Accessible Summer Activities
We wait and wait for summer to arrive. Now that it’s finally here, what are you doing staying inside? Wheelchair in Motion has put together some fun, accessible ideas to get you active outside.
Travel Canada
There’s so much to see and do in our great big beautiful country! Where to start?
- Canada.com suggests five amazing accessible places to visit in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia.
- The Rick Hansen Foundation has a wonderful list of accessible destinations for the outdoor enthusiasts and the culture crowd.
- Seventy-six provincial parks across Ontario have at least one barrier-free campsite, with many parks offering two or more. Ontario Parks provides a list of accessible campsites that are described as being on level ground, close to a water tap and a comfort station, and often has a paved path from the campsite to the comfort station.
- Spinal Cord Injury Ontario also offers a list of top ten nature trails in Ontario.
Staycations and weekend getaways
Staying at home on vacation? Make it a holiday by being a tourist in your own town and have fun exploring the hidden gems in your own backyard.
- A day at the beach
Ever floated in a Mobi-chair? A growing number of beaches in provincial parks and municipalities are making waterfront activities accessible to people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices. Ontario Parks provides a list of accessible beaches.
- Concerts
What’s summer without outdoor music festivals? A list of concerts can be found on the Festivals Ontario website. Not all events are barrier-free, and some offer partial wheelchair accessibility. The Peterborough Musicfest (on now until August 17) has limited accessible parking spaces but it offers a drop-off/pick-up area. At the Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto, some venues are accessible. The Music Niagara Festival, a mix of classical, jazz, folk, country and swing concerts, have performances in accessible venues.
- Outdoor movies
Drive-in movies may be a thing of the past, but people are flocking to outdoor movies in the park. The Toronto Outdoor Picture Show (TOPS) operates across the city in various locations. The venues are wheelchair accessible are there are accessible, portable restrooms. Films are open-captioned. Near Cambridge, Ontario, Shade’s Mills Park is another accessible outdoor movie location that runs through the summer until August 23.
- Accessible play
There are some creative and imaginative barrier-free playgrounds being built in and around the Greater Toronto Area. In Aurora, there’s the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Park (or Civic Square Park). The Brampton Credit View Activity Hub includes an accessible splash pad. In North York, the Earl Bales Park is one of the latest multi-sensory playgrounds, and Mississauga’s Jaycee Park has won several distinctions for its design. Check out Today’s Parent magazine for their top ten inclusive playgrounds across Canada. To find more, visit the Accessible Playground website.
Camping, concerts, movies – they’re all so wonderful in the summer under the stars. What is your favourite summer activity?
Wheelchair in Motion wishes you a safe and happy summer. Our accessible transportation rentals are available daily, for weekends and more. With van rentals available in the GTA and many areas of Ontario including Ottawa, we are here to assist with your accessible transportation needs. Contact us if you have any questions about accessible transportation, van rentals.
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