Written by Kathleen Wong, USA Today, September 26, 2025
There are some things you have to experience firsthand to understand, and Meow Wolf is one of them.
On a recent visit to the Denver art installation, my entire travel group – including those with mobility issues and visual impairments – was able to explore the immersive and borderline psychedelic art installation thanks to its accessibility features. We were all captivated as we wandered through the 90,000-square-foot exhibition, outfitted in a futuristic outer space theme, from a grungy New York City-inspired street to standing below a giant alien-mermaid creature.
Large elevators, audio and visual guides, and sensory items are just a few ways the eccentric art museum, which originated in Santa Fe as a project by a group of artists, welcomes everyone. Each of the five Meow Wolf locations is also a Certified Autism Center by IBCCES.
“There were a lot of stairways, but you can go around and still see everything. I think a grandparent on a scooter with a grandchild would still be okay, like the child could explore and then come back to grandma,” Cheryl Edmonds, one of my fellow travelers who hails from Florida, told USA TODAY. “Even the small, little hallways we found, my Ci2 power wheelchair went through them just fine.”
Exploring Meow Wolf is just one Denver activity welcoming to travelers with disabilities, as I learned on a September trip to the Colorado capital with accessible travel platform Wheel of the World. We also enjoyed the great outdoors, visited one of the city’s most iconic sites and dined out.Looking for a free mini puzzle? Play the USA TODAY Quick Cross now.
“We did so much in only two days, and this is the place that makes sense to do this,” said Álvaro Silberstein, who founded Wheel of the World in 2018 after a car accident left him a quadriplegic. “Denver, and Colorado as a state, has invested so much in adaptive programs, sport programs and infrastructure.”
The city was recently verified by Wheel of the World as an accessible destination as part of Colorado’s larger commitment to welcoming all visitors under its Accessible Travel Program. “It’s not just about removing those barriers … it’s about creating these richer, more equitable experiences and making sure that everybody can experience those wonderful joys of why we travel together, whether that’s family or friends,” said Hilary Lewkowitz, director of destination development and sustainability for the Colorado Tourism Office.
Colorado’s efforts are paying off. According to a 2024 survey of travelers to the state, 23% of all overnight groups included someone with a disability, compared to the national average of 18%.
For the one in four Americans who report having a disability, travel offers a sense of freedom and empowerment. Here’s what makes Denver one of the most accessible destinations in the U.S.
What makes Denver an accessible destination?
Travelers are drawn to Denver’s blend of urban sprawl and year-round opportunities for outdoor recreation. Accessibility has long been a grassroots movement in the city. It’s where the organization, the American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today, started, along with being the first metropolitan region to offer wheelchair-accessible buses in the 1980s.
Wheel of the World verified the city after a year of on-the-ground mapping over 100 businesses – including hotels, attractions, restaurants, transportation services and more – to ensure they’re accommodating to travelers with a range of disabilities. For many, finding accurate information about somewhere’s accessibility is one of the most significant accessibility challenges. In a 2022 survey by MMGY Global, 96% of disabled travelers have experienced problems with their accommodations and 86% when flying.
Mapping means travelers with disabilities measure more than 200 data points, such as bed heights or doorway widths, since accessibility is far from one-size-fits-all, but rather that various needs can be met.
Denver offers a wide variety of activities that cater to all travelers. Here’s a snapshot of what we did:
- Brewability: This relaxed brewery prioritizes inclusivity on the frontlines, not only with its ADA-compliant dining area and sensory space, but also by employing staff with developmental disabilities. Food can also be made to meet most dietary needs, and the craft beer is delicious.
- Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre: One of Denver’s most famous attractions, Red Rocks is a stunning outdoor music venue surrounded by the red-hued natural monoliths, some that reach up to 300 feet. We toured the facility, which has large elevators, paths and accessible rows in the front and back.
- Bear Creek Lake Park: With assistance from the National Sports Center for the Disabled – a trailblazing Colorado-based organization focused on adaptive sports since 1970 – we went kayaking and paddleboarding at Bear Creek Lake Park, a peaceful 2,624-acre park in the suburbs of Denver that has ramps for people with mobility devices. (This is just the tip of the iceberg of activities that NSCD offers, people can also go mountain biking, rock climbing, sailing, skiing and more.)
- Guided by Humanity: A nonprofit focused on making wellness accessible to everyone, Guided by Humanity led us through an adaptive yoga flow.
Colorado’s commitment to accessibility
From jeep tours in Cañon City that offer American Sign Language to the Colorado Trail Explorer mobile app detailing accessible trails, Colorado offers a multitude of ways for travelers with disabilities to explore the stunning nature for which it’s known.
In Nov. 2024, the Colorado Tourism Office partnered with Wheel of the World as part of its Colorado Destination Stewardship Strategic Plan, a 10-year plan focused on improving responsible and inclusive tourism. “Our long-term vision is for Colorado to be recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the most welcoming, inclusive and accessible destinations for all travelers, regardless of their ability,” she said.
Denver marks the sixth Colorado city to be verified by Wheel of the World, the others being Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Estes Park, Breckenridge and Glenwood Springs.
Opening Colorado to all travelers goes beyond just smart business. When a destination becomes accessible, it allows more people to build confidence and make lasting memories. I saw this firsthand in Denver, from everyone standing in awe at Red Rocks to this trip marking the first time Edmonds ever kayaked.
As Silberstein put it: “For me, travel is like a great metaphor that when you have a disability, you can enjoy life to the fullest no matter what.”