Wheel the World
Exploring Accessible Tillamook Coast
Whether slow mobility, using a wheelchair, or a hidden disability, we want everyone to feel welcome while enjoying the Tillamook Coast.
Wheel the World visits Oregon's Tillamook Coast
Tillamook Coast Achieves ‘Destination Verified’ Status from Wheel the World
In 2023, Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (TCVA) received a $65,000 grant from Travel Oregon to work with Wheel the World, a travel booking and consulting company providing accessibility information to travelers with disabilities.
What does “Destination Verified” mean?
- Our accessibility seal of approval means that you can access accurate accessibility information to hotels, restaurants and activities for Tillamook Coast.
- Wheel the World sends a team member to each location to map points of accessibility.
- Partners are trained through the Wheel the World Academy to better serve travelers and understand disability.
TCVA’s partnership with Wheel the World is driven by a belief in the importance of providing accurate information so travelers with disabilities can have a safe, fun experience. “My mother had Parkinson’s disease, and eventually needed a wheelchair. Many times, it was impossible to go to a restaurant or a business because they were inaccessible to her,” said Nan Devlin, Executive Director of TCVA. “And being able to go on the beach? We sat beside the road instead. That’s why I enthusiastically support our partnership with Wheel the World. I want people to fully enjoy life, no matter their mobility.”
Learn more about Wheel the World and the local partners that took part in this process at our Accessible Tillamook Coast webpage.
During our partnership with Wheel the World, TCVA orchestrated accessibility audits of 30 partner sites along the Tillamook Coast. Each participating business received a detailed report from Wheel the World with recommendations for improvements. The exhaustive process detailed such items as bed heights, ramp access, roll-in showers availability, door widths and much more. Properties that have been assessed include Ocean Inn, Kilchis Point Reserve, Tillamook Air Museum, Garibaldi Portside Bistro, and Cape Meares Lighthouse.
TCVA plans to continue the work with Wheel the World and explore other ways to ensure our community is a welcoming environment for the benefit of residents and visitors alike, so everyone can continue to make informed decisions.
Travel for All
Having accurate information when making plans to visit the Tillamook Coast is important to all travelers. TCVA is committed to providing detailed information so that travelers can make their own decisions ahead of time. Wheel the World is working with dozens of destinations in Oregon, including Tillamook Coast, to assess the accessibility of lodging, activities and restaurants and share that information through their Destination Guides. Wheel the World’s brand purpose is the belief that people with disabilities should experience the world like everyone else. Each one of us has different needs when it comes to accessibility and planning a trip can be an enormous task.
Read Wheel the World’s travel blog for the Tillamook Coast, Accessible Guide to Tillamook Coast, OR where they conclude that “You will find great accessibility in not only the hotels, restaurants, and indoor activities – but outdoors as well!”
This project has been funded in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.
