Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Sydney Recap, Snow Leadership and Goodbye Knoxville?

Hey everyone,

There is a lot going on in the world right now — but in times like these, I recall one of my favorite quotes about travel:

"When people ask me why I still have hope and energy after all these years, I always say: Because I travel." —Unknown

That quote could just as well have been my own. Travel breathes life into me and it is a gift that I cannot go without sharing. I hope these newsletters adequately capture my love of travel, and inspire you go out on your own adventures. Check out this latest issue and let me know what you think.

Reflecting on an amazing Australian adventure

Last month's Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Sydney, Australia was one of my most memorable tours ever. Not only did we have a fantastic group of people, we had a thrilling itinerary that highlighted the best of Sydney.

One of Sydney's most incredible attractions is the Royal Botanic Garden, which sits along Sydney Harbour and boasts a long history — more than 200 years! Our expert guide, who has worked at the Botanic Garden for more than two decades, brought the plants and trees to life during our tour.

I work hard to ensure that every tour itinerary offers diversity of experience and, in addition to the obvious attractions like the Sydney Opera House, I seek to include authentic experiences that reveal the true character of a destination.

We traveled by ferry across Sydney Harbour to coastal neighborhoods, public parks and beaches far from the touristic center for a genuine local experience, then experienced the uniquely Australian beauty of Aboriginal art at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

We also came face-to-face with Australia's marsupials, most popular among them the kangaroo and koala "bear." Our group experienced the stunning landscapes of the historic Blue Mountains and rode on Scenic World's Skyway and Cableway, both delivering panoramic views of the natural environment.

Bonus: Brisbane

The start of my Australian adventure actually took me to the City of Brisbane. It was my first trip to Queensland! I traveled to Brisbane because flights were cheaper, but ended up having a really amazing time there.

Flights to Australia are long (typically 16+ hours) and I wanted to travel in comfort, so I booked a business class ticket from the United States to Brisbane using frequent flyer miles. Check out my review of the new American Airlines Flagship Suite, with a focus on its accessibility:

Review: Wheelchair Accessibility of American Airlines Flagship Business Class Suite Boeing 787-9 (Dallas to Brisbane)

Wheelchair accessibility review of the American Airlines Flagship Suite on a Boeing 787-9 plus accessible lavatory, inflight dining and more.

Wheelchair TravelJohn Morris

If you are considering a trip to Brisbane, Australia, you'll need a place to stay — check out my review of the Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, which was affordable and had an amazing wheelchair accessible bathroom:

Wheelchair Accessible Room at Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre

This wheelchair accessible hotel in the heart of Brisbane has a roll-in shower and is within walking distance of major attractions.

Wheelchair TravelJohn Morris

During my time in Brisbane, I climbed the city's iconic Story Bridge. A local TV news crew went up with me, documenting my experience on what is the world's first wheelchair accessible bridge climb. Check out the full story here:

Wheelchair Travel Newsletter: Accessible Australia, “Man Overboard!” and Climbing a Bridge

Brisbane’s wheelchair accessible bridge climb is a world-first, and Sydney shines on the first Wheelchair Travel Group Trip Down Under.

Wheelchair TravelJohn Morris

Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and I have already put it on my calendar. Australians' commitment to improving accessibility and their interest in pushing the boundaries of what is possible for wheelchair users is something to watch!

Coming Soon: Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Barcelona, Spain!

The Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Spain is always one of my most popular tours, and the 2026 edition will open for booking later this week.

The tour is scheduled to take place from October 13-22, 2026. The 10-day itinerary will highlight the best of Spanish culture, history, art, architecture and of course gastronomy! We'll experience two sides of Catalonia, with stays in Barcelona and in a resort town on the Costa Brava ("Wild Coast").

Civic Leadership in Response to Winter Weather Access Barriers

The recent winter weather that swept across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States brought significant snowfall and left many wheelchair users unable to access their communities. I was one of those wheelchair users.

