If Napa/Sonoma on your radar, here are some options that don’t have to be a lot
of walking. (You and one sister can also rent bikes, kayak the Napa river, hike…)
–cooking classes at CIA (Culinary Institute) at Copia https://www.ciaatcopia.com/
There are others, but this is the one a chef friend suggests
–Safari West if you want the “Serengetti of Sonoma”…get your fill of African animals.
You can tour…or even stay there https://www.safariwest.com
Is there a 4th person (maybe cousin?) that would also be interested? Then you could sometimes break off into various groups of 2. Depending on accommodations, it may be more affordable (especially on cruises) to have 2 doubles.
I’m going to ask her for her input. I want to have some suggestions. This is an adjustment for her and it’s been frustrating. She has not done much at all for the last four years as they have tried to figure out what was wrong. It’s been hard to think about planning or scheduling as her health can change from day to day. Since the Parkinson’s diagnosis and medications she is better but still not great. @psychmomma I don’t want to plan something where she is left while the two of us go off doing something else. I also feel bad planning trips with my other sister that she can’t participate in. In the past we have gone to NYC, San Francisco and Sonoma together.
We traveled to NYC with our two kids who have chronic conditions which limit their stamina. We were careful to have very low key, low activity schedules. H and I would wake early and go out and explore together and return to the hotel where we’d all go out for lunch and then a joint activity—theater, cruise of NY, etc. and a joint dinner.
Mid-coast Maine would be another possibility. Since we moved here 3 years ago, we have hosted people of all ages and mobility levels. Scenic drives, wineries, breweries, museums, farmers’ markets, shopping, chartered sails, and some trails you can drive up.
What about Disneyworld at a time that is less crowded? We were there about 5 years ago…no kids just adults, and it was so much fun. We saw tons of people with electric scooters…I wonder if you can rent those.
Disney is very accommodating. If you stay on the grounds, the transportation is very easy too.
@mom60 like @HImom I have spent time with family of different mobility levels in NYC. In my experience there are inclusive options if that is the preferred trip with you and your sisters.
I had lived in NYC for multiple years, and my parents had also spent about 4 months living in NYC in college sabbatical housing, so we were pretty comfortable in NYC.
That being said, when my mother’s cancer metastasized in her bones her mobility was comprised. As a family we decided to spend a Thanksgiving in NYC after her diagnosis, and crafted a week in NYC that worked…
–We stayed at the Beacon in a suite with a small kitchen. So we could eat in when needed. My dad and I walked to get groceries.
–We scheduled matinee performances of shows so my mom would not be too tired.
–We took cabs and buses as needed. This was in 2015, I think now Uber or Lyft would maybe have been our choice, but they were not as ubiquitous then.
–We had a wonderful trip with shows, museums, family dinner at the Beacon, and a few meals out.
All options being shared sound great. Just offering another option.
I would consider some of the waiting and boarding plus activities that require getting around the ship maybe more than you think on a cruise.
I would suggest a nice 4 day Retreat to the Berkshires. Canyon Ranch. All kinds of wellness activities, definitely hiking and outdoors for you and your healthy sister- massages, great food and limited shuffling from thing to thing. Beautiful fresh air and surroundings.
That sort of thing.
I’d second the recommendation in #27. I’ve been to Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires (Lenox, MA) several times with my daughters–we all really enjoyed it. There are tons of activities and classes along with all the regular spa stuff. It’s oriented toward wellness/healthy living. You can spend time outdoors or indoors. You don’t have to go in the fall or summer to enjoy the surroundings; we went in the winter (my birthday) and it was beautiful. There is some walking as you go to/ from various classes or activities, but if you don’t group all of your activities together, you can pace yourself. Plus, you don’t have to do any of the activities or class. The food is excellent and healthy. Plus, there’s entertainment in the evening.
Ghost Ranch is another place to consider. They offer many types of workshops and the landscape is glorious. Definitely off the beaten path but not too far from Santa Fe.
One hesitation about the wine-related places: If your sister is taking any medications that are incompatible with alcohol and doesn’t like the fact that she can’t drink, they might not be tactful choices.
Just north of Sonoma is healdsburg . Stay at the Madrona Manor. It’s charming. Eat one of their 5 course paired dinners. If it’s the same chef, he was amazing. Then you can walk around the square , which is not too big, but has charming shops, restaurants and several winery tasting rooms. I love Selby as it is female owned.
If you are thinking of this winter, and are interested in national park options, then Death Valley is a great choice with good weather most of the time. The lodge is really nice and a lot of the places to see are basically driving to viewpoints where you can add a short hike but don’t all need to go beyond the parking lot. Depending on your tolerance for dirt road travel, you can also rent a Jeep and drive out to amazing places like the Racetrack.
Most of our trips with our kids over the past 20 years have been considering their unpredictable stamina levels, as they have chronic health conditions. We talk about where we are going and the things we all want to be sure to do together when energy levels are highest and schedule those loosely.
The rest of the time is unscheduled, the kids will join if they feel up to it or just rest and text us when they want to find us after they wake (usually in time for lunch). It’s really worked pretty well for all of us—not ideal and not what we had hoped but we are enjoying time together and that’s what matters most to all of us.
If you want something less countryside, but not across the country, how about Chicago? I was rushed, so took theHop On bus, a block from the hotel, but some are right on the route. You can- but don’t have to- get off an explore some museum or site. Or get off, just have a longer look, then hop on the next one. The view from the John Hancock is amazing.
I was at a Marriott, had a view of the lake and part of Navy Pier. No great dining option there, but there’d be other hotels that would have better choices, for an evening in.
And sure, still chances for the active two to walk.
I appreciate all the shared experiences and suggestions. I now need to talk to the two and see if we can work out some doable travel. The two of them have a strained relationship and I find myself as the moderator. I try hard to not take on the role of peacemaker but old habits die hard.
@mom60, good luck. When folks want things to work, it’s really not that tough, especially as Lyft and Uber have made staggered start times and meeting later with stragglers easier than ever. If folks remain flexible, it can really work out fine.
Love Chicago and there are many things to do such as the architecture river tour, and there is a Frank Lloyd Wright house reachable by bus. Downtown has many dining options. Early Spring would be a great time to visit.
The architectural boat tour was fun in Chicago as well as the Fank Lloyd Wright tour of the neighborhood of his 1st home.
We caught Public transit a lot. When we had our D with us, we stayed at a hotel that had a very nice restaurant in it, which was a good thing because many great meals were consumed there (especially when she didn’t have stamina to venture forth). It was a Kimpton hotel. We also stayed at the original Hilton on the lakeshore on another trip.
Chicago is. Indeed an exciting and fun city to visit.
We loved the Frank Lloyd Wright tour. The architectural boat tour is on our bucket list.
Wherever you go, consider an airbnb (or other apartment-like lodging or a resort). That way you could have a lot of together time without crowding, and it could allow the less energetic sister a nice place for down-time if needed.
