North Phoenix is a great place to live with plenty of things to see and do. As an older adult, you may enjoy calmer activities or want to invest time in activities that are easier for you to participate in. Fortunately, there are plenty of activities with good accessibility that you and your family and friends can enjoy together.
Here's a list of popular activities and places to go in North Phoenix so you can choose those that fit your lifestyle.
The Phoenix Art Museum has unique art exhibits and entertaining activities for people of all ages. The cost is $20 for adults or $17 for seniors. If anyone in your family is a student, they'll pay $15 for entrance with a valid ID. Children 5 and under, as well as military personnel, are free.
To make it easier for guests to come to the museum, all entrances are wheelchair accessible, and mobility devices are allowed everywhere public pedestrians can go.
Guests can also borrow complimentary manual wheelchairs in standard or wide sizes, and there's accessible parking with accessible drop-off locations.
Service animals are allowed within the museum. Blind guests and those with low vision have access to large-print labels for the exhibits as well. Assistive listening devices and open captioning are available for those who are hard of hearing or deaf. Sign language interpretation and CART captioning are also available upon request.
For an activity that doesn't require as much walking, you may enjoy the Verde Canyon Railroad. Christmas rides are offered during the holidays, as well as themed rides to enjoy.
Tickets are around $123 for adults but may vary based on the particular route and if there's a special event. You can add food and beverages for the journey, too. Regardless of the price of the ticket, you can get 10% off as a member of AARP or AAA, with some exceptions.
Each passenger car holds up to 40 passengers and contains plush, upholstered furniture. The train is wheelchair accessible, but the maximum weight for the lift platform is 400 pounds. ADA restrooms are available in accessible cars.
Heritage Square at Heritage and Science Park is a Victorian square dating back to the 1800s. There, you can visit the Rosson House Museum to take a look back into the past.
While the Heritage Square Museum is a historical site, it does welcome people who need to use wheelchairs. However, only three buildings have ramps: the Palms Depot, Colonial Drugstore and Perry House. Gravel is present throughout the structures on the property as well, which means it could be more difficult for wheelchair users. Mobility aids of other kinds are allowed within the museum.
Tickets need to be purchased in advance but cost $16 per person for tours or $8 for museum members.
Explore Native American culture and art inside the Heard Museum. This museum has 12 exhibition galleries, a contemporary art gallery, trading post-style shopping and more.
Members of the museum may enter for free. Adult tickets are $20 online or $23 at the window, while seniors pay $17 for tickets purchased online and $20 for tickets at the window. American Indians with tribal IDs pay nothing to come to the museum.
As far as accessibility goes, you can use a wheelchair. Manual wheelchairs are available for you to borrow if you'd like, reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. During some special events, the museum won't have wheelchairs available, but you can use your own device. The museum is fitted with electronic door actuators to make browsing the museum easier with mobility aids.
ADA parking spots are located around the museum, and elevators offer easy access to different floors inside. If you need help with hearing, assistive listening devices and other resources are available.
One last favorite spot in Phoenix is the Phoenix Zoo. The zoo has 125 acres and four trails to follow that take you around to see many different animals and plants. In fact, it's one of the top 10 tourist attractions in the city.
Daytime admission is $37.95 per adult, but you can save $2 if you buy tickets online.
If you'd like to rent a wheelchair, you're in luck. The Phoenix Zoo partnered with KultureCity to make sure guests could be accommodated and now has wheelchair rentals available. There are headphone zones, quiet zones and unique trails designed for different levels of ability. For example, the Arizona Trail has two aviaries, and both are wheelchair accessible.
These and other organizations and businesses make it easier for seniors to enjoy Phoenix. At LifeStream at North Phoenix, you can continue to explore your community while living in an enriching environment.
