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Small Towns

Small Towns — Midpines, California

Small Towns — Midpines, California

Midpines, California Population 1,204 Last but certainly not least, Midpines makes a great stop on a Yosemite road trip — plus it’s the perfect home base for day trips to the park. And there are not one, but two wheelchair-accessible properties in town. The Yosemite Bug (www.yosemitebug.com) tops the list, as this rustic mountain resort offers a wheelchair-accessible room that’s furnished with two queen beds and has a bathroom with a roll-in shower. And if you’d like to try something different, AutoCamp Yosemite (emerginghorizons.com/new-yosemite-autocamp-features-custom-designed-wheelchair-accessible-airstreams) offers several accessible glamping options. Their custom built wheelchair-accessible X Suite is reminiscent of an upscale RV. It’s furnished with a small galley, and includes a queen-sized bed and a bathroom with a roll-in shower. Alternatively they also have two accessible Classic Suites and an fully furnished accessible glamping tent. And the YARTS (yarts.com) shuttle stops at both properties, which allows folks to sit back and enjoy the ride to the park, and skip the sometimes long entrance lines.

Accessible room at the Yosemite Bug

Midpines, California

Population 1,204

Last but certainly not least, Midpines makes a great stop on a Yosemite road trip — plus it’s the perfect home base for day trips to the park. And there … Read More

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California City

Small Towns — Darwin, Minnesota

California City

Largest ball of twine rolled by one man

Darwin, Minnesota

Population 373

This little burg makes a memorable stop on any road trip along Minnesota’s Highway 12. Darwin’s claim to fame is that it’s home to the largest ball of … Read More

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Small Towns — Hiltons, Virginia

Small Towns — Hiltons, Virginia

Hiltons, Virginia Population 1,688 Located in Southwest Virginia, the Crooked Road is a 200-mile music heritage trail, that winds through the Appalachian Mountains. Along the route you’ll find major music venues and heritage sites that highlight the traditional gospel, blue grass and mountain music of the region. And Hiltons is a required stop on any Crooked Road adventure, as it’s the location of the Carter Family Fold (/www.carterfamilyfold.org). Located on the AP and Sara Carter homestead, this concert venue is famous for its Saturday night performances, and in keeping with tradition, only acoustic instruments are allowed, and alcohol is prohibited. The energy however, is ever present. Access is good throughout the complex, and accessible seating is available up front. The shows are quite affordable — usually just $10 — and the people-watching is top notch. It’s a great stop on any Appalachia road trip. Unfortunately there are no hotels in Hiltons, so plan to overnight in nearby Bristol.

Whitetop Mountain Band performs at The Carter Family Fold

Hiltons, Virginia

Population 1,688

Located in Southwest Virginia, the Crooked Road is a 200-mile music heritage trail, that winds through the Appalachian Mountains. Along the route you’ll find major music venues … Read More

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Small Towns — Fanning Springs, Florida

Small Towns — Fanning Springs, Florida

Fanning Springs, Florida Population 1,009 Fanning Springs is a great place to get away from the city. And there’s no better place to stay than in the state park cabins. One two bedroom cabin is wheelchair-accessible, and it includes a full kitchen and a bathroom with a roll-in shower. It also has a large wrap around screened porch that’s furnished with a picnic table, a swing, three rocking chairs and a small side table. And for added comfort on warm evenings, it’s also equipped with ceiling fans. There’s also an accessible boardwalk that winds through a cypress swamp at Fanning Springs State Park (emerginghorizons.com/a-fanning-springs-getaway), just a short walk from the cabin. The Palmetto Nature Trail, which winds through the forest, may also be doable for some wheelchair-users. And don’t’ miss the 32-mile Nature Coast Trail, which features barrier-free access along its length, with a trailhead just across the street for the state park.

Fanning Springs State Park

Fanning Springs, Florida

Population 1,009

Fanning Springs is a great place to get away from the city. And there’s no better place to stay than in the state park cabins. One two bedroom cabin is wheelchair-accessible, … Read More

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Small Towns — Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Small Towns — Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Population 4,633 Billed as one of the most beautiful small towns in America, Jim Thorpe was named after the 1953 Olympic medal winner, James Francis Thorpe. And although the town does have some access problems, with a shortage of curb-cuts and accessible sidewalks, it’s worth a stop for a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway (www.lgsry.com). There’s accessible parking at the station, with level access to the ticket window. Lift boarding is available for the coach car or the open-air car, and wheelchair-users can stay in their own wheelchair or transfer to a seat for the 70-minute narrated tour. The train travels into Lehigh Gorge State Park, with plenty of scenic views along the way. And if you’d like a closer look at the scenery after the excursion, there’s a 2.5-mile section of the Lehigh Gorge Trail that’s wheelchair-accessible. This paved multiuse trail runs alongside the river, and it’s especially beautiful in the fall.

Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Population 4,633

Billed as one of the most beautiful small towns in America, Jim Thorpe was named after the 1953 Olympic medal winner, James Francis Thorpe. And although the town does have some … Read More

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Small Towns — Abita Springs, Louisiana

Small Towns — Abita Springs, Louisiana

Abita Springs, Louisiana Population 2,540 Abita Springs makes a good stop on any New Orleans road trip, as it’s just a short causeway drive away, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Start you visit with a stop at the totally obscure Abita Mystery House. From an alien RV and a beer bottle wall to a house covered in pottery shards, you never know what the owner will add to this growing collection of oddities. And aside from a few cracks in the sidewalk, there’s good access to most of the museum, including a large accessible bathroom in the gift shop. Of course no visit to the area is complete without a stop at the Abita Brewing Company (abita.com), located just up the road in Covington. Not only is there barrier-free access to the visitor center, but there’s also good wheelchair access on the half-hour plant tour. Even better, the tours all end with four four-ounce tastings.

The Abita Mystery House

Abita Springs, Louisiana

Population 2,540

Abita Springs makes a good stop on any New Orleans road trip, as it’s just a short causeway drive away, on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Start you visit with … Read More

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Small Towns — Indianola, Mississippi

Small Towns — Indianola, Mississippi

Indianola, Mississippi Population 9,433 Located about an hour from Clarksdale — where the famous crossroad is located — Indianola is ground zero for diehard blues fans. And the big attraction in town is the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center (bbkingmuseum.org). Access is good at this museum that honors the blues legend’s life and music, with accessible parking, a level entrance and plenty of room to maneuver a wheelchair through the galleries. A loaner wheelchair is also available at the front desk. A short film about the history of blues is shown before visitors move on to follow a timeline of King’s life, from the cotton plantation to the chitlin' circuit and on to Fillmore West. There’s also a replica of his home studio and an interactive 12-string guitar exhibit. Even if you’re not a blues fan the museum is worth a visit, as it also illustrates how King’s music helped bridge the gap between the races in a time of extreme racial segregation.

The B. B. King Museum

Indianola, Mississippi

Population 9,433

Located about an hour from Clarksdale — where the famous crossroad is located — Indianola is ground zero for diehard blues fans. And the big attraction in town is the B.B. … Read More

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Small Towns — Browning, Montana

Small Towns — Browning, Montana

Browning, Montana Population 1,026 Browning is located about an hour southeast of the Saint Mary Entrance to Glacier National Park, and it makes a nice stop on the way to or from the park. Although there’s really not much to the town, the excellent Museum of the Plains Indian (www.doi.gov/iacb/museum-plains-indian) is definitely worth a visit. Although the exterior of the museum is unimpressive, don’t be dissuaded by the lackluster front façade, as the artifacts inside are first-rate. There’s barrier-free access to the galleries that are filled with everything from cradleboards and toys, to weapons, ceremonial clothing, toys and lots of jewelry. The unusual bag made from a cow hoof, the buffalo hunt mural and the collection of woven cornhusk bags definitely stand out. There’s also accessible seating in the theater, where a short movie about the Plains Indians is shown. And don’t miss the excellent gift shop, the artist demonstrations, and the gallery filled with works by tribal artists.

Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning, Montana

Browning, Montana

Population 1,026

Browning is located about an hour southeast of the Saint Mary Entrance to Glacier National Park, and it makes a nice stop on the way to or from … Read More

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Small Towns — Tupper Lake, New York

Small Towns — Tupper Lake, New York

Tupper Lake, New York Population 3,523 Located in upstate New York, Tupper Lake is a nice stop for nature lovers. The anchor attraction is the Wild Center, which is designed to inspire visitors to explore the great outdoors. Access is excellent throughout the museum, which features a number of outdoor habitats and interactive exhibits that introduce visitors to Adirondack ecosystems. Outside, an accessible half-mile trail winds around Greenleaf Pond, with interpretive panels along its length. And if you want to get serious about the outdoors, then spend the night in an accessible lean-to in nearby John Dillon Park (www.paulsmiths.edu/johndillonpark/). Designed from the get-go to be barrier free, the park features trails, a fishing and kayak dock and a pontoon boat — all of which are wheelchair-accessible. Although there’s no charge to spend the night at John Dillon Park, usage is limited to disabled campers. Day-use visitors don’t need to make advance arrangements, however reservations are required for overnight stays.

Accessible lean-to in John Dillon Park

Tupper Lake, New York

Population 3,523

Located in upstate New York, Tupper Lake is a nice stop for nature lovers. The anchor attraction is the Wild Center, which is designed to inspire visitors to … Read More

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Small Towns — Lenox, Massachusetts

Small Towns — Lenox, Massachusetts

Lenox, Massachusetts Population 5,025 Located in Western Massachusetts, Lenox makes a nice stop on any trip through the Berkshires. If you’d like to explore the outdoors a bit, then stop by the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. This 1,000-acre preserve features the .3-mile All Persons Trail that winds through a hemlock grove and circles Pikes Pond. The beavers are usually quite active, and it’s also a good birding venue. The Norman Rockwell Museum, which is located a short drive away in Stockbridge, is also worth a visit. There’s barrier-free access to the museum, which is home to the world’s largest collection of Norman Rockwell’s work. And if you’d like to overnight in Lenox, look no further than the Brook Farm Inn (brookfarm.com). This quaint country property has two wheelchair-accessible rooms, both of which have a roll-in shower. And you just can’t beat the yummy breakfast buffet that’s set out for guests each morning.

The All Persons Trail

Lenox, Massachusetts

Population 5,025

Located in Western Massachusetts, Lenox makes a nice stop on any trip through the Berkshires. If you’d like to explore the outdoors a bit, then stop by the Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. … Read More

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