Get inspired to for your next trip: Highlights from news, new offerings, and eye-opening destinations and experiences
Traveling the world is such a choose-your-own-adventure game, and our family of four never knows where our next inspo travel ideas will come from.
Speaking of adventure, it crops up in places that I certainly hadn’t thought about.
As our family continues our globetrotting wanderings, we think a lot about the places we enjoy being in most—and might want to stay for a long, long time.
But what inspo travel really caught my eye this week? A reminder that as accessibility takes many forms (many of which might not be visible), more and more destinations are stepping out to show they welcome a broader, more diverse range of visitors.
Most autistic families don’t take vacations. Visit Santa Cruz County announced an Autism Certification to show they want to work on that
“According to a survey by Autism Travel, 87 percent of autistic families don’t take vacations due to the sensory overload involved in travel – including loud noises, dietary changes and a disruption in routine. These stressors can cause discomfort and outbursts if not compassionately managed and addressed.”
Reading that line from some recent Visit Santa Cruz County travel news pretty much broke my heart. The challenges of taking a trip can be too much for families where any sort of condition or disability is a consideration. The question is, what can the people trying to attract travelers do to better serve folks who need their condition taken into account?
For us, Jodie is an amputee who uses a prosthetic leg. Given our mobility accessibility considerations for our travel choices, it really stands out to us when a destination shows how they are working toward greater accessibility for other types of conditions.
Above and beyond
The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), which also manages AutismTravel.com, recently approved California’s Visit Santa Cruz County (VSCC) staff as Certified Autism Travel Professionals.
Here’s the thing: In order to qualify for certification, at least 80% of an organization’s staff must undergo autism training and certification. That’s a high bar.
Instead of 80%, ALL of VSCC’s staff did the training and testing.
“This staff certification illustrates the commitment of Visit Santa Cruz County to the autism community,” said Terence Concannon, CEO of Visit Santa Cruz County, “and is an important first step for other tourism-related businesses within our industry to mirror as we move forward to be better equipped to interact with neurodiverse people across different settings.”
Now Visit Santa Cruz County is working to enhance their year-around visitor center with a low-sensory area for neurodivergent visitors. Once the changes are completed, the visitor center will be a Certified Autism Center™ (CAC). Along with Visit Santa Cruz County, other California destinations have been bringing out autism-forward initiatives, such as Certified Autism Destination Visit Visalia, and the Visit Greater Palm Springs Certified Autism Center™.
Where to stay in Santa Cruz County, California
Swim with whale sharks at Australia’s Ningaloo Marine Park
Australia is a common area for whale sharks, and these gentle giants definitely inspire inspo travel ideas. Before we go any further, let’s get this out of the way: whale sharks are gentle and chill.
Off the northwest coast of Western Australia, in Ningaloo Marine Park (Nyinggulu), companies such as Coral Bay Eco Tours make it possible for visitors to swim with these gentle giants:
Where to stay in Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia
Outdoor adventures in… Illinois?
When our family drove our small motorhome from Washington State to Florida in 2023, the Midwest states surprised us the most with their natural beauty and vast outdoor spaces. Among them? Illinois can be a quite the destination for outdoor adventures, including hiking, cycling, horseback riding, canoeing, fishing, and more:
“Home to 70 state parks and recreation areas, 2,900 lakes and seven national scenic byways, there is no shortage of outdoor adventure in Illinois. The stories featured in this new content series uncover picturesque nature trails, hidden gems, iconic landmarks, unique stays and beyond.”
The new “Real People, Real Stories, Real Outdoors” video series from Enjoy Illinois showcases some of the people and places that make outdoor experiences in Illinois special, such as:
- Rock Cut State Park near Rockford
- Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park in Oglesby
- Camp Aramoni’s luxury safari-style campground in LaSalle County
- Rend Lake in Southern Illinois (we camped here one night, and would love to go back and experience it properly)
Chicago adaptive climber Meaghan Cusack and her squad also show some of Illinois’ best climbing spots for people of all abilities and skill levels, including Cave-in-Rock State Park, Giant City State Park near the Shawnee National Forest and breathtaking Pere Marquette State Park along the Mississippi River.
Where to stay in Illinois
Live well aboard in these 10 affordable countries
In my young adulthood, I lived in Scotland for a year. The delectable taste of living abroad has never left me (along with the also-wonderful taste of haggis).
There’s few inspo travel ideas bigger than living abroad. As our family travels, we sometimes talk about countries we might consider staying in longer. Or, if you have wondered what it would be like to live abroad, Forbes has a recent roundup of destinations known for their affordable quality of life. Here are 3 that stood out to us:
- Portugal: continual reigning top choice for a European lifestyle
- Spain: among the lowest cost of living in Europe
- Malaysia: Friendliness, natural beauty, and an affordable lifestyle combine in this Muslim Southeast Asian nation
Check out the article:
Fiji is more than beach lounging
Personally, the “sit on the beach all day” travel trope has never appealed to me. I can hang on the beach for a little while, but it’s not long before I find it boring. I don’t think I’m alone in that either.
When it comes to inspo travel ideas, that’s why I’m so glad that Fiji is getting the word out that it is much, much more than a beautiful place with chill beaches:
“With 333 islands, Fiji’s pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, thriving coral reefs and lush rainforests make up the perfect natural landscape for adventure to thrive.”
