Tag: wheelchair accessible

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Accessible Travel - General Info California travel

ADA Beach Mats in Monterey, California

Did you know that there are ADA beach mats at Del Monte Beach, Monterey (California), giving beach access to people in wheelchairs?

Woman in motorized wheelchair traveling on blue beach mat at Del Monte Beach, Monterey, California

It’s true! And a huge “Thank You” is owed to Monterey resident Tammy J., who spearheaded this project!

View, from behind, or woman in motorized wheelchair traveling along ADA beach mat at Del Monte Beach, Monterey, California

Tammy had used this type of mat when she was vacationing in Oahu, Hawaii, many years ago. She was grateful to have beach access in spite of her MS diagnosis and limited mobility.

Aware that many of these mats have been installed at beaches along the California coast from San Diego to San Francisco, Tammy did a great deal of research to see how she could get the same type of mats installed in her hometown of Monterey.

Project Research and Application, City Approval … and Lockdown Delay

The project began in 2018 when, after extensive research, Tammy submitted an application to the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program (NCIP) with the City of Monterey.

Along with the application, letters were written encouraging approval, and Tammy, Carrieanna and others went to the NCIP meeting to speak about the need for ADA beach mats to allow access to the local Monterey beaches.

The application was approved for the 2019 plan, but there was a large backlog of projects, and then the shutdowns of 2020 occurred. Tammy resubmitted the application when things opened back up, and this project became #1 on the project list.

Durable ADA Beach Mats by AccessRec

AccessRec makes the mats, which are made of a durable plastic that is permeable so sand sifts through rather than collecting on top of the mat.

Closeup of blue beach mat, made by AccessRec, installed at Del Monte Beach, Monterey, California.

The panels are secured in the sand by a 4-foot deep spike. Although the mats can be moved, they are meant to be permanent.

Closeup of blue beach mat on the sand, showing sand permeability and metal connectors.

A representative / consultant from AccessRec suggested where the beach mats could be successfully installed. There is currently one at the west end of Del Monte Beach, to the east of Wharf #2 in Monterey.

The First Beach Mat is Installed!

The first ADA beach mat was installed in June of 2023 on the West End of Del Monte Beach. Although there was little fanfare, the installation was noted by the local news station, KSBW Action News.

Note: There was a one-foot sand-filled gap between the paved bike trail and the edge of the original mat – pictured. This made access to the mat difficult – if not impossible – for wheelchair users. Tammy, Carrieanna and others brought that to the attention of the City of Monterey, which they fixed with cement.

Adult man pushing large woman in wheelchair along beach mat, stopped at the end of the mat due to impassible sand.

This original mat was inadvertently destroyed when run over by vehicles during a private event. The replacement mat was placed so that it abutted to the bike trail, making it truly accessible for wheelchair users.

Woman in motorized wheelchair, traveling from paved bike path onto blue beach mat on Del Monte Beach, Monterey, California
Family on ADA beach mat, including woman in wheelchair, at Del Monte Beach, Monterey, California.

These mats are not only helpful for wheelchair users and people with mobility challenges, but they are also used and appreciated by First Responders when they seek quick access to the beach.

Working to have More ADA Beach Mats Installed

Tammy is in communication with the Monterey Parks Department and NCIP to get more materials ordered so another beach mat can be installed at “Windows on the Bay” in Monterey; she hopes a third will be installed on the east end of Del Monte Beach.

Hopefully other beach communities will follow suit and install them in their cities.

Thank you, Tammy and friends, for working to get these beach mats approved and installed!

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Texas US travel

Fort Worth Botanic Garden

To honor the 13th anniversary of Rich’s passing (on September 8, 2022) I wanted to go to a place I thought he would enjoy. Since I have moved to Texas, visiting the Northern California coast was not an option.

Instead, I decided to visit a botanic garden – an activity that we had enjoyed together, most notably in Santa Cruz and in Amsterdam.

