From Ship to Shore:

Affordable Adventures All Over

by Andy Vladimir

A reader wrote in recently to ask if I could suggest some vacations less costly than cruises. Sure, I have lots of ideas. Here are some of them:

Hostels Not Hostile

Have you ever thought of trying hostelling?

Hostels are a unique form of accommodation in which all facilities are shared with other guests. Rooms are dormitory style and usually furnished with bunk beds, and bathrooms and lounges are shared as well.

Communal arrangements keep the cost per guest low. More importantly, hostels create a warm and welcoming camaraderie among guests. Most — but not all — hostellers are backpackers; all, however, are people who like big adventures on small budgets.

I thought hostels were for teen-agers and college kids, but I was wrong. They welcome people of all ages, origins, backgrounds and interests from first-time users to groups. Several hostels feature wheelchair access, and adaptive rooms are becoming more common in an effort to meet the needs of travelers with disabilities.

Hostelling International publishes comprehensive travel guides that detail which hostels are suitable for wheelchair users and contain information about lifts/elevators in each hostel. Check out the site of the International Youth Hostel Federation, www.iyhf.org, or contact Mobility International, which acts as a clearinghouse on disability programs around the world, at (541) 343-1284, www.miusa.org or clearinghouse@miusa.org.

Who Put the Old in the Old Dominion?

Some states and cities have gone out of the way to become more accessible. One that stands out is the state of Virginia, which publishes The Virginia Travel Guide for Persons with Disabilities. This hefty, 324-page book describes in detail attractions, lodging, restaurants, transportation, outdoor recreation, and accessible fishing and boating facilities.

For instance, let’s say you want to go to Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia and one of my favorite places. The guide has two and a half pages of material on Busch Gardens, a European-style theme park with a 17th-century flair. It covers where to rent wheelchairs, parking, restrooms and, of course, accessible rides and shows.

Colonial Williams- burg itself consists of 88 structures that have been restored or reconstructed. Costumed interpreters bring the town to life while craftspeople practice their traditional trades like printing, shoeing horses and candle making.

Accessible buses take guests from the visitor center to the town, and admission for those with disabilities is half-price. Most of the main historical buildings, such as the Governor’s Palace and Grounds and Raleigh Tavern, are accessible on the first floor. The guide even covers Williamsburg’s largest outlet mall, with over 80 stores, and Water Country USA, a water park.

Several accessible hotels and motels in the area are described in detail, as well as restaurants. The guide is free, and you can get it by calling the Virginia Tourist Corp. at (800) 742-3936, or order it online at www.travelguides.org/vaguide.html.

This guide was first created by Paul Duke of Woodford, Va., who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and his parents, Bill and Cheryl. See other guides by their company, the Opening Door, at www.travelguides.org/openingdoor.html.

Southern Southern California

San Diego is another destination that cares about visitors with disabilities. To begin with, the San Diego Transit System (local buses), the Coaster Express (commuter trains) and the San Diego Trolley (to the Mexican border) are all wheelchair-accessible. Among the three you can get around town pretty easily.

The San Diego Zoo is a popular, accessible site.

The Cloud 9 airport shuttle is also accessible and delivers you to the front doors of several of the best hotels and motels downtown and in Mission Beach. There are also two companies that rent accessible vans.

For things to do, start with the world-class San Diego Zoo. Helper attendants and caregivers are admitted free. There’s even a free canine hotel to leave your dog in, unless it’s a service dog, which you can take in with you. You might want to take the zoo’s 40-minute bus tour, which is accessible but has limited space. Check the zoo out at www.sandiegozoo.org.

Another popular attraction is SeaWorld, the home of Shamu the Whale. Don’t miss the Wild Arctic attraction.

SeaWorld is entirely accessible, with 70 parking spaces, accessible restrooms (including unisex ones), ramps and wheelchair sections throughout. You can learn more at www.seaworld.com.

In the mood for a swim at one of those luscious California beaches? Not a problem — most of them in San Diego have large wheelchairs for beach access. Indeed, Mission Beach has two new power beach wheelchairs. People with disabilities can surf the sand for free!

The city publishes an “Access to San Diego” guide that you can get by phoning (858) 279-0704. Or check out the Web site www.accessandiego.org.

Northern (Lime)lights

My last recommendation for now for an accessible city to stay in at affordable prices is Toronto.

Last year Tourism Toronto, the sales and marketing arm of the city, announced its initiative to create a barrier-free city — both physically and attitudinally. The agency has obtained the backing of Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, and publishes a monthly magazine, Active Living (www.activelivingmagazine.com) as well as a guide to accessibility called “Toronto With Ease” (www.torontotourism.com — click on wheelchair symbol). Both publications can be read in their entirety on the Web sites.

The CN Tower dramatically defines the Toronto skyline. Photo by Tourism Toronto

Toronto is a terrific city to visit. It’s the third largest theater center in the English-speaking world, topped only by London and New York. In any given month you can find glittering Broadway musicals, mid-sized dramas, stand-up and sketch comedy, opera, dance, symphony … and regular festivals to keep even the most devoted theatergoer satisfied.

Toronto’s “biggest” attraction is the CN Tower. Built to be the world’s tallest free-standing structure, it boasts six glass-fronted, high-speed elevators that whisk you 1,122 feet in just 58 seconds. While you’re there you can enjoy gourmet cuisine at The 360, the world’s largest revolving restaurant.

Then there’s the Air Canada Centre, home to the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team and the Toronto Raptors basketball team. If you require wheel- chair access, you can reserve a special underground parking space by calling in advance.

If you fly into Toronto, there’s an ac-cessible airport shuttle to take you to several hotel locations. The city bus system has 30 accessible routes, and the subway system has many accessible stations.

The city also provides Wheel-Trans, a reservation service for people with disabilities. You’ll also find a wheelchair-accessible taxi service and a ramped-van rental service. Needless to say, virtually all of the popular hotels and restaurants are completely accessible.

To send feedback or questions about “To Boldly Go,” write to Andy Vladimir in care of Quest or at andyvlad@bellsouth.net.