New Visit California Hub Makes Travel Easier For Tourists With Disabilities

Ten-year-old overjoyed to find a wheelchair Barbie and service dog

Ten-year-old Dallas has been collecting Barbies in wheelchairs, but her face lights up when she sees one with a service dog for the first time!

• Visit California launched a new online hub for accessible travel resources.
• The hub includes information on wheelchair-friendly hotels and sensory-friendly destinations.
• Visit California partnered with disability advocates and travel content creators on the project.

Visit California introduced an online hub with tips and guidance for accessible travel across the state.

The hub, which launched on Aug. 5, encourages disabled travelers and others who might need special accommodations to take advantage of all the Golden State has to offer.

The tourism board partnered with disabled travel content creators and advocates to ensure the resources would provide visitors with everything they need, whether they're taking a road trip or exploring museums in a city center.

Sophie Morgan, an award-winning TV presenter and recent California transplant, partnered with Visit California on a promotional video campaign called "Joy Diversion" to bring awareness to how accessible the state can be.

“Since moving to California, I’ve been blown away by how easy and joyful road tripping can be,” Morgan said in a statement. “This series is a reflection of that, it’s about celebrating movement, spontaneity and the joy of the open road.”

On the accessible travel hub, visitors and vacation planners can find resources like a listing of wheelchair-friendly hotels, Autism and sensory-friendly destinations throughout the state, FAQs about accessibility in California and more.

"As the state prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028, Visit California is doubling down on its commitment to welcoming all travelers," Visit California said in a statement. "The Accessibility Hub and Joy Diversion series are part of the broader Playful Journeys platform, reinforcing California’s reputation as a destination where freedom, inclusion and adventure go hand in hand."

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.