Summer’s officially here. After last year, many of us are ready to enjoy the sun and time with friends and family. There’s so much to explore outdoors.
State, campgrounds, and national parks now welcome visitors. Zoos, museums, restaurants, and water parks stand ready to entertain and delight. Movie theaters and nightclubs await patrons to fill their seats. Thankfully, many of these activities don’t require special accommodations. For those who do, locating the proper assistance is just a phone call or email away.
Here are activities for the visually impaired and others that will entertain and fill this season with fun.
Outdoor amusements
Whether you’re searching for light exercise in a local pool or park or more rigorous sports like paddle boarding or hiking, you won’t have to go far to increase your heart rate. Several of these sports aren’t accessible if you’re alone, but participating in a pair or small group can allow you or a blind child to enjoy themselves still.
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Have some fun with bumper boats, tanks and tubes, even try your hand at the inflatable water obstacle course.
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Learn to kayak or rent a canoe at Lake Manawa Beach.
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Head to a local playground, beach, pool, or spray ground.
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Rent a paddle boat.
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Rent a tandem bicycle or two and find your own trail.
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Want a quieter activity? Grab your fishing pole and head to Platte River State Park.
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Prefer to take a hike? Depending on your skill level, you can find several trails at Hummel Park.
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Take a guided horseback riding tour at Mahoney State Park.
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Feeling bolder? You can test your bravery by going zip lining or taking the ropes courses.
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Want to take a trip over a waterfall? Mahoney River State Park has you covered. Don’t worry, it’s shallow enough for children and not on the scale of some of the more well-known waterfalls.
Not every summer activity requires athleticism. If you like music, there are outdoor concerts like Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing, bridge beats, and Saturday Night Concerts at Stinson Park. Many local festivals are family-friendly, like the Maha Music Festival. Don’t want to leave your car? Head to a drive-in theater. Grab some snacks and kick back to enjoy the show.
Indoor amusements
Rather keep cool? There are plenty of indoor activities for visually impaired people. On those sweltering days, head to a local movie theater.
Title III of The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires venues like movie theaters to provide auxiliary devices for those with disabilities. They must maintain these closed-captioning and audio-descriptive devices. Movie theater chains such as Marcus Theatres carry them. Call before you arrive to ensure your location has them available.
Love to laugh? Here’s a list of the top ten comedy clubs in Omaha. Here’s more to do indoors:
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Climbing centers: These can be found in various fast-food restaurants or at the Mahoney State Park Activity Center.
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Axe throwing: This activity could be fun for older children or couples. Axe Games allows children to participate. However, they must be notified if youngsters will be tagging along.
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Want something to do that’s less dangerous? Hit the bowling alley.
Outlook Enrichment has a series of events planned every summer. There’s much more to do for every age group, fitness level, and activity preference that’s impossible to cover here. Teens can hang out at the video arcades, escape rooms, and gyms or play laser tag. Kids of all ages can occupy themselves at museums and exhibits. Adults can participate in more grown-up events like wine tastings and bands at local bars. The next time you’re feeling restless or wishing for something new to do, we hope you’ll refer to this post for helpful ideas and activities for visually impaired individuals.
