Whenever I’m asked to name my favorite accessible vacation destinations, Vancouver consistently tops my list. This diverse city in southwest British Columbia, Canada, features some very accessible attractions and a great public transportation system. Factor in some very mild fall temperatures to this winning equation and you can see why Vancouver continues to nab the top slot on my favorites list.

Stanley Park is my traditional first stop whenever I visit Vancouver. This 1,000-acre (4.1 km²) urban park is filled with hemlock, fir and cedar trees, and wildlife, yet it’s located just minutes from the downtown core. A 5.5-mile (14.2 km) seawall provides an accessible promenade around the park, however, the best way to get a good overview of the park is to take a carriage ride.

Stanley Park’s numerous attractions include exquisitely crafted totem poles, sited near the Brockton Visitor Centre.

Gerry O’Neil operates Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours, and thanks to his ingenuity, wheelchair-users can roll right onto his horse-drawn carriages.

“My father used a wheelchair in his later years, so I have an understanding of some of the barriers that must be overcome,” says O’Neil. “For this reason, I designed and built our own carriages to provide real wheelchair accessibility.”

And he did a great job, as his accessible carriages have ramp access and removable bench seats, so they can accommodate many wheelchair-users at the same time. If you’d prefer to transfer to a bench seat, you can stow your folding wheelchair behind the last row of seats.

These one-hour carriage tours depart every 20 to 30 minutes from the kiosk near the park’s Georgia Street entrance. Stanley Park Horse-Drawn Tours also operates a free lift-equipped shuttle bus from the downtown area. See their Website for pick-up locations and times.

Another must-see in Stanley Park is the top-rated Vancouver Aquarium. Access at the aquarium is good, with accessible parking, a level entry, accessible bathrooms, elevator access to the upper floors and good pathway access throughout the complex.

Plan on spending the whole day at the aquarium, and don’t miss the Wild Coast exhibit. This outdoor exhibit features boardwalk access to the habitats of Steller sea lions, Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbor seals and sea otters.

And for an even closer look at these hams, sign up for a Wild Coast trainer tour. These behind-the-scenes tours are wheelchair-accessible, although some of the ramps are a bit slick when they’re wet. Still, it’s doable with a little assistance, and I highly recommend it. Hand feeding a 250-pound Steller sea lion was truly the highlight of my day!