(And nine years ago, while traveling in New Zealand, I visited the most spectacular garden in Dunedin! It’s my absolute favorite, and I think Rich would have loved it too!)

Zilker Botanical Garden, Austin, Texas

Earlier this year, while a California friend was visiting, we went to Austin’s Zilker Botanical Garden. It’s a lovely garden, but I wanted to get out and explore a little further from home.

So I decided to travel north and check out Fort Worth Botanic Garden. It was the perfect place to honor Rich’s memory.

(Note: Unless otherwise noted, the following information – in italic type – is from the Fort Worth Botanic Garden website.)

A Little Garden History

The Fort Worth Botanic Garden was established in 1934 and is the oldest major botanic garden in Texas. It contains a collection of more than 2,500 species of plants. Long celebrated for its beautiful rose, perennial and Japanese gardens, the FWBG is composed of twenty-three specialty gardens, including a tropical conservatory, a forest boardwalk, and a water conservation garden.

The Garden’s 10,000 square foot conservatory contains plants from tropical rainforests all over the world and an on-site greenhouse is home to the largest begonia collection in North America.

(I failed to visit the greenhouse conservatory. Obviously I need to go back – probably next spring!)

The Educational Side of the Gardens

The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT®) began in 1987 as a nonprofit overseeing the former Southern Methodist University 450,000-specimen herbarium and 75,000-volume botanical library relocated to a 20th century warehouse in downtown Fort Worth. The nonprofit eventually built and moved to a Platinum LEED-certified building on grounds adjacent to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

Since that time, BRIT has grown into a renowned scientific research, education, and conservation center with a state-of-the-art molecular and structural lab, conservation seed bank, an established press and 1.5 million-specimen herbarium.

Joint Missions Become One Nonprofit

On October 1, 2020, after two years of successful partnership initiatives (involving Education, Volunteer and Membership programs) the two organizations with similar plant-based missions combined to become a single nonprofit.

Japanese Garden | Rose Garden

Spend the day strolling through the Japanese Garden with its koi-filled pools, landscaped hillsides, crafted stonework and dramatic waterfalls.

Waterfall in Japanese Garden
Koi pond at the Japanese Garden
Apparently it was perfect weather for sunning beside the pond!

I did just that, and found that this garden to be a favorite spot, both for reflection and photography!

Nearby, visit the iconic and historic Rose Garden, which includes a terraced ramp featuring walks that border colorful rose beds amidst a cascade of water down the center.

Terraced rose garden, with view of the reflecting pool

Unfortunately, there was no cascade of water when I visited. Another reason to return!

The September heat had faded the roses, yet they were still lovely!

Wheelchair Accessibility

I found most of the garden to be wheelchair accessible. There was a detour around the Native Forest Boardwalk, and the path became packed mulch rather than pavement. A motorized wheelchair or scooter could have navigated it easily; a manual wheelchair might have a bit of trouble.

A warning along the detour pathway, and a good reminder to stay on the path!

Manual wheelchairs are available free to our guests on a first-come, first-served basis. These mobility aids are not available by reservation.

Electric scooters may be rented for $30 per day, with no in/out privileges. This rental fee is not eligible for a member discount. Scooter maximum carrying capacity is 400 pounds per person. Scooters are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are not available by reservation.

There were wide paved and, mostly, level pathways throughout the garden.

Wide, level paved paths throughout most of the garden

Frequently when I encountered stairs I also found an alternate route that was wheelchair accessible.

The Gardens Through My Lens

Of course I spent most of the day wandering and taking photos.

At the Horseshoe Garden

I think Rich would have enjoyed this botanical gem. I certainly did!

Do you have a favorite botanical garden? If so, I’d love to hear about it!

(All photos: ©Jeri Murphy Photography)

Categories
US travel

Almost Heaven

Editor’s Note:
In honor of West Virginia Day – 3-22-2020 – I am reposting this piece from October 2012. There are two new photos, and the web links have been updated. Enjoy!

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River….

