Continuing forward, we made our way further into an area that seemed like a tropical paradise. To the left of this wide pathway were some enclosures, which home to a few species of birds and other animals. Looking up, I noticed an intricate tangle of vines and tree limbs. They offered some nice coverage from the hot, Florida sun, and were really beautiful.
Custom Mobility Inc.
Accessible Living
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Accessibility Review: Sunken Gardens
Continuing forward, we made our way further into an area that seemed like a tropical paradise. To the left of this wide pathway were some enclosures, which home to a few species of birds and other animals. Looking up, I noticed an intricate tangle of vines and tree limbs. They offered some nice coverage from the hot, Florida sun, and were really beautiful.
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Accessibility Review: Tampa Riverwalk
Accessibility Grade: A
Winding its way along the iconic Hillsborough River, the Tampa Riverwalk ushers visitors through a number of scenic parks, museums, restaurants, and art installations that are located around Downtown Tampa. To say that there's a lot to see is a massive understatement! During our time, we only had the chance to go through a portion of the waterfront path's expansive 2.6 mile length. Come with us as we journey along some of the most picturesque parts of the Downtown Tampa area, accessible to us because of the Tampa Riverwalk.
As we usually do, let's start things off by talking a little about the parking situation. Since Riverwalk covers such a wide area, there are a few places that you can park; however, accessible parking isn't always the easiest to find in Downtown Tampa. This rings especially true if you are on the hunt for parking that's both free and accessible. While it's possible to secure a free spot at Armature Works, which is a location that I'll mention further along in this Review, there's no guarantee that you'll find accessible parking in their lot. Having multiple options will give you the best chance to find accessible parking. On this trip, we ended up finding free, accessible parking at the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park.The Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park has a number of beautiful, art installations, such as the one pictured above. It greeted us as as we exited our vehicle, which set the tone for the rest of our trip. Moving further into the park, I noticed that the paths were all very smooth. The sidewalks were very wide, which is always great for manual and power chair users, as well as other people who use mobility devices like walkers or canes. This area felt really easy to get around, also making it great for caregivers, family, and friends, who push and/or assist people who use dependent mobility devices. As I mentioned above, we went to the Riverfront Park during a time that wasn't crowded. If you find yourself there at a peak time, such as during a busy event or on the weekend, please know that accessible parking spaces may appear more limited than during the time of our visit. This detail may be important, especially for individuals who experience high amounts of social anxiety, or those who have high sensory sensitivity.
The end of our journey, along the Tampa Riverwalk, brought us to Armature Works. Whether you're looking to grab a coffee, get some food, or scratch your shopping itch, Tampa's Armature works is a great collection of local restaurants, bars, and stores. It also hosts different kinds of events and other forms of entertainment, featuring regular musicians and holiday celebrations.
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Accessibility Review: Great Explorations
I want to be honest and admit that Great Explorations was actually an incredible surprise for us. Though we had plans to eventually write an Accessibility Review of this museum, it was our trip to Sunken Gardens (for an upcoming Review) that encouraged us to move Great Explorations up our priority list. But before getting started, we'd like to give a big thank you to Demi Kennedy, Guest Experience Manager, who was kind enough to give us an impromptu tour of their incredible facility.
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Accessibility Review: Pass-a-Grille
Located at Paradise Grille, you'll notice three beach wheelchairs. These devices are available at no charge, and at a first-come-first-serve basis. You can use these wheelchairs all day, though you have to return them to the restaurant by 15 minutes after sunset.
When you make your way passed the restaurant, you'll see an accessible boardwalk. Taking this will lead you to an accessible, concrete path, which gives wheelchair users a chance to get down to the beach, without needing to worry about getting stuck in that pesky sand.
Though Pass-a-Grille offers a chance to rent beach wheelchairs, which is great, those devices aren't necessarily accessible for every wheelchair users. For people who aren't capable of transferring from their own wheelchairs, this concrete path is a great way to access the beach. It isn't quite the same as being on the sand, but is a great alternative that we haven't seen on many of the beaches that we've reviewed so far.
Venturing away from the beach, you can find a number of independently-owned restaurants and shops. Along Pass-a-Grille's historic 8th Avenue, the road is made of bricks. Crossing it could be a little tough for some wheelchair and mobility equipment users, so make sure to take proper precautions.
Accessibility Review: Sunken Gardens
Accessibility Grade: B- At about 100 years old, Sunken Gardens is an historical landmark in Downtown St. Petersburg . It's the area'...
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fdc Accessibility Grade: A- Even though this review contains two locations, we decided to include them both in the same post. After recent r...
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Accessibility Grade: A- On a bright and sunny August afternoon, we braved the sweltering heat to bring you the inside scoop on a local hot...
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Accessibility Grade: A Winding its way along the iconic Hillsborough River, the Tampa Riverwalk ushers visitors through a number of scenic p...