Traveling With an Adult Child With a Disability: What I’ve Learned Along the Way
This weekend, we are traveling to St.George for a couple of days to play some golf. It’s not just my husband and me, because Sammy will be coming with us. Travel looks different for our family—and that’s something I’ve come to embrace deeply.
I travel with my adult daughter, Sammy, who has Down syndrome. She’s been my travel companion on many trips, from national parks to hotels and destination getaways. Over the years, I’ve learned that traveling with an adult child with a disability isn’t about limitation—it’s about intention, flexibility, and a different kind of presence.
This is not a how‑to guide written from an expert’s point of view. It’s simply what I’ve learned as a parent who loves to explore the world while honoring the needs of someone I love.
Slowing Down Is Not a Sacrifice
Sammy and I are at the Read House Hotel
One of the biggest shifts traveling with an adult child with a disability requires is slowing the pace. There are more breaks, fewer packed itineraries, and an understanding that rest matters just as much as the experience itself.
What surprised me most was how much richer travel becomes when you let go of the rush. Meals are lingered over. Moments are noticed. There’s less pressure to “see everything” and more space to truly be somewhere.
Choosing the Right Destination Matters
Sammy and I are in Williamsburg
Not every destination is the right fit—and that’s okay. I’ve learned to look for places that feel welcoming rather than overwhelming.
I prioritize:
- Comfortable accommodations
- Easy access to nature
- Walkable spaces or short drives
- Hotels with thoughtful staff and calm environments
When a destination feels supportive, travel becomes more enjoyable for everyone.
Hotels Can Make or Break the Experience
Sammy’s first hotel collaboration with me was our visit to Hotel Forty Five in Macon, Georgia.
Hotels play a huge role in how smooth a trip feels. The best experiences we’ve had are with properties that lead with kindness, patience, and flexibility.
Small things matter:
- Clear layouts
- Quiet spaces
- Staff who take the time to connect
Sammy has been welcomed in ways that remind me how powerful simple human warmth can be. Those moments stay with me long after the trip ends.
Letting Go of Expectations
Traveling with an adult child with a disability teaches you to release expectations—about schedules, appearances, and how things are “supposed” to go.
Plans change. Energy shifts. And sometimes the most meaningful moments are the unplanned ones: a quiet walk, a shared laugh, or sitting together and simply watching the world go by.
Why I Share This Part of My Life
I share my travels with Sammy because it’s real life. Many parents of adult children with disabilities continue to travel, navigate the world, and seek beauty and joy—yet their stories are rarely visible.
My followers often tell me how meaningful it is to see an adult with Down syndrome included in travel, fashion, and everyday experiences. Representation matters. Normalizing these journeys matters.
Travel as Connection, Not Escape
For us, travel isn’t about escaping life—it’s about living it fully, together.
Traveling with an adult child with a disability requires patience and planning, but it also brings depth, perspective, and a kind of gratitude that’s hard to describe unless you’ve lived it.
I don’t travel despite my circumstances. I travel within them—and that has made all the difference.
A Note to Other Parents
If you’re a parent of an adult child with a disability and wondering if travel is still possible, let me say this gently: it is.
It may look different than it once did. It may move at a different pace. But it can still be beautiful, meaningful, and deeply connecting.
And you don’t have to explain your journey to anyone.
Traveling together isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your experiences. You’re not alone in this season.
XXOOXX
