CO Via Wheelchair (Denver, Colorado Springs, Vail: hotel, home, buy)

[scoobeedoo]

Hello Colorado...I need a vacation baaad and want to see the Rockies and experience falling snow and real cold and life out west...but only for 3-4 days, then I'll go home, I promise! Could use some suggestions and directions from the CO locals. My dates are flexible, though shooting for mid-January to avoid holiday crowds and prices. OK, so here's the deal...I'm traveling in a power wheelchair with a service dog. If I fly into Denver, can I get somewhere to sightsee in my "wheels" or would I be limited to a lodge lobby or hotel parking lot? I'm maturing (but not old), independent and not fragile. Not really looking for the adaptive ski lessons (i.e., Winter Park) on this visit...my time will be short and I'd really just like to look around outdoors and experience the natural beauty of the non-urban areas. I'm looking for simple and uncomplicated. Is there hope? Trails? Tours? Suggestions? I'd love to try snow-tubing but hear the popular place in Fraser is not really accessible. Remember, put yourself in a power (not manual) wheelchair and then tell me where you'd stay, accessible places to visit and how you'd get there. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[scoobeedoo]

No answers? Hey, I thought the Denver area was supposed to be disabled FRIENDLY. C'mon, I know there are people in this area who can help answer my questions. I just want to visit. If you don't help, well, I'll...I'll...be forced to move to Colorado, buy land, and build one of those second home McMansions, then complain that the weather isn't like Florida's. You don't want that, do you? Really, are there no wheelchair users living here? No one has friends/parents/relatives with mobility issues?

[sterlinggirl]

If you want advise about accessibility, the best place to get it is from people who cater to it.

Even if you don't want to take ski lessons, the folks at Winter Park would be a great place to turn for information. Call them up and ask them if there is somebody that you can talk to about accessible lodging, etc.

[scoobeedoo]

Okay, nevermind...forget I even asked.

[esya]

Well, it is pretty hard to get around in the snow in a chair with 100% reliability. Downtown Denver or Colorado Springs and the major museums, the mall, etc, will be accessible. You could get a accessable van to the major resorts (Vail, Breck) but there will be times when the occasional jerk in any place does not comply with the legal requirement to shovel their walk. I think it's worth going for.

Call the Chamber of Commerce in Breck--there are some wonderful accommodations that, even if you can wander inside, the hallways help you get to other places on the mountain and outside to the lift areas. I just can't remember the name of the place.

P.S. This isn't really a instant messaging site.