Another Wheelchair Accessible Trip to Boston

 

I had traveled back and forth to Boston, Massachusetts, for a year to see a surgeon to repair nerve, muscle, and tendon damage in my arm. It all happened when I fell and broke my humerus in two places in April 2024. I looked all around the country for someone to do the repairs.

My second surgery was extensive and I came back to Boston a few weeks later for a post operative appointment. On my previous six trips I had stayed in the downtown area, near the hospital and doctor’s office. Many hotels were sold out or expensive this time and I decided to stay in Cambridge.

 I arrived in Boston early afternoon and took a Lyft to my hotel, the Royal Sonesta Cambridge. One of the things that made these trips easier was the fact that Boston has Lyft and Uber WAV available and fairly easy to get at that airport.

The hotel was huge and had a welcoming lobby, complete with cider from local apples and warm cinnamon donuts. I passed that time as I had already ordered food from Uber Eats to be delivered any minute. If I didn’t have a restaurant previously arranged, I would do this on each trip. There was always enough food for two meals and a Mike’s Pastry order for two days.

 

My room was a little tight to get around in, but there were lots of outlets and USBs on the night table and the bathroom had room to wheel around. I also had a tub with plenty of railings and a chair. I love bathtubs and my one at home is too deep for me to get in so I love having one in a hotel.

I enjoyed my pasta from Alfredo’s and chocolate covered cannoli from Mike’s. I then headed outside and took the smooth path across the Charles River Walk to the Museum of Science.

 

My dad was a scientist and loved taking the family to the Museum of Science in Boston. The last time I had gone was probably twenty five years ago. It’s certainly expanded and changed with the times, as told by the exhibits.

It was all impressive, unusual, and hands-on. The exhibits at the Boston Museum of Science are ever-expanding and give kids and adults a lot to think about. It was also easy for me to wheel around. In fact, accessibility is important here.

 

The Museum of Science offers AIRA Explora support for those with sight impairments, as well as braille, and audio tapes. They also have virtual ASL (American Sign Language) help available. For those with sensory differences, the museum offers noise cancelling headphones, low sensory viewing, and quiet areas.*

The museum is huge and I saw as much as I could before they closed. I spent time in the exhibits for Climate Change, Robots & AI, Arctic Adventure, Hall of Human Life, and an interesting display on the history of cancer studies. Along the way there were many hands on experiences for kids and a look at the earth and space program.

 

I missed the Boston Red Sox Exhibit, the Planetarium Show, and the Live Animal Presentation. You need two full days there if you want to see it all.

I walked by the large Food Court on my way out, remembering that I had food left from lunch. I also enjoyed a beautiful view of the Charles River from the museum.

 

I rolled back to the Royal Sonesta just before dark. I took my food out of the refrigerator and heated it in the microwave, both in my room. I was ready to put my feet up and relax. I would get to see a lot more of Cambridge the next day, after my doctor’s appointment.

 

*For details contact the Boston Museum of Science, accessibility department before you go: accessibility@mos.org or 617-723-2500.

Enjoying Another Accessible Day in Morgan Hill

 

My brother, Mark, and I arrived in Morgan Hill the day before and were quite impressed. The town proved to be as wheelchair accessible as I was promised. It was also the ideal place for a foodie like me.

We only had one more day with Visit Morgan Hill before I was off to my next California location. It was packed for us to see—and eat—as much as possible.

 

We left the Holiday Inn in the morning and drove downtown to MOHI Farm Restaurant. Most of the ingredients here come from one of the many farmers in the area. Their menu changes to present the freshest ingredients.

I felt immediately welcomed with the ♿ symbol on the front door. The place was large and wide, so I eased into a table, where I ordered a latte while we looked over the menu.

Everything sounded delicious, but I was ready for some carbs and chose the French Toast with blueberry compote and mascarpone. Mark went for the Croissant Egg Sandwich, with bacon and pesto, served with fruit and potatoes.

The food was as good as it sounds, and we lingered for a while. Although we didn’t imbibe with a long day ahead of us, MOHI Farm also offers specialty cocktails, martinis, beer, wine, and a bar for freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.

We had time before our next stop, so we walked/rolled around downtown, checking out the buildings and restaurants before coming across The Granary, a new complex of restaurants, shops, and offices. It was still under construction, but I was ready for more caffeine, and we decided to go to Barrel & Bean.

It was a bit of a maze to get inside. They had a plan set up to get into it in a wheelchair. It took a long time to roll and an elevator to make it to this coffee house. It was worth it when I tasted their Iced Pomegranate Green Tea.

Next, we went to Cura Contemporary. The design of this art studio was as creative as the art itself. It also excelled in accessibility, with an elevator to the second floor, where we saw a colorful selection of pottery, jewelry, paintings, and even needlework.

Cura Contemporary changes its exhibitions monthly and, at the time I went, featured over 40 artists, local and from across the country. They also have a bar and restaurant, but we already had plans set for lunch.

Our lunch spot was equally innovative. Luxe Flower Bar is a floral studio, event spot, and restaurant. It has quite the atmosphere with a tree in the middle and champagne everywhere, even in a vending machine!

Lunch was a variety of small plates with ingredients sourced through Mohi Farm. I could eat the Beet Salad with goat cheese every day and Mark had a beautiful Beet Hummus with a plate full of seasonal vegetables. The owner tried to get us to have some dessert. We were too full but took a fresh blueberry muffin to go.

We went from a champagne filled spot to a place that actually makes champagne, Guglielmo Winery. The 50-acre, family-owned estate is on the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail even though it is nothing like any California winery I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to many).

Guglielmo looks like it belongs in an Italian village. Outside, you’ll find plenty of spots to sit, drink, and relax. Inside, the tasting room is filled with Interesting Italian products and photos showing the history of the family. The wine is filled with unexpected varietals, quite a few we really liked.

The biggest surprise was Emilie’s California Champagne, grandfathered into the French champagne rules. I thought it was quite tasty, not too dry, and not too sweet. Mark liked the 2022 Grignolino so much he bought a bottle.

We weren’t very hungry for dinner when we arrived at Ladera Grill. Thoughts of getting something light disappeared when we saw the menu, mixed with chef specialties, locally sourced ingredients, and comfort food.

Although I am not a big meat eater, I’m always ready for a well-cooked Short Rib and there’s fitting the bill. Mark picked the Seafood Pasta, another good choice. We ended up having half our meals packed up, along with some cannoli.

I was off to meet my younger niece and nephew in Santa Cruz and figured accurately they would be ready for some extra food.