Mobility impairment friendly places to visit in the US

[sqbr]

My partner and I are pondering a visit to the US for a holiday. I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fairly significant mobility issues: I can't walk very far, up more than a couple of stairs, or up steep hills, and will plausibly be hiring a mobility scooter.

Do people have recs (or anti-recs) for cities or sites that are likely to be interesting to two Australian geeks and are particularly amenable to these kinds of constraints?

Any good sf cons that are accessibility friendly and held in interesting cities? (My partner is alas not convinced that he would find Wiscon very interesting)

Our plans are very tentative at this stage, so any and all suggestions or ideas are welcome. Currently pondered locations include San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, New York, Las Vegas, Chicago and Boston.

Comments

[jesse_the_k]

What sort of things might your partner find interesting? I know Madison well and there are definitely things worth visiting here.

As far as buses, thanks to the law and funding policies all U.S. city buses have the equipment to board and secure scooters and wheelchairs. One can't predict whether the drivers will welcome us or be jerks. Many of the light rail/subway systems were specifically exempted from access. Over-the-road buses (the tall ones which travel between cities, like Greyhound) require 24 hours notice to ensure an accessible coach in the right place.

The frustrating thing about Chicago is the curb ramps are very uneven — some are so steep and sloped that I've travelled in the street to use a driveway. (Not to mention the driveways which appear in the middle of the sidewalk without warning.)

I scraped through many doorways in Boston's Isabella Gardner museum.

[sqbr]

Thankyou, that's all good to know!