When I attended the TBEX (Travel Blogger Exchange) conference last September, we had the privilege of listening to Cory Lee from Curb Free with Cory Lee, a blog covering travel from a wheelchair user’s perspective. He challenged us to be more inclusive with our travel coverage, even it if simply means adding an extra sentence about wheelchair accessibility.
That’s why I was excited to read the news coming out of Pensacola about making their beaches more accessible for wheelchair users. And it’s helps make the beach more accessible for families with strollers too!
Beaches of Pensacola Now Accessible for All Thanks to Mobi-Mat Installation
Sugar-white sand and emerald green water on the beaches of Pensacola are now accessible for all thanks to the installment of five Mobi-mats on Pensacola Beach. Mobi-Mats are a non-slip matting laid down over the sand that provides grip and easy access for wheelchairs, strollers, and pedestrians on unstable surfaces.
Funded by the Santa Rosa Island Authority and deployed by Escambia County Public Works, the mats will be located on five beaches along the island:
- Casino Beach: A Mobi-Mat is located east of the Public Safety Building, and one is stationed west of The Dock Bar.
- Park West: One mat is located on the sound (north) side near the two pavilions.
- Moms Beach (Quietwater Beach): A Mobi-Mat is stationed near the lifeguard tower.
- Boardwalk Beach: A mat is located just east of the Quietwater Beach shell.
- Baby Beach: A Mobi-Mat is located off Avenida 18 on the sound side.
If needed, beach wheelchairs, both electric and traditional, are available for rent from several vendors along Pensacola Beach.
“This is an incredible addition to the Pensacola Bay Area,” President of Visit Pensacola Steve Hayes said. “Thanks to the Santa Rosa Island Authority, residents and visitors of all abilities will be able to enjoy our destinations beautiful features.”
To add to the Mobi-Mats, the Pensacola Bay Area has activities for people of all abilities. From baseball games to museums to cruising the bay, there’s so much to do and see here for travelers looking to plan a vacation. For more information on an accessible trip to Pensacola, visit www.visitpensacola.com.
Fadra Nally is a lifestyle blogger at All Things Fadra who is always going, seeing, and doing – all with a sense of humor. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram, and watch her on YouTube.
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