Continue reading “Almost Heaven”
Categories
California travel

Tulip Gardens at Crystal Hermitage

Water cascading down a rock wall at Crystal Hermitage, with many colorful tulips in the foreground.
Water cascading down a rock wall, warm sun and beautiful flowers create a peaceful setting for meditation.

As part of a photography group, I recently visited the tulip gardens at Crystal Hermitage, which is part of the Ananda community located about 15 miles northeast from Nevada City (California) in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

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Categories
California travel

Point Arena Lighthouse

Lighthouse, Point Arena, wheelchair accessible, Mendocino County, Northern California, Images by RJM

Lighthouse, Point Arena, wheelchair accessible, Mendocino County, Northern California, Images by RJM“Situated along the rugged Mendocino County coastline adjacent to the town of Point Arena, is the 1,665-acre Point Arena-Stornetta unit of the California Coastal National Monument. The first shoreline unit of the Monument offers spectacular views of coastal bluffs, sea arches, the estuary of the Garcia River, and sandy beaches and dunes with eight miles of marked paths.”

(National Conservation Lands’ “Point Arena-Stornetta Unit” brochure)

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International travel

Christmas in Cabo!

Cabo San Lucas | Baja Mexico | Christmas | Resort | Hacienda Del Mar | Sheraton Grand Los Cabos | wheelchair accessible

Cabo San Lucas | Baja Mexico | Christmas | Resort | Hacienda Del Mar | Sheraton Grand Los Cabos | wheelchair accessible
The Murphy Clan in Cabo

While many people fully embrace “the holiday spirit,” my children and I do not. So rather than feeling Grinch-like this Christmas season, our gift to each other – and ourselves – was to spend a week at my daughter’s timeshare in Cabo San Lucas. 

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US travel

Zion National Park | Utah

Zion National Park | Utah | Wheelchair Accessible | Nature | Landscape | Canyon | October 2017 | Images by RJM
The Watchman, Zion National Park. (October 2017)

My First Visit to Zion

Although I grew up in Utah, my first visit to Zion National Park did not occur until I was in my early 60’s.

We were an outdoorsy family, and our vacations usually revolved around camping, fishing and boating. But our destination was always in the north and/or northeast part of the state, and it wasn’t until October of 2017 that I finally visited Utah’s first national park.

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International travel

5 Great Wheelchair Accessible Spots in Sydney

Wheelchair accessible | Sydney | Australia | Opera House
Public domain pictures - Mark Yang

(The following guest post was written by Olivia Bourke, a writer and blogger who describes herself as “an adventurous traveller who simply wants to explore this incredible world we call our home. Originally from the States, I now call Australia my home. I’m loving every minute exploring this ever so scenic country, one state at a time.”) 

Sydney is a beautiful city with lots of natural attractions and iconic tourist spots. In this modern day and age there are a multitude of great locations that are easily wheelchair accessible with lots of space.

Continue reading “5 Great Wheelchair Accessible Spots in Sydney”
Categories
US travel

Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site

During a recent visit to Boise, Idaho for a wedding I had an extra day available for site-seeing. So I asked my daughter, Amanda, if she would be willing to go on a tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site. “Yes! I love that sort of thing” was her enthusiastic reply. And on a very warm Sunday we took the tour of the “Old Pen.”

Old Idaho Penitentiary | Idaho State Historical Society | prison | Boise | Idaho | wheelchair accessible | Images by RJM

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Categories
International travel

Enchanting Butchart Gardens

Butchart Gardens | wheelchair accessible | Victoria, BC | Canada | Canadian National Historic Site | quarry | shore excursion | Images by RJM | garden

In springtime many people spend hours outside planting, weeding and tending to their gardens. Whether for their own personal enjoyment or to share with others, gardening can be a beautiful and meditative activity.

Although I only keep a few rose bushes and a bed of poppies and Love-in-the-Mist, I am grateful for those who do much more and share their gardens with the public.

Continue reading “Enchanting Butchart Gardens”