Hey there, Travellers!

This time last week, I was racing around the UK and Ireland by public transport. Starting in Edinburgh on Thursday morning, I had to hit 4 out of 5 possible checkpoints before finishing up in Manchester on Saturday evening. I opted for Dumfries (Scotland), Enniskillen (Northern Ireland), Drogheda (Ireland), and Wrexham (Wales), skipping a quick turnaround in York in favour of a cold drink and a shower.

You may be wondering why on earth I'd choose to spend 48 hours on public transport in the middle of summer. I have asked myself the same thing, and honestly the only answer I can come up with is that I enjoy the journey as much as the destination. 

Highlights of my whirlwind trip included a drink at the historic Globe Inn in Dumfries, a very relaxing hour's boat ride on the lough in Enniskillen, and seeing the sun rise over Liverpool as I arrived on the overnight ferry from Belfast.

Naturally, all semblance of normal eating habits goes out the window when you're on this kind of adventure, and over the years I've worked out my favourite travel snacks to take along for the ride. I had the usual box of cereal bars, an apple or two, and some salted pretzel bites, but this time I added a new player to balance out my food groups: snacking pickles. A genius combination with those dry pretzels, by the way.

That said, there's another race across Europe coming up in just two weeks, so I'm on the lookout for some new travel snack recommendations. Tell me in the comments what foods you always pack for a long journey!

Happy travels and safe landings,

Katy - Editor of The Detour

By Olivia

San Diego native Olivia left home three years ago to live on the road. Since then, she's had homebases everywhere from Quebec to England to New Orleans, but she always ends up back on the West Coast. When she's not hiking through the desert or the woods, she's usually exploring her current city and scoping out the best bars and coffee shops.

If you look up “disability-friendly travel destinations,” you’ll likely find the same sorts of results over and over. Most articles just list the biggest urban areas from touristy countries with good accessibility regulations and then call it a day. 

It bugs me to see such a limited approach to scoping out disability-friendly destinations! There are more possibilities than just cities, and laws are really just the beginning of what makes a place accessible. To provide some more interesting ideas, I’ve rounded up a few destinations that aren’t on most of those lists but still have a lot to offer to folks with various disabilities. 

Of course, not every trip will work for everyone, but I’ve tried to cover a lot of bases and highlight the unique qualities of each destination that might be helpful for different people. Although not disabled myself, I grew up surrounded by people who are, and I’ve almost exclusively relied on firsthand accounts from disabled travelers in my research. This article from JourneyWoman has been a useful guiding light as well.

So whether you have a disability or want to travel with someone who does, here are a few ideas that you might not have considered!

Slovenia

Why did it make the list? A taste of Old World Europe, minus the Old World infrastructure.

While Europe’s most charming historic cities might be gorgeous, they weren’t exactly built with mobility issues in mind. Sometimes strolling down those worn-down cobblestone streets feels more like a rock scramble. 

That’s where Slovenia comes in. They’ve got those solid EU accessibility regulations, but without sacrificing the fairytale vibes. Sylvia from Spin the Globe called Ljubljana “the most amazing wheelchair accessible city that most people have never heard of,” and it’s not hard to see why — smooth curbs, tons of cycle paths, free motorized wheelchair rentals, and a generally flat environment put it leagues above most towns that offer similar scenery.

Even Ljubljana Castle (a 12th-century medieval fortress) is pretty accessible, with a funicular, a courtyard, several exhibits and restaurants, and a guard tower that are all fully wheelchair-friendly. Tactile models and audio guides are available for folks with vision impairments, and there’s a huge disability discount on tickets.

Leave town, and the storybook sights only get more magical. Bled isn’t nearly as accessible as Ljubljana, but the postcard-perfect lake has a smooth, flat trail around it so you can enjoy the views anyway. Another blogger recommended trying Lake Blohinj and their soaringly high cable car.

Slovenia also gets a good score in the “overstimulation potential” department — it’s consistently rated as one of the most peaceful and calm countries in the world. Ljubljana's laid-back vibe and limitations on traffic make it a lot less noisy and chaotic than most European capitals.

Sedona, Arizona & the Grand Canyon

Why did it make the list? Wild Southwestern desert views with minimal physical requirements. 

The entire American Southwest is littered with some of the prettiest desert scenery in the world, but a lot of it is hidden behind long, rocky trails or bumpy drives with no services. Enter Sedona: relatively flat, PACKED with a huge range of trail options, and with 360° views so gorgeous you’ll be taking photos out the car window before you even pull up to the lookout point! 

