longer distances might have better payoffs. Consider when you are going: peak seasons may have specific festivals or events, but off-peak hours are more manageable and crowd-free to make travel easy as well as to find rest spots as appropriate. Remember that you should also consider how you’re getting there: via car, train, bus, etc. and make sure that you can get to this location in a way that is accessible to you. You might also want to confirm in writing accessibility information with providers, so you can have written lists of what is available and what is not to help guide you.

Once you’ve settled on the location, look for activities in that location with accessible paths, bathrooms, and entrances. Parks, museums, historical sites, and urban areas with good public transport are all great places to start looking for activities. You can often find accessibility information online by using the official website, travel blogs, or other resources like Zamonos and The World is Accessible.

2. Packing Smart

You’ll always need the essentials: Mobility aids, medications, snacks, water, weather-appropriate clothing, maps, or other navigational tools. Fortunately, a day trip doesn’t require everything that a different journey might need. Pack light, knowing that as long as you don’t need it while out, it will be waiting for you at home.

3. Social and Cultural Considerations

Think about who you might want to travel with and if they will be good companions for this journey. Friends or family who understand your needs are always great go-to’s, but you can learn a lot about a new friend from taking a short trip together. In this case, consider if your friends or family will enjoy this activity, or if they might feel bored, rushed, tired, or excluded. Someone who is alcohol-free might not enjoy popping over to the next town for a wine tasting, but they might also be the perfect person with whom to explore a new museum exhibit on medieval manuscripts. You might also prefer to travel solo to avoid having to account for another person’s needs or preferences; if so, go for it! Just be extra-cautious when traveling alone. No matter who you travel with, be sure to communicate your accessibility needs politely but clearly with companions, relevant staff, etc. to have the best possible experience.

4. Have fun!

Accessible day trips are entirely possible with preparation and awareness. While they may require a different type of planning than that three-week Caribbean cruise you’ve been dreaming about, the planning is part of the adventure. Traveling opens doors to new experiences, freedom, and joy, sometimes through one thoughtfully planned day at a time.