#CurbFreeFromHome in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama: What You Need to Know to Visit as a Wheelchair User

During this time of self isolation and staying at home, I wanted to still bring the world to you guys and share accessible travel finds, so I decided to launch a Facebook Live series called #CurbFreeFromHome. Every week, for the foreseeable future at least, I will go Live with a representative from a different destination on my Facebook page. We’ll talk about that destination’s accessible offerings because even though it’s tough to travel right now, it’s never too early to start dreaming of future trips. After all, planning trips is almost just as fun as actually traveling anyway, don’t you think? 

For the first ever #CurbFreeFromHome, I reached out to my good friend Kay Maghan. Kay is the Public Relations Manager for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama, which is one of my favorite destinations in the U.S. I’ve visited the Alabama Gulf Coast a few times and I am always impressed with its wheelchair accessibility. From beach wheelchairs to access mats and a variety of fun-filled attractions, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach have no shortage of wheelchair accessible offerings. 

Kay and I loved discussing the area’s accessibility during our Facebook Live. You can view it and hear all of our insight in this video –

I hope that you love our video, but here is some basic information that we discussed and companies in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to make note of:

AccessMat on the Beach

• Gulf Shores Public Beach has wide sidewalks and paths along the beach, plus two AccessMat “blue” beach mats going 350 feet out on the beach, so that visitors in wheelchairs or with limited mobility can easily and safely enjoy being out on the sand.

Beach Wheelchairs in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

• A few companies rent power and non-motorized beach wheelchairs. 

Beach Power Rentals rents motorized beach wheelchairs, but also has manual beach wheelchairs, electric scooters, beach umbrellas, shower chairs and transfer chairs.

Beach’N Buggys manufactures, rents and sells electric beach wheelchairs. They offer three different types of electric beach wheelchairs.

Ike’s Beach Service rents non-motorized beach wheelchairs.

Wheelchair Accessible Van Rentals

Team Adaptive Medical provides accessible van rentals based in both Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida, where Gulf Shores’ two closest airports are located. They offer daily, weekend, weekly and monthly rates. NOTE: If you are flying into Pensacola, you do need to notify them in advance you will be driving the van to Alabama.  

Superior Van & Mobility is based in Pensacola and also provides wheelchair van rentals.

Accessible Lodging Options in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach

– The lodging section of www.gulfshores.com does have “Handicap Accessible” as a filter option to find properties.

– Harris Properties, has an 8-bedroom beach house out on Fort Morgan called “Barefoot” that has an elevator, a bathroom on the main floor with a roll-in shower, and an open floor plan that allows for easy flow around the kitchen, dining and living room space.

– Vacasa offers a wheelchair friendly house, known as Snell’s Pace, on the bay. Read about it here.

– Meyer Vacation Rentals has multiple beach houses with elevators – from 5 bedrooms up to 20 bedrooms! 

And feel free to check out my blog posts about my accessible experiences in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach here!

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