Where I stayed

We rented aVRBO cabin in Eagle River. It was not ADA, but overall, I found it pretty accessible. Off the rear of the cabin was a little deck with two steps up. My father and sister would lift my 26 lb wheelchair, with me sitting in it, up the steps. There was a nasty threshold, to get in the head bedroom, a room completely stuffed with mounted animal heads. Gross. It had a little makeshift ramp to the kitchen, which was tight, but still a full kitchen. The kitchen table had bench seats on either side, but we just moved them over and I wheeled right in. On the ground floor, there were two bedrooms. One had a queen bed, but the walls were too close for me to wheel next to the bed to get in. The other bedroom had two single beds. Both rooms had black out shades in the windows which were much needed with the extended daylight hours.

Across the hallway from the two bedrooms was the bathroom. From the doorway, the toilet was to your immediate right against the wall and the shower was straight ahead, with a singular step up. Between the step up to the shower and its size, the shower was not accessible. If I had known, I would have brought my own commode (toilet), so I wouldn’t feel so restrained. The whole bathroom was small and tight.

Where the other living spaces lacked space, the living room made up for it. It was huge! It had two full couches and one of them was a sleeper sofa. It was nice to have the option of sleeping in the living room where space wasn’t a transferring concern! Or it would come in handy if you traveled with a larger group. The living room windows also had blackout shades, which would definitely come in handy during the summer months. If you were able to pull your eyes away from the lush greenery outside, it had a TV and plenty of books. (Then you can’t sit with us!) At the end of the living room, was another entryway with another set of steps.

It overlooked the Chugach Mountains! All in all, I loved this cabin.

One day we drove to the Eagle River Nature Cemter they had an accessible trail to the river with boardwalks with stunning views. This was the hottest day of our visit. I kid you not, it was 80 degrees fahrenheit, in June! After exploring the trail at the Eagle River Nature Center, we drove to the Walmart and bought a few tank tops and shorts. We were really unprepared for the unexpected heat wave. Global warming!

We also stopped to get ice coffee. Alaska Is known for their coffee shacks, like this, a little shack on the side of the road with drive-thrus. And I thought America runs on Dunkin’? Coffee shacks are where it’s at!

The drive down the Seward Highway is one of the most magical road trips, if you ever get the opportunity run, don’t walk. Or full throttle that joystick. There are many rest areas with ADA bathrooms. Yes! The drive was about 4 hours in total when we reached Homer from Anchorage.