Vacation Spots: Thumbs up or Thumbs down? - travel destinations for the disabled - Brief Article

Accent on Living, Spring, 2001

Feliz Paseos Park - Tucson, AZ

Tucson catered to the needs of disabled people in the $1.1 million Feliz Paseos Park. The 50-acre park includes a mix of natural and paved trails at grades and widths ideal for wheelchairs. Signs will give information about the grade, conditions, and difficulty of each trail in order that users can decide their level of challenge. Most trails will be gradual, but some are built steep with the athlete in mind.

Karl Redfield

Arizona

Hawk Valley Retreat - Galena, IL

While the interiors of many of the old buildings in this historic riverfront town are not easily accessible, the exteriors are interesting as are the former lead mining towns and other sights in the surrounding area. Just a short drive out of town is a fully accessible bed and breaks-fast, aptly called a nature lover's bed and breakfast. Hawk Valley retreat has a spacious bedroom with private entrance, wheelchair accessible deck, dining and living room and a bathroom with roll-in shower. Some grab bars are missing but it is planned to be fully ADA compliant by Spring 2001. The hosts are knowledgeable about the area, very congenial without being intrusive, and a delicious attractively presented full breakfast is served. In nearby Dubuqe, IA, a riverfront museum and well-narrated sight-seeing Mississippi river cruise are both accessible and the boat crew is courteous and helpful. Hawk Valley Retreat, 2752 W. Cording Rd., Galena, IL 61036, 815-777-4100,

Al Dunkelberg

www.hawkvalleyretreat.com

Iowa