My family visited Sedona last year and only had good things to say about the town’s accessibility. My sister’s disabilities mean she can’t really get off-grid and explore the wilderness, but Sedona offered a place for her to enjoy the desert on her own terms. Tlaquepaque market is pretty flat, the Chapel of the Holy Cross offers golf cart shuttles to the top of the hill, and the sheer quantity of trails means you’re never far from a short, flat path through the red rocks. Ashley from Wheelchair Traveling has several roll-friendly trail suggestions if you need them.

Sedona also has a laid-back, “peaceful escape into nature” vibe that can help you avoid sensory overload. My sister gets overstimulated by a lot of places, but Sedona is calm and quiet enough that she was able to enjoy being out on the street or around the most popular attractions.

But possibly the biggest selling point for Sedona is its proximity to another desert icon. The Grand Canyon, one of the most famous (and most accessible!) national parks, is just a two-hour drive away. While the canyon offers plenty of tricky treks, the iconic postcard views are along the top, visible from a flat paved trail close to the parking lot.

Keep reading for more accessible travel destinations across Europe, Africa, and Asia...

By Will

Will is on a mission to eat the best burger ever. Using his base in London, he's exploring every historical nook and far-flung cranny to find it. When he isn't, you'll usually spot him exploring a new world in a book or video game. 

So, reader, you’ve booked a long weekend to Greece’s capital. Or maybe it’s a pit stop before a week of relaxing on idyllic seashores? Either way, good choice! I'm going to do my best to help you see the whole of Athens in only 2 days.*

*By that, I mean a jam-packed 2 days, and you will definitely want to go back for more because there’s so much of this incredible city to see.

Start day one with a coffee from Mokka. Brewed in a briki pot on hot sand and bolder than a regular cup of joe, it’s just the thing you need to kickstart your trip.

Now, it’d be impossible not to mention the towering Parthenon, gazing over Athens from the iconic Acropolis. If you're there over the summer, go first thing, during the cool of the day. Try cramming it in when it's hot, and you will melt like the glue on Icarus's wings… Plus, there are fewer crowds!

Once you've taken in its majesty from every angle, head back down the hill via Anafiotika. After snapping a few pics of the whitewashed walls and winding staircases, it’s time to peruse the markets nestled at the foothills of the Acropolis and find a spot of grub in Plaka or Monastiraki.

Chow down on some Michelin-recommended food at Okio, or grab a souvlaki from legendary hole-in-the-wall Kostas. More of a gyros fan? Grillaki has you covered.

Once you’re full, wander to the Ancient Agora and the Pnyx (the birthplace of democracy!) and take a group vote on what to do next. A unanimous decision for a sweet treat? We’re not surprised.

I'd recommend you indulge in (several) loukoumades. Best served at Ktistakis, or try the popular LUKUMAΔΕΣ for some experimental variations. Honestly, after you’re done gorging on honey-glazed balls of doughy-goodness, you’ll be 50% donut. And that’s no bad thing!

Walk it off with an adventure uncovering all of Athens’ hidden street art, or the runners among you can go for a jog round the track of the world’s only marble stadium.

Then settle in at a taverna for dinner (Geros Tou Moria will do nicely), and watch the world go by as rays of sun disappear through the vine canopy above and pepper the cobblestone walkway.

With a belly full of enough mezes to feed a whole family, it’s time to hit the hay.

After waking up and questioning the multiple Ouzos drunk last night, devour four custard cream bougatses (we’re not judging) at Bougatsadiko, and jump on a KTEL bus heading to Cape Sounion. It’s a two-hour journey, wisely made in the morning to beat the crowds and traffic. And once you arrive, you’re rewarded with the enduring Temple of Poseidon, where majestic Doric columns meet the azure waters of the Aegean Sea.

Bonus fun fact for anyone still reading — legend has it the Aegean Sea may have got its name from King Aegeus, who leapt from the cliff after a bit of particularly bad misinformation…

On that note, it’s time for lunch — while journeying back, stop off at HONEY & OIL for some Mediterranean food that will make you question why you would cook dinner for yourself ever again.

Once you've come to terms with the fact that you will, in fact, need to keep cooking your own dinner once you get home, distract yourself with an excursion or two. Admire the first theatre ever built, peek inside a library worthy of an emperor, or relax in a quiet