The new school year is officially underway, bringing with it a wave of major transitions for the Morris household. With Robert stepping away from homeschooling, John Morris and his wife, Stevie, have found themselves navigating a shifting dynamic that allows them to collaborate more closely on their burgeoning travel initiatives. Yet, reflecting on the realities of domestic life, John candidly admits that the initial expectations of post-marriage productivity gains collided swiftly with the complex demands of managing a household.
For a self-described naive new parent, keeping a household running smoothly has proven to be an eye-opening endeavor. John expresses profound respect for his wife, who managed the household entirely on her own prior to their marriage. Labeling her a true champion alongside parents everywhere who dedicate themselves entirely to their families, John notes that their household is now officially operating under a new guiding mantra coined by Stevie: "We can do hard things." It is a philosophy the family intends to lean into heavily as an exceptionally busy autumn schedule unfolds.
That domestic balancing act temporarily delayed the dispatch of this season’s inaugural newsletter, which was originally intended to reach subscribers ahead of John’s departure for the Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Switzerland. That Swiss excursion has now come and gone, serving as a breathtaking prelude to a much larger initiative: a packed "Autumn Abroad" schedule consisting of three back-to-back group tours spanning Switzerland, Portugal, and Italy. Over the course of the season, John will personally welcome more than 30 Wheelchair Travel readers across Europe, an undertaking that combines immense personal joy with significant logistical coordination.
A Few In-Case-You-Missed-Its
While dedicated email blasts offer direct updates, John continues to publish timely stories and reviews directly on WheelchairTravel.org. Readers tracking global mobility developments have several recent features to explore, highlighting ongoing investments in infrastructure and transport accessibility across international destinations.
Chief among them is a newly accessible beach experience in Cartagena, Colombia. Global investments in coastal accessibility are gradually transforming destinations that were once entirely off-limits to travelers with mobility impairments. During a recent visit to Cartagena de Indias, John explored the city’s Bocagrande beach area, which now features critical accessibility infrastructure including dedicated boardwalk pathways, accessible seating zones, adapted toilet facilities, and—notably—free manual beach wheelchairs available for public use.
Complementing the beach enhancements, John also evaluated accommodations within the city, specifically reviewing the InterContinental Cartagena de Indias. Located directly on the Bocagrande beachfront, the modern luxury property offers spacious accessible guest rooms equipped with roll-in showers. While the hotel did not satisfy every single one of John’s personal accessibility benchmarks, he notes that it serves as a viable option for many travelers, particularly those who prefer to travel equipped with their own personal shower chairs.
Beyond international hospitality, recent domestic infrastructure updates are also aiming to simplify regional transit for travelers with disabilities. Over-the-road bus travel has long been an overlooked option for wheelchair users, despite commercial carriers such as Greyhound and Megabus operating fleets equipped with multiple dedicated wheelchair securement spaces. To help travelers navigate these options, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics has released a new interactive tool called the Intercity Bus Atlas. The digital mapping resource allows users to easily search nearly 2,000 routes and 3,500 stops across the United States. While the atlas represents a promising step forward in intercity transit visibility, advocates continue to push for broader infrastructure investments and route expansion nationwide.
Coming Soon: Wheelchair Travel Group Trip to Germany and Poland
Looking ahead to the 2027 travel calendar, Wheelchair Travel Tours has officially announced its upcoming expedition to Germany and Poland. The expansive 11-day itinerary is scheduled to run from August 8 through August 18, 2027, taking participants through Germany’s capital city of Berlin as well as the historically rich Polish cultural centers of Krakow and Warsaw.
The carefully curated journey will blend major international tourist landmarks with sites of profound historical significance, offering travelers deep exposure to local art, architecture, and gastronomy.
In a departure from standard open-booking formats, the complete tour itinerary will be released exclusively to paid members of the newsletter on Monday, September 21, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Paid subscribers will receive an exclusive four-day booking window. Should spaces remain available following the priority window, reservations will open to free newsletter subscribers on Friday, September 22. Readers interested in securing early access to the tour and future accessible group itineraries are encouraged to upgrade their subscriptions in advance.
The Place for Bonus Content
After a prolonged hiatus from major social media platforms, John has officially returned to digital channels to share lighter, behind-the-scenes moments from his travels. Among the first pieces of bonus content shared with the community is a lighthearted photograph of John posing atop a wooden cow during his time in the Swiss Alps, playfully mimicking the stance of a bull rider.
Travelers looking to follow real-time updates, field notes, and additional multimedia content from John’s ongoing global expeditions can connect through the official Wheelchair Travel pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Looking Ahead
As John prepares to lead upcoming tour groups through Europe, the division of labor on the home front will temporarily shift. While initial plans anticipated Stevie making more frequent appearances in the newsletter inbox early on, scheduling adjustments mean that readers will soon begin hearing directly from her instead. Stevie has been working on a series of original articles, the first of which is slated to hit subscriber inboxes next week.
Meanwhile, documentation from the recent Swiss tour is currently being processed. Once John finishes sorting through hundreds of photographs captured during the alpine expedition, a detailed recap highlighting the journey’s most memorable moments will be published for readers.
The autumn travel schedule leaves little room for downtime. At the conclusion of September, a brief four-day window separates the conclusion of the Portugal tour and the beginning of the Sicily itinerary. Rather than returning home for such a short duration, John plans to utilize the gap to visit Cologne and Wuppertal, Germany. Marking his first visit to both cities, the stopover is expected to yield fresh travel insights and accessibility reviews to share with the community in the weeks to follow.
