There are so many wonderful ways to spend time in the yard. If you have a projector, a backyard movie night is a special treat your children can look forward to all week. Or maybe this is the summer you finally invest in a trampoline. Here are more ideas:
Grab some sidewalk chalk and try out some of these outdoor play activities to help develop gross motor skills.
Download PDFs from PE Central, which lists activities for kids that will engage both mind and body, arranged by age and ability. Examples include fitness hangman, fitness bingo, adapted ring toss, and activities to do in a limited space.
Plant seeds in the garden to help promote fine motor dexterity while offering stress relief.
Create sensory bins filled with seeds, soil, and other natural elements to incorporate sensory integration into a child’s day.
Use seeds to create a mosaic as a fun method of creating art and working on fine motor skills.
Bay Area
San Francisco Recreation & Parks has a detailed listing of their accessible playgrounds complete with information on accommodations at varying locations. Some parks of note:
Mountain Lake Park: This city park sits just south of the Presidio and in 2017 underwent a renovation to make the playground accessible to children with both mobility and cognitive challenges. There are nets, swings, jumping discs, ropes, seesaws and slides, all safely within a low wall bounding the playground. The cushy ground and ramps make it accessible for all. Location: 1000 Lake Street, San Francisco, CA.
Rotary PlayGarden: San Jose’s PlayGarden is perhaps the Bay Area’s most impressive accessible playground, boasting many features that entice all children to play. The play carousel has room for two wheelchairs and bench seats so that a child can sit with another rider. The double-seat seesaw allows a parent to sit behind to support a child. The park offers conventional swings along with accessible swings, including one with a harness and a large disc swing that a child in a wheelchair can easily transfer into. The slides, all reachable by ramp, are made of cement because the static electricity generated on a plastic slide can damage cochlear implants. BONUS: Nearby Mineta San Jose International Airport allows park visitors the chance to watch as large planes take off and land. Location: 490 Coleman Avenue, San Jose, CA
Heather Farm Park Playground: Walnut Creek’s All Abilities Playground is 30,000 square feet in size and was designed to address the physical, cognitive, communicative, social/emotional, and sensory needs of all children. Features include shock-absorbent pathways and flooring, structures and equipment with wider ramps, ground-level play opportunities, a swing set zone with tot swings and high-back swings, sound and sensory equipment throughout, shaded play structures for more protection from heat and sun, and benches within the play zones, so parents can sit close to where children play. Location: 301 N San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek, CA
Central California
Los Angeles area
The City of Los Angeles' Department of Recreation and Parks currently has several Universally Accessible Playgrounds where children of all abilities can play side-by-side. Find the list here! Some notable ones include:
Shane’s Inspiration in Griffith Park, Los Angeles is the first Universally Accessible Playground in the Western United States. A space ship and water-themed custom playground let's imaginations soar and accessible to all. Besides the main play structure, there are many inclusive freestanding play elements. Location: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027
Aidan’s Place at Westwood Recreation Center, Los Angeles is the second fully accessible playground in the United States, which offers adaptations including an elevated sand-castle-building station. Location: 1350 Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025
Orange County
Huntington Beach All-Inclusive Playground: Access to the beach and a playground too? Sounds like kid heaven! The new All-Inclusive Playground at Huntington Beach was “designed with rubber surfacing and special play units to provide accessibility and to promote interactive play among children of all abilities.” Location: The playground can be accessed from the beach path on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier.
Heritage Park: This gem in Cerritos has it all: an accessible teeter-totter and ride-on dolphin, opportunities for pretend play in an ocean theme with a bait & tackle shop and equipment that looks like ships and boats, and an accessible sway boat that allows for wheelchair access. Heritage Park also has a big lake with ducks and geese, a Fine Arts Center, the Irvine Heritage Library, and a community center. Location: 18600 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA.
There are many options for getting some fresh air. Here are some accessible choices that offer paved trails, open spaces, and a chance to explore as a family. You can explore accessible trails in California by visiting the Accessible Features in State Parks website. Tip: If you can go early on weekdays, there should be fewer crowds.
The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, Palm Desert: This attraction is a Certified Autism Center, which means they work to accommodate visitors, as well as create sensory guides for each exhibit. Staff have been trained in methods to ensure that visitors with autism or sensory needs have an engaging visit. These include sensory bags containing fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones, and other resources that are available for checkout for those with sensory needs. The Zoo also offers wide, paved pathways, making exploring accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. Wheelchairs and electronic convenience vehicles are also offered for daily rental. The Living Desert also offers monoculars and ASL devices.
Ojai Valley Trail: This 9-mile, wheelchair-accessible paved trail runs along the Ventura River in the heart of the beautiful Ojai Valley, with mountain and river views. The trail begins in Foster Park in downtown Ventura and ends in downtown Ojai at Fox Street.
Alpine Pedal Path — Big Bear Lake: The Alpine Pedal Path is an ADA-accessible paved trail that goes along the north shore of Big Bear Lake from the Stanfield Cutoff to slightly west of the Solar Observatory. This path connects with the Big Bear Discovery Center. To access this trail, park at Juniper Point or Meadow's Edge picnic areas or at Stanfield Cutoff.
Morro Bay Harborwalk: This ADA-accessible half-mile paved trail in Morro Bay boasts beautiful views of the volcanic rocks in the town’s harbor, along with sea otters and other marine life. Park just off Coleman Drive at Morro Rock; the trail ends at Embarcadero. Be sure to check Morro Bay’s website to stay updated on openings.
