See Why This City Became The First Verified Accessible Destination

How families with disabilities travel together

Bethany Hildebrandt is meticulous about planning trips around her family's needs as her eldest child, Kaylee, has cerebral palsy.

• Sandy Springs, Georgia, is the state's first destination verified as accessible by the travel company Wheel the World.
• Local hotels offer features like roll-in showers, lower counters, and braille signage to accommodate guests with various disabilities.
• The city provides unique recreational options, including adaptive swings, kayaking, and accessible nature trails.

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. —  Cory Lee has visited over 50 countries and all seven continents, but he was surprised by something he saw in his home state of Georgia: a playground swing he could roll onto in his power wheelchair. 

“I have really never seen that anywhere else that I've traveled to,” said Lee, who shares his experiences on his accessible travel blog Curb Free with Cory Lee. “I wish that when I was a kid, we could have had something like that. I think it would have really just created a more inclusive environment.”

That’s the goal for Sandy Springs, Georgia’s first destination verified as accessible by accessible travel company Wheel the World.

Here’s how the Atlanta suburb is welcoming visitors of all abilities. 

At least one in four U.S. adults has a disability, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

“The word accessible means something different to each person with disability,” said Lee, who has spinal muscular atrophy. “To be able to find a place that can really accommodate a variety of disabilities is really a treasure.”  

He was invited to Sandy Springs on a press trip and stayed at the Hyatt House Atlanta / Perimeter Center, which USA TODAY toured separately. 

“The hotel staff was super friendly and really went above and beyond to just ensure that that room would work for my needs,” he recalled. 

The hotel, which soft-opened in 2021, features eight accessible guest rooms, particularly popular due to its proximity to a cluster of top hospitals just down the street. 

These rooms have lots of extra space for wheelchairs to navigate easily.  

Everything is arranged with wheelchair height in mind. 

Curtains can be drawn with the touch of a button. 

Some bathrooms have roll-in showers. Others have bathtubs with lower lips, grab bars and chairs available upon request. 

Other types of accommodations include doorbells that sync with lights for guests who are deaf. Also, hotel signs have braille, and the elevator has audio settings.  

Nearby Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Center, which was renovated in 2016, greets guests with automatic doors and curbless entry. At the front desk, there are both standing and seated options for guests.

A lift is available for the pool. 

Accessible guest rooms keep wheelchair height in mind with lower climate control panels, clothing racks and more. 

The desks are movable. 

Some rooms have roll-in showers with built-in seats, while others offer tubs for varying guest needs. 

“There's no one-size-fit-all,” said Sofia Bravo, head of customer success at Wheel the World. “Someone like a senior, like my father, he needs a high bed, but (Wheel the World CEO and co-founder Álvaro Silberstein, who is quadriplegic) needs a lower bed, and that is crucial for both of them.” 

Both the Hyatt House and Fairfield invite travelers with disabilities to call them directly with any specific questions. Other area hotels also offer accessible accommodations.  

Wheel the World measures and publishes data, like bed height and door width, on partner businesses within the destinations they verify. The company also helps them assess accessibility, identify areas for improvement, and train staff on best practices. 

“It's about providing the detailed accessibility information so people can travel and know what to expect, be prepared,” Bravo said.  

Accessible hotels aren’t enough, though, to make a destination accessible. For Wheel the World verification, destinations also need to offer accessible transportation, dining, activities and attractions. 

“Museums are great, but I can go to a museum in pretty much every city,” Lee said. “When a destination offers something that's truly accessible and unique to that destination, I think that that really makes it stand out.” 

He loved getting outdoors at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, which has that adaptive swing. 

The playground also features a communication board with illustrated icons for visitors who may be non-verbal. 

The park also offers adaptive kayaking. 

Nearby, there are wheelchair-friendly spots for fishing. 

There’s also a paved trail for taking in views or birding. 

“Springway Trail 2A was one of my favorite things that I did in Sandy Springs,” Lee said. “It was just super smooth and accessible for me to roll on in my wheelchair. To be able to find accessible outdoor experiences like that is also really rare.” 

The city hosts adaptive recreational activities year-round. 

“It’s all about inclusivity and those three Is: make sure everyone’s invited, included and involved,” said Jane Jarrett, program manager and certified Adaptive Recreation and Sports specialist at the Recreation and Parks Department for Sandy Springs. 

Lee hopes more destinations will follow the city’s lead.