Welcome to Kellisa’s
Path
We believe the world is meant to be
explored—and that a wheelchair should never be the end of the journey.
Welcome to Kellisa’s Path, a
travel and adventure website built around one extraordinary woman, one
adventurous family, and a lifetime of learning how to find a way forward.
I'm Chris Kain, and Kellisa’s Path is
the story of my daughter, Kellisa, our family, and the places we've been
fortunate enough to explore together.
But it is also much more than our
story.
It is a place for anyone who has ever
wondered:
Can I actually do this in a
wheelchair?
Can I visit that national park?
Can I get to that overlook?
Can I take my wheelchair on that
trail?
Can my family have a real adventure?
What happens when the website says
"accessible," but the reality is something completely different?
And perhaps most importantly:
What if we just try?
That's the philosophy behind Kellisa’s
Path.
Meet Kellisa
Kellisa is the reason this website
exists.
She has spent much of her life
experiencing the world from a wheelchair, but we have never wanted her
wheelchair to define the boundaries of her world.
Instead, we've tried to use it as a
reason to become better travelers, better planners, better problem-solvers, and
better advocates for accessibility.
Kellisa has traveled with us to
national parks, museums, historic locations, scenic overlooks, restaurants,
parks, trails, and countless places in between.
Some adventures have been easy.
Some have required considerable
planning.
Some have involved specialized
mobility equipment.
And some have involved nothing more
sophisticated than looking at a difficult situation and saying:
"Okay. How are we going to make
this work?"
That question has become a recurring
theme throughout our family's travels.
We don't expect every place to be
perfectly accessible.
We don't expect every trail to be
paved.
And we certainly don't expect every
adventure to go according to plan.
Instead, we believe there is
tremendous value in discovering what is possible.
Our Story Is
About the Journey
Kellisa’s Path didn't begin as a
carefully designed travel brand.
It grew from years of family
adventures.
Before there were detailed
accessibility guides for many destinations, we often had to figure things out
ourselves.
We learned by experience.
We learned which surfaces were
difficult.
We learned how quickly a seemingly
manageable slope could become a serious obstacle.
We learned that "accessible"
can mean very different things to different people.
We learned that an accessible parking
space doesn't necessarily mean the attraction itself is accessible.
And we learned that sometimes the most
important information isn't found on an official website.
It's found by somebody who has
actually been there.
That's what we want Kellisa’s Path to
provide.
Real experiences from real adventures.
Accessibility
Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
One of the biggest lessons we've
learned is that accessibility isn't a simple yes-or-no question.
A destination can be accessible to one
wheelchair user and extremely difficult for another.
A trail can be technically accessible
while still being challenging because of its surface, slope, distance, weather,
or other conditions.
A museum can have an accessible
entrance but still present challenges once you're inside.
That's why we try to go beyond the
word "accessible."
We want to describe the experience.
What was the surface like?
How far did we have to travel?
Was there a significant slope?
Were there obstacles?
Could Kellisa maneuver independently?
Did she need assistance?
What kind of mobility equipment did we
use?
Were accessible facilities available?
What surprised us?
What would we do differently next
time?
Those details matter.
We don't believe in telling another
wheelchair user, "You can definitely do this."
We believe in giving them enough
information to make their own decision.
Because every person, every
wheelchair, and every adventure is different.
The Adventures
That Changed Us
Over the years, we've discovered that
some of our most meaningful adventures weren't necessarily the easiest ones.
We've traveled through some of
America's most spectacular landscapes.
We've visited places where the scenery
seemed almost impossible to describe with words.
We've explored national parks,
historic sites, museums, parks, trails, and roadside destinations.
We've watched Kellisa experience
places that, at first glance, didn't seem designed for her.
And we've discovered something
incredibly important along the way:
Accessibility doesn't have to
eliminate adventure.
Sometimes it simply changes what
adventure looks like.
A wheelchair user may not experience a
trail exactly the same way another visitor does.
But that doesn't mean the experience
is less meaningful.
A scenic overlook is still
spectacular.
A museum is still fascinating.
A national park is still
awe-inspiring.
A great meal is still a great meal.
And the memory of accomplishing
something together as a family can last forever.
Learning to
Travel Differently
Traveling with a wheelchair has
changed the way we see the world.
When you're traveling without mobility
concerns, it's easy to overlook things.
A curb is just a curb.
A step is just a step.
A gravel path is just a gravel path.
A narrow doorway is simply a narrow
doorway.
Traveling with Kellisa has taught us
to notice all of those things.
We notice the grade of sidewalks.
We notice the texture of trails.
We notice the width of entrances.
We notice where accessible parking is
located.
We notice whether a supposedly
accessible route actually gets you where you want to go.
And we've learned that sometimes the
difference between being excluded and being included can be surprisingly small.
A ramp.
A wider doorway.
A smoother section of trail.
A properly designed restroom.
A bench.
A little additional information.
Accessibility is often about much more
than compliance.
It's about participation.
It's about giving people the
opportunity to experience the same places and create the same memories as
everyone else.
From Special
Equipment to Rugged Adventures
Our family's experiences have also
taught us to think differently about mobility equipment.
Over the years, we've used different
equipment to help Kellisa experience places that might otherwise have been
inaccessible.
One of the earliest examples was her Special
Tomato jogging stroller, which became an important part of some of our
early adventures.
It wasn't simply transportation.
It was a passport to places we wanted
Kellisa to experience.
