Researching the accessibility features and timing your visit to a major attraction can help everyone have a good time on a family trip.
Suddenly the weather here in Calgary has turned from winter to spring, with a teasing blush of summer every now and then.
Of course, snow will come at least once more before July, but at least we're now seeing buds break, grass turn from brown to green, and robins returning. All is well with the world.
It's time to think about what we'll do when company comes this summer.
Depending upon who shows up, we will be dealing with the same accessibility issues as many families face. Some of us don't walk that well and might need a wheelchair if it's a long day. Steep hills and long flights of stairs are out of the question.
One person in my family is nearly deaf and wears two hearing aids. Unlike a person with no hearing at all, the one with hearing aids is sensitive to noise. It's important for us to find quieter locations and there's no point in attending movies or concerts - the sound is too indistinct to be enjoyable.
None of these things make our time together any less fun, but by taking them into account in planning, we can make sure everyone has the best time possible.
For example, I just wrote an article about the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta. We call it the dinosaur museum and it's one of the must-see attractions here.
I generally rely on public buildings to be wheelchair accessible and to have adequate washroom facilities for wheelchair users and families with babies or small children. I take it for granted that there will be handicapped parking for those with blue placards. At the Royal Tyrrell they do something extra, which is to offer a shuttle ride from their lower parking lot to the upper level (where the door is), for those who can't climb the stairs.
My personal number one strategy for making the day a pleasant one is to avoid crowds. I know it's not always possible to do that, but for me, it makes all the difference. I find it ironic that many people dislike crowds, yet I suspect there's at least a few of us crowd-haters making up every crowd. Sometimes we just can't help ourselves.
