Jackson Lake Scenic Cruise

 Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming

August 2023

We only had one full day in Grand Teton National Park and we decided to take the Jackson Lake Scenic Cruise based on how much Kellisa enjoyed the nearby Lake Yellowstone boat tour from an earlier trip to the area. The excursion wasn't exactly accessible, but with some assistance from the incredible staff, we were able to make it work. I did have to carry Kellisa up a few stairs (pictures below) and we made the decision to sit outside the main seating area. This seating arrangement meant we were exposed to the elements and on this day, it was the sun that was relentless. It was the worst time to leave my hat back in our cabin.

I could have carried Kellisa down a few more stairs, through a tight door, and then maneuver her to a seat inside the boat, but this seemed a little too risky for my liking. Maybe 20 years ago when Kellisa was smaller and I was filled with "youthful determination" but we don't have anything to prove at this point along Kellisa's Path. 

Plus, Kellisa has always enjoyed wind in her face and our views of the surrounding mountains towering high through the clouds were less obscured from our outdoor vantage point.

Kellisa made fast friends with our accommodating crew and enjoyed spending a few private moments with them as I retrieved her chair upon our return to the dock. I could have stored the chair on the boat, but that was extra lifting and I'm in a "Lift only as needed" mode in life. 

After our feet and wheels were back on the ground, we headed a short distance to enjoy a relaxing lunch which would power us through our planned afternoon hike along the shore of Jackson Lake. 

BOAT RIDES

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Historic Mountain Cabin at Colter Bay Village

 Grand Teton National Park

Wyoming

August 2023

Kellisa and her father had 2 nights and 1 day available to spend in Grand Teton National Park. The only lodging available at the last minute was a regular cabin in Colter Bay Village with 2 beds. If we wanted to stay inside the park, we needed to select this non-ADA cabin. The benefits of not spending time we didn't have driving, we knew we could make it work, especially since it was just two nights. 

The route from our parking spot was a little rough and the entrance was narrow with an immediate tight turn, but once inside our cabin, we found it plenty big enough for Kellisa to maneuver around in her manual wheelchair. This was Kellisa's first visit to Grand Teton National Park and we would have loved to stay in the park longer. Maybe next time, we can plan further out and book an accessible cabin for at least a week. 

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Flashback Post - Kellisa Standing for M&Ms

 May 2006

Jacksonville, FL

Kellisa working so hard to stand with support from mom. She was motivated and rewarded with individual M&Ms spread out where she could reach them. Kellisa used her pincher grab to pick them up one at a time before placing them in her mouth to enjoy. After so much work, I can only imagine how great those M&Ms must have tasted to Kellisa.

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Bearizona Wildlife Park

 Williams, Arizona

January 2023

Egypt had the opportunity to spend some time with her Auntie Courtney ad Uncle George in Phoenix. After a fun filled few days, we stopped at Bearizona Wildlife Park where we signed up for a behind the scenes tour. Besides seeing and learning about the animals from park staff, Egypt was able to feed a porcupine, bison, and some river otters. We got to observe many animals, including black bears in their natural habitats. Bearizona is only 58 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and well worth the visit if you're ever in the area.

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