We've learned that sometimes the
equipment you use can make the difference between saying, "We can't go
there," and saying, "Let's see if we can make this work."
That philosophy has continued
throughout our travels.
We've pushed, pulled, maneuvered,
adapted, improvised, and occasionally wondered what on earth we were thinking.
But that's part of the fun.
Our adventures aren't about pretending
accessibility challenges don't exist.
They're about acknowledging them—and
then seeing what can be done.
National Parks,
Trails and the Great Outdoors
Some of our favorite adventures have
taken place outdoors.
National parks have a special place in
our family's story because they represent something bigger than accessibility.
They represent exploration.
They represent the idea that
extraordinary places belong to everyone.
We've visited places where the
landscape seems almost too beautiful to be real.
We've explored scenic roads and
viewpoints.
We've found accessible trails.
We've encountered trails that were
considerably more difficult than expected.
We've adapted our plans.
And we've learned that sometimes the
greatest adventure is simply finding a way to experience a small piece of an
enormous landscape.
That is why outdoor accessibility is
such an important part of Kellisa’s Path.
We want to help people discover that
they don't necessarily have to climb a mountain to experience the outdoors.
Sometimes the adventure is a short
accessible trail.
Sometimes it's a viewpoint.
Sometimes it's a picnic area
surrounded by spectacular scenery.
Sometimes it's simply getting out of
the vehicle and experiencing a place firsthand.
Every adventure counts.
We're Not Experts
at Everything
We're travelers.
We're parents.
We're storytellers.
We're problem-solvers.
And we've learned a tremendous amount
about accessibility through experience.
But we also know that our experience
isn't universal.
We don't claim that Kellisa’s Path can
tell every wheelchair user whether a destination will work for them.
Instead, we share what we know.
We share our observations.
We share our photographs.
We share our successes.
And just as importantly, we share our
failures and surprises.
If something didn't work, we'd rather
tell you.
If a destination was harder than
expected, we'll say so.
If an attraction exceeded our
expectations, we'll tell you that too.
Our goal is honesty.
Because the best accessibility
information isn't necessarily the information that makes a destination look
perfect.
It's the information that helps
someone prepare for reality.
Why We Tell These
Stories
For us, these aren't simply travel
reports.
They're memories.
Every photograph represents a moment.
Every destination represents an
experience.
Every difficult trail represents a
challenge we overcame—or sometimes a lesson we learned.
And every successful adventure
represents another reminder that the world is much bigger than the obstacles
standing in our way.
We also know that somewhere out there,
another family may be sitting at home wondering whether they should attempt an
adventure.
Maybe they're afraid.
Maybe they're unsure.
Maybe they've never traveled with a
wheelchair before.
Maybe they've been told that something
isn't possible.
We can't promise that every
destination will work for them.
But we can share our experience and
say:
Don't automatically assume the answer
is no.
Ask questions.
Do your research.
Prepare.
Adapt.
And when it makes sense, give it a
try.
More Than a
Travel Blog
Kellisa’s Path is becoming a record of
a life filled with adventure.
It's a collection of travel stories,
accessibility information, photographs, lessons, and memories.
But underneath all of that is a much
larger idea:
People with disabilities deserve
adventure, too.
They deserve to see the Grand Canyon.
They deserve to stand beneath the
towering cliffs of a national park.
They deserve to explore a museum.
They deserve to eat at interesting
restaurants.
They deserve to take road trips.
They deserve to discover places
they've never seen before.
And families shouldn't have to choose
between protecting someone they love and allowing them to experience the world.
There will always be limitations.
There will always be places that
aren't accessible.
There will always be challenges.
But there are also thousands of places
where something wonderful is possible.
We want to help people find those
places.
The Path
Continues
We've been fortunate to share many
adventures together, but we don't consider the story finished.
There are still national parks we
haven't explored.
Trails we haven't traveled.
Museums we haven't visited.
Restaurants we haven't tried.
Roads we haven't driven.
And stories we haven't told.
That's what makes this journey
exciting.
Kellisa’s Path isn't about reaching a
final destination.
It's about continuing to explore.
Continuing to learn.
Continuing to ask questions.
Continuing to find accessible
adventures.
And continuing to share what we
discover with the people who come after us.
Our Mission
Our mission is simple:
To inspire people with disabilities
and their families to explore, travel, and experience the world while providing
honest, practical information about accessibility along the way.
We want Kellisa’s Path to be a
resource.
We want it to be inspirational.
We want it to be honest.
And we want it to feel personal.
Because behind every destination is a
story.
Behind every accessibility challenge
is a person.
And behind every adventure is the
possibility of making a memory that lasts a lifetime.
Thank You for
Following Kellisa's Path
Whether you use a wheelchair, travel
with someone who does, have a disability yourself, have a family member with a
disability, or simply love exploring new places, we're glad you're here.
Maybe you'll find a destination you've
been looking for.
Maybe you'll discover a trail you
didn't know existed.
Maybe you'll learn something that
makes your next trip easier.
Or maybe you'll simply enjoy reading
about where we've been.
Whatever brings you here, we hope you
leave with one thing:
A little more confidence that
adventure is possible.
The path may not always be smooth.
It may not always be easy.
It may not always be accessible in the
traditional sense.
But sometimes you don't need a perfect
path.
You just need a path forward.
That's Kellisa's path.
And we're still following it.
— Chris Kain
Founder and author, Kellisa’s Path
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