Where Can You See Nature From a Wheelchair?

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Where Can You See Nature From a Wheelchair?

Submitted by jlw on Sat, 08/18/2007 - 11:17am.

So, a relative of mine, David, who is wheelchair-bound, is visiting me this week. He loves nature, so one of the things we do when he visits is go on nature walks. This area is blessed with having several wheelchair accessible nature trails; in past visits we've gone to McLane Creek, Nisqually, and Paradise at Mt. Rainier. (Paradise didn't work out so well; the trail grade was so steep in some places that I had trouble controlling the chair.) These excursions have really meant a lot to David, and I'm eager to take him somewhere new this year.

Does anyone have any ideas for a good, scenic, wheelchair accessible nature excursion 'round these parts? Actually, I'm taking a couple days off work, so it doesn't even have to be the Olympia area. We could go to the peninsula or down to Oregon. What's key is having a good, paved, relatively level path. I would really like to find a path like that that's near the Sound or ocean. The coastal areas here are so pretty, and David's never really gotten a chance to appreciate them. If you know of something suitable, please let me know!

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A lead

Submitted by Sarah on Sat, 08/18/2007 - 1:27pm.

Might get some ideas from this radio bit, interview with an Oly woman poet who uses a chair, from what I recall she spoke a lot of finding ways to get closer to nature in the area.

Plus try this online guide to "accessible outdoor recreation" for Washington state parks. I've not played around with it yet so don't know how helpful it is. Hopefully very helpful.

Submitted by Sarah on Sat, 08/18/2007 - 1:32pm.

This site looks really helpful, includes reviews.

Wow, thanks

Submitted by jlw on Sat, 08/18/2007 - 3:26pm.

Thanks, Sarah. That second site, accessibletrails.com, in particular is really helpful. I'm actually quite surprised at how many accessible trails there are!

some books from the library...

Submitted by agathafrye on Sun, 08/19/2007 - 7:54am.

Hey, Janet! Here's a book from the library that you could put on hold... "Accessible trails in Washington's backcountry : a guide to 85 easy outings" by the Washington Trails Association; edited by Dan A. Nelson

Sorry, I can't stop

Submitted by agathafrye on Sun, 08/19/2007 - 7:59am.

Here's one more sight for you that might be useful... http://www.parks.wa.gov/ada-rec/ Okay, I'll stop now.

Don't stop! We've got to keep busy for a whole week!

Submitted by jlw on Sun, 08/19/2007 - 8:12am.

I just wish I had time to get the book from the library, but David arrives today. I am really psyched that so many possibilities have opened up... and wouldn't you know it, it starts raining!

Update: I just ordered a used copy of the Accessible Trails book from Amazon for a whopping $2.64! Thanks so much, agathafrye, for making me aware of its existence.

I just discovered the Olympia Woodland Trail

Submitted by M Kretzler on Sun, 08/19/2007 - 6:40pm.

It opened recently and is a paved railroad grade, so it's totally accessible. There's a parking lot and restroom on Eastside, south of the freeway and south of Wheeler St. Here's a link to a map. Link

I have some materials readily available...

Submitted by Debmonstrative on Mon, 08/20/2007 - 2:47pm.

...several hiking books of various natures if you still need some info....Probably most helpful would be my copy of Accessible Outdoor Recreation Guide. Also, I have a good bike trails map, and where there are bike trails, there are of course trails with wheelchair accessibility. E-mail me at the info I gave you on my business card if these can help and I'll get them to you. I probably will only check into OlyBlog sporadically so that's not a good way to reach me. Debora

Woodard Bay is wheelchair accessible

Submitted by Neptune on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 9:16pm.

Woodard Bay off of Boston Harbor Road is a beautiful local stroll and roll at sunset. Herons, bats and bat researchers.

I saw you and your friend

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 9:25pm.

I saw you and your friend today when I was working(I'm pretty sure it was you.) You must've gone to see the salmon.

It's a fair call, but Society's to blame. ~ Right! We'll be charging them too!

Yes! That was us.

Submitted by jlw on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 5:54am.

He really enjoyed looking at the salmon. He's from the mid-West, and he's never seen anything like that before.

How's this for a lazy way to see nature? Today we're going on the 40 mile scenic drive along the Oregon Coast.

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