Beaches and wheelchair don’t usually mix. It’s very hard to get a 300 pound, electric wheelchair to move once it’s stuck in the sand. Some beaches have concrete or wooden ramps to the high-tide line but after that, you’re on your own. A few more beaches have special wheelchairs available for loan that a helper can use to get you to the water, but you can have a hard time finding anyone who knows about them.
Still, some waterfront areas are accommodating to those who do use a wheelchair. In my hometown of Los Angeles, one that comes to mind is Long Beach, long the ugly stepsister of Southern California beaches.
First off, the area is served by modern, wheelchair accessible, and frequent light rail service from downtown Los Angeles via the Blue Line. At the line’s terminus, head towards the ocean, past the Long Beach Convention Center.
Notice all the hotels around you. This would make a great base of operations while on vacation here.
A pedestrian bridge will get you across Shoreline Drive to an elevator on the other side. At the bottom you’ll be at the water’s edge and Shoreline Village, one of those faux New England waterfront shopping centers that used to be so popular here. One more note, by crossing that bridge you also crossed over the main straightaway of the Long Beach Grand Prix, an Indy Car race held here each spring.
After a look at the shops and maybe having a snack or a drink, heading closer to the water and the marina puts you at the start of Long Beach’s great, paved bike and pedestrian trail. Follow this south and you’ll be on one of the areas longest beaches. Makes you realize where the city’s name came from.
Strolling along, you’ll notice it’s a beautiful beach but sparsely populated. Long Beach suffers because of the breakwater built offshore to allow access to the port. There are no waves here.
Now and again, there are paved paths leading to the high tide line where wheelchairs can get closer to the water. It’s also a great place to sit a disabled kid in the sand and let them build sandcastles. The water’s so gentle here, it’s tempting to help them in but there’s better water up ahead.
A section of shear bluffs line the edge of the sand to your left. Look up and you’ll usually see a few radio controlled gliders soaring overhead. About a mile after you leave Shorline Village, you’ll come upon Belmont Pier, a low-slung fishing pier jutting out into the water.
Need a beer break? Belmont Brewing Company sits across the street from the land end of the pier. That huge building next door is an Olympic swimming and diving training facility. It is often open to the public.
Back on the beach and the trail, continue to head south. Many kite flyers use this section and you can see some really elaborate flying machines. Beyond this, catamaran owners launch their crafts into the sea.
When you see come to the end of the trail 2 miles after you start, cross the street and head to the little bay beyond the basketball courts and the street hockey rink. The sand here is hard packed enough to get your chair to the edge of the water where it is also gentle enough to swim in.
Notice how this bay, Los Alamitos Bay, bends where a large apartment building sits. Because of the many singles that live there, and hang out on the beach in front, this bend is known locally as “Horny Corner.” The beach just inland of that is a very popular place in the summer for people of all ages. If you’re here between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the adjacent street is closed to traffic until 5pm every day.
At the other end of the beach is 2nd Street. Next to the public bathrooms is a wheelchair accessible beach shower.
Across the bridge over the bay is Naples Island. Not too much to see here other that some spectacular and expensive mansions lined along canals reminiscent of Venice. Going the other way, you have one of Long Beach’s favorite hang-out neighborhoods, Belmont Shore. This is a good place to get a meal, a drink, and maybe do some shopping. Catch Long Beach Transit’s wheelchair accessible Passport D Line here to get a ride back to where you started.
For more wheelchair accessible adventures, check out The World on Wheels.
-Darryl
Comments