LA River Glendale Narrows: This one-mile riverwalk is on the north bank of the Los Angeles River between Riverside Drive and Zoo Drive and the Verdugo Wash. Its paved trail is lined with native California trees and shrubs, seating areas, and a public art installation inspired by stop-motion animation. As an Undivided parent pointed out, “The path is remarkably cool with the breeze off the water!” How to access the trail:
Descanso Gardens: Descanso Gardens is a beautiful oasis in the heart of the La Canada/Flintridge hills. Filled with paved trails that take you through wild and manicured gardens, this is a wonderful escape from the city. Picnics can be eaten in the courtyard and outer picnic areas, and the cafe is open. Kids absolutely love the Enchanted Railroad, which takes them on a loop through the gardens ($5 ticket). There is also a small hedge maze for kids. A limited number of wheelchairs can be borrowed for free. Learn more about their accessibility here.
Los Angeles Arboretum: The L.A. Arboretum contains sprawling gardens and a wildlife haven in Arcadia. Kids can enjoy watching peacocks, looking at waterfalls, and exploring an antique train depot. Trails are paved for most of the gardens. The cafe is open for grab-and-go food; no outside food is allowed. Wheelchairs are currently not available to rent. Read here to learn more about their accessibility.
If you're in the Santa Cruz area, you can find ADA-compliant, paved and unpaved wheelchair-accessible trails here.
Statewide
LA County
This user-updated Google map is a great reference for the most up-to-date information on beaches that provide wheelchair accessibility. The map shows which beaches are open and what kind of access they provide.
Currently, beach wheelchairs may only be reserved in advance at the Dockweiler Youth Center. Beach wheelchairs at all other locations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Availability varies by location, but you can find a list of other LA beaches offering wheelchairs in this information sheet.
The beautiful beachside Marvin Braude Bike Trail (also known as “The Strand”) is wheelchair accessible and starts to the north at Will Rogers State Beach on Pacific Coast Highway and State Route 1 (Los Angeles) and at Via Riviera and Paseo de la Playa (Torrance) to the south.
The CA map and database of beach wheelchairs in Los Angeles County can be found at the LA Department of Beaches and Harbors website.
Bay Area
Find detailed information on accessible beaches in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties here.
A list of wheelchair-accessible beaches in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area can be found here.
Traveling by RV can give your family the freedom of the open road while staying safe and enjoying the comforts of what feels like home. Things to take into consideration when selecting an RV are how many people you are traveling with, whether you’ll need wheelchair access or carseat accessibility, and the size of vehicle you feel comfortable driving. Be sure to ask about any accessibility features and whether service animals are permitted.
RV Share: RV Share has the largest national system of listings for RV rentals. Accessible RV listings are mixed in with the rest, so use a keyword search to find the motorhome that fits your family’s needs or contact the RV’s owner to discuss accessibility.
Outdoorsy: This is another great site for finding owner-sourced RV rentals in your area. RVs can be picked up at the owner’s location or delivered to your home. Listings can be searched by keyword. For insight on the different classes of RVs available for rent, check out this handy guide.
Cruise America: With nationwide locations, Cruise America is an option for everyone in California. Use their online reservation system to determine the cost of your desired rental.
El Monte RV (Los Angeles): With pickup locations at LAX and in Van Nuys, El Monte RV is another good option for motorhome rentals. Signing up for their email list will get you information on coupon codes and specials.
You’ve got your motorhome, you’ve got your gear...now, where are you headed?
Use Reserve California and Recreation.gov to reserve camping spots. TIP: Check the Reserve California site at 8:00 a.m. every day for your desired campsite, as that’s when they release new and canceled reservations. Check Malibu Creek State Park, Silverwood Lake SRA, and San Onofre State Beach for wheelchair-accessible campgrounds.
KOA: KOA is the trusted host of many beloved privately owned campground sites in California. Whether you want to pitch a tent, park the RV, or rent a cabin, KOA has many options.
Hipcamp: Hipcamp is a user-sourced rental site for campgrounds on private land, similar to the Airbnb model. Search within California to find secluded tent camping, RV sites, and even glamping opportunities. You can also filter your search for ADA-accessible campsites.
For popular Southern California sites, check Malibu Creek State Park, Silverwood Lake SRA, and San Onofre State Beach for wheelchair-accessible campgrounds.
Has the weather outside made you want to change your plans? California has many museums and science centers that offer interactive exhibits and programs suitable for our kiddos, especially kids with sensory issues. Here are a few:
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose: This children's museum in Silicon Valley has many programs and resources designed to provide access and inclusion for families of children with mobility challenges, difficulty communicating, or who become easily stimulated. Check the calendar for autism-friendly Saturday sessions called Play Your Way for ages 2–15. The museum offers Social Story, Quiet Rooms, Headsets, and more.
Exploratorium, San Francisco: This museum offers a ton of accessible features, including ASL interpreters, wheelchair accessible spaces (you can rent one at the museum), tactile maps, and free and reduced rate of entry for guests with disabilities.
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach: The Aquarium of the Pacific not only hosts a massive array of incredible exhibits on sea life but also works hard to provide accessibility to its visitors. For those with sensory challenges, they’ve teamed up KultureCity to provide sensory bags, social stories about the aquarium, and quiet zones for overwhelm. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and they have programs for Deaf and blind patrons.
The Fleet Science Center, San Diego: This science center offers Accessibility Mornings on the third Saturday of every month. Doors are open one hour before the museum opens to the public and they screen a documentary with house lights on and the soundtrack volume low. Early access to galleries at 9 a.m. Special film screening at 10 a.m. For more on this awesome hands-on museum’s accessibility programs, read here.
MOXI Wolf Museum of Exploration & Innovation, Santa Barbara: This museum in Santa Barbara offers offers a free, sensory-friendly app, Access MOXI, created so that visitors with autism and sensory-processing disorders can preview the museum. Visitors can also grab sensory backpack kits available to check out at the front desk on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about their accessibility here.