Just short of two years ago, I moved from Boston, Massachusetts to St. Louis, Missouri — there were a lot of reasons for the move, but I assure you that accessibility was not one of them. Boston is a world-class city making significant investments in accessible infrastructure, and it is not afraid to admit that there is still much more work to be done. As for St. Louis — well, I love this town and want to build my family here, but it is not Boston and accessibility has not been a priority here.

The lack of attention paid to accessibility in St. Louis is made abundantly clear when winter weather strikes. Last winter, I had to call the St. Louis Fire Department to shovel a path from my apartment building to the street. This year, with a new mayor elected on the promise of a competent winter response, I once again found downtown impassable for wheelchair users, snow piles blocking access to city bus stops and metro stations, and a City Hall unwilling to enforce ordinances which require property owners to clear sidewalks.

As I sat trapped in my St. Louis apartment building, I saw posts on social media from the City of Boston and my former Mayor, Michelle Wu, urging residents to clear sidewalks, curb ramps and crosswalks.

The above-referenced video was a photo opportunity for Mayor Wu, but her message was an important one. Cities are responsible for enforcing equal access to streets and sidewalks (my wheelchair-using friends in Boston tell me that the blizzard blocked access for over a week, especially in residential neighborhoods).

In St. Louis, I longed for the city government to say something, but local politicians reacted with indifference to the snow-covered sidewalks and curb ramps. As a disabled resident, I have something to say about that. While I cannot force the mayor or aldermen to adopt my policy recommendations, I will make the effort to advocate for investments in accessible design, just as I hope you will do in your local communities.

Goodbye, Knoxville?

Last week, I departed Knoxville's McGhee Tyson Airport on what my flight logging software said was my 49th flight involving that airport. I may not be returning to Tennessee for awhile.

You see, Stevie and I will be getting married in just a couple of months and, with my busy travel schedule and her upcoming move to St. Louis, this is the first time in a long time that I have no Knoxville-bound flights on the horizon.

Knoxville is a great town with lots of fun activities and I (no, we) hope to share our love for it with you in a future accessible travel guide. But my connection to Knoxville has never been about tourism. I did not travel to East Tennessee for any reason other than to spend time with Stevie and Robert.

Though my time in Tennessee is done for now, I recall Robert's words: "We are a traveling family," and I know that we will be back soon — just not until after the wedding! 😛

In Case You Missed It

Here are some articles published on the website recently, but not previously shared in the newsletter. First up is a round-up of recent accessible travel news, including a class-action lawsuit against a hotel chain for bed heights in ADA accessible hotel rooms:

News Roundup: Bed Height Class Action Lawsuit and Ms. Wheelchair America’s Broken Chair

A round-up of accessible travel news from around the world, including stories on an ADA lawsuit targeting bed heights at Hilton Hotels, an accessible theme park and a new accessible railway.

Wheelchair TravelJohn Morris

You may also have missed this review of a wheelchair accessible hotel in Washington, D.C. — it's certainly not perfect, but has a great location!

Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at Le Méridien Washington, D.C., The Madison

This recently renovated D.C. hotel offers a wheelchair accessible room with a roll-in shower in a fantastic location near the White House.

Wheelchair TravelJohn Morris

Looking ahead

With more group trips in 2026 than ever before, and a wedding just a couple months away, there is a lot on my plate. Each responsibility is an honor and a joy, which means my life has never been more complete!

The next couple of months are jam-packed; here are some of the things I have coming up:

• In just over a week, I will be welcoming travelers on what will be the fourth Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Greece!
• After Greece, I am heading to my favorite city, Rome, Italy, where I am doing some research for a future tour (lots of preparation goes into every group trip).
• In April, I will travel to Hamburg, Germany for the Aircraft Interiors Expo — that's the event where innovations like the Air4All Wheelchair Securement Space by Delta Flight Products and the Prime+ Wheelchair Securement Space by Collins Aerospace were first announced. I look forward to checking-in on progress this year, and reporting on any new announcements.
• Also in April, I will be making a second trip across the Atlantic to London, England for a meeting. I will have some free time, so let me know if there is anything else that I should check out!

That's all for today, but look out for the release of the Spain group trip on Thursday — and of course, check WheelchairTravel.org often for new content.

Talk to you soon,
— John