DESTINATIONS ON THE WATER | THE US 5


OF THE BEST


Accessible water attractions in florida


Kayak in wetlands:


Brevard Zoo in Melbourne offers accessible kayaking ($6) for wheelchair users, plus there’s a downloadable sensory guide and quiet zones. brevardzoo.org


Surf in New Smyrna


Beach: Ride the waves with adaptive surfing and kayaking using specialised equipment and experienced guides.


oceansofhopefoundation.org


CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Panama City Beach, Florida; accessibility champion Cordell Jeter on Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota, Florida; Santa Cruz, California PICTURES: Visit Florida; Visit California/Carol Highsmith


FLORIDA: THRILL OR CHILL? With 1,350 miles of coastline and another 1,540 miles of inland waterways, Florida was made to be explored on water. It’s home to the ‘Venice of America’, aka Fort Lauderdale, where getting around by water taxi, sightseeing on gondola tours or even ‘water-biking’ are par for the course. The new Marina Village by Bahia Mar (opening in May), refurbished Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina (reopening late 2024) and homeporting ships including Celebrity Beyond, Crystal Serenity and Disney Magic add to the appeal for this year. Fellow Florida port Tampa has much to keep cruise-and- stay guests on the water longer – whether they fancy fast-paced thrills on the new adrenaline- pumping Bay Rocket jet boat or a slower stroll past the restaurants


travelweekly.co.uk


and attractions lining the 2.6-mile Riverwalk. And for those who want to delve under the surface, Florida’s waters are alive with everything from alligators in the Everglades to turtles, stingrays and manatees along the coast. Crystal River is the ‘manatee capital’, attracting 500 to 1,000 each winter. It’s also a key part of the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve, established in 2020 to aid seagrass restoration efforts along the Gulf coastline. Visitors can get involved with


seagrass planting around the bay in Panama City Beach – now featured by operators including Ocean Florida, USAirtours and America As You Like It. Or look out for fish, dolphins and stingrays on an LED-lit night-time kayaking tour, available in Panama City and


around the Panhandle in Pensacola. Book it: Ocean Florida’s 15-night Florida Panhandle to New Orleans


self-drive itinerary goes via Tampa to St Petersburg, Crystal River, Panama City Beach and Pensacola, from £2,619 including flights and car hire. The Night Glow Kayak Paddle in Pensacola and manatee experience in Crystal River cost extra. ocean-florida.co.uk


CALIFORNIA: WHALE OF A TIME It’s nicknamed the Golden State for its Gold Rush history, but California’s sandy beaches should take some credit too, with a coastline that combines laid-back surf towns, old-school seaside resorts and rugged scenery. Perhaps the best way to explore is by driving Highway 1, stretching more than 600 miles from San Francisco to San Diego and set to fully reopen by early summer following repairs to a collapsed section of road near Big Sur. The


Dive in the Palm Beaches: Wheelchair users can delve under the water in Jupiter with accessible boats, transfers and instructors certified in adaptive scuba diving. thepalmbeaches.com/plan/ accessibility-guide-palm- beaches


Enjoy attractions in Tampa: The Accessible Tampa


Riverwalk Pass offers entry to accessible experiences including museums, attractions and the Pirate Water Taxi. visittampabay.com/


accessible-travel/tampa- riverwalk-pass


Soak up sun on the beach: Many of Florida’s beaches are wheelchair-accessible, with beach wheelchair rentals, electric buggies such as


those at Clearwater Beach and non-slip Mobi-mats in


Pensacola and Miami. Ocean Florida has a useful guide:


ocean-florida.co.uk/blog/top- accessible-beaches-in-florida


² 25 APRIL 2024 51


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68