Best Accessible Travel Destinations for Chocolate Lovers
Who doesn’t love chocolate? If you’re a true chocoholic like I am, then being able to plan an accessible vacation and have delicious chocolate is pure heaven. In order to help inspire your next accessible trip devoted to this amazing treat, I’ll share with you the best accessible travel destinations for chocolate lovers.
Accessible Destinations for Chocolate Lovers
Perugia, Italy
Home to the biggest chocolate festival in Europe, every October, for nine days, the city becomes obsessed with everything chocolate. The whole town becomes transformed into the festival and offers chocolate sculptures, tastings, cooking classes, workshops and more.
The event has no admission fee and is free to attend. You may have to sign up for certain events and classes online in advance, so be sure to check out the website www.eurochocolate.com. A Choco Card is also available to purchase and will get you extra tastings, gifts and other discounts.
The main historic center of the city is fairly flat and easy to navigate in a wheelchair, although it may be a good idea to have someone with you that can assist if needed. The festival draws very large crowds, so be prepared for wall-to-wall people.
You should also book your accessible accommodations well in advance. La Serena Villa has an accessible room available featuring pull down racks in the closet, grab bars, grabber, bed raiser blocks, shower chair and easy access around the property. It is located in the country however, so a car is needed for transportation.
Be aware that there are hotels in the area that claim to be wheelchair accessible, but really aren’t as there is no roll-in shower, grab bars and the space is very limited. If you can’t get an accessible room at La Serena Villa, you may want to consider using an accessible travel agent or company to assist you in planning your vacation.
If you are planning on your own and need to find accessible transportation, consider using Fausta Accessible Transportation (accessibletransportationrome.com). They offer lift-equipped vehicles and sightseeing tours.
Hershey, Pennsylvania
If traveling abroad isn’t an option, you’re in luck because Hershey, PA is a great domestic destination for everything chocolate. Probably one of the most famous American inventors of chocolate treats has a whole town dedicated to his creations.
Visitors can visit Hershey’s Chocolate World to see how his chocolate is made (the chocolate tour is free), have an opportunity to make your own chocolate bar, take a tour of the town and have a chocolate tasting experience.
The Chocolate World has great accessibility with dedicated parking and restrooms. The experiences are also all wheelchair accessible. If you are unable to climb the steps onto the trolley for the town tour, contact them in advance and they will arrange for a guide to ride in your own accessible vehicle with you to give the tour.
In addition, to the Chocolate World, there is a Milton Hershey Museum (also accessible), Hershey Park (an amusement park that is unfortunately not accessible) and Hershey Gardens (wheelchair accessible).
If visiting this area from out of town, you can find accessible rooms at the Hershey Hotel or the Hershey Lodge (for a more affordable option). Both locations offer free parking, a shuttle to the Hershey attractions, on-site restaurants, free admission to both the gardens and Hershey Museum, as well as other amenities. The hotel has a spa on-site as well featuring chocolate treatments.
To find out more about my experience at Hershey’s Chocolate World, click here.
Ecuador
It would be impossible to talk about chocolate and not mention a destination in South America. Quito, Ecuador offers the chance to visit a Cacao plantation where you can learn how chocolate is made and the importance that this bean plays in the economy of Ecuador.
While Ecuador isn’t known particularly for its accessibility, Quito offers some great accessible things to do. Accommodations for your stay can be found at the Holiday Inn Express which offers accessible rooms and is centrally located.
Not sure you want to go all of the way to Ecuador just for some chocolate, why not take an accessible tour while you’re there and visit the incredible Galapagos Islands? Several tourism companies offer accessible tours to this beautiful region. For example, check out Latin America for All.
Belgium
By visiting either Brugges or Brussels Belgium, you’ll have the opportunity to not only taste their magnificent chocolate, but take a class on how to make it or even tour a chocolate factory and museum. These masters at chocolate making will have you thinking that you’ve died and gone to heaven.
If you ever tire of chocolate (how is that even possible?) then you can also enjoy some delicious Belgian Waffles or Beer. Honestly, I think I’d come back from this trip in a food coma… but it’d be so worth it!
In addition to amazing food, Belgium offers story-book looking towns that are filled with history and beautiful architecture. If you are a history buff, you may also want to visit Flanders Fields.
Sage Traveling offers accessible tour and accommodation packages for both of these towns. If you decide to plan your own trip, however, Brussels offers accessible public buses and a partially accessible metro. Both towns offer a variety of wheelchair accessible rooms.
Bruges is a small town so there really is no public transportation. There are sometimes cobblestones which may present a challenge. Curb cut-outs are also not common practice.
Out of the two towns, Brussels offers better accessibility, but both are lovely and worth a visit.
Switzerland
Another great food destination, as Switzerland is known not only for its chocolate but it’s cheese as well. Obviously, today our focus is on its chocolate. There are two towns that have specific activities to allow you to experience this delicious treat, Lucerne and Zurich.
Lindt is a famous brand of chocolate here and it offers a chocolate adventure in Lucerne or a whole chocolate museum just outside of Zurich. While both will show you how they make chocolate and offer free tastings, the museum is much more in depth.
One of the highlights of the museum is the larger-than-life chocolate fountain. They also offer tours, and chocolate classes. They have a factory on-site which you can tour as well. Both towns also offer amazing scenery and wheelchair accessible activities.
Zurich is small enough that makes it walkable/rollable but also offers wheelchair accessible trams (on the new models). The sidewalks also have ramps which make them easy to navigate. On the other hand, there are cobblestones throughout the town and there are some steeper inclines.
Lucerne historic center is flat and easy to get around without having to use public transport. The trains are accessible with advanced notice. Accessible accommodation can be found in both cities.
San Francisco
This popular west coast city loves its chocolate. Not only is it home to Ghirardelli Chocolate, but in 2022 it’s hosting not one, but two chocolate festivals!
Every year in September, Ghirardelli hosts a two-day festival benefiting charity. During this time, you can taste delicious samples, listen to live music, attend chef lead demonstrations and more. There is also a lounge where you can enjoy some adult beverages.
Also, this year (in April) there is a Chocolate Salon. This event costs between $10-$25 and tickets must be purchased in advance. Your ticket includes access to gourmet chocolate tastings, demonstrations, chef and author talks and more.
What Makes San Francisco an accessible destination for chocolate lovers?
Although, initially one may not think that San Francisco is very accessible, as steep hills come to mind when I picture it, but it’s actually a great place to visit in a wheelchair. All forms of public transportation (with the exception of the cable cars) are fully wheelchair accessible, making it easy to navigate the city.
In addition, many of the iconic sites in San Francisco are also accessible, including Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Warf (where Ghirardelli’s is located). Accessible accommodations are also widely available throughout the city.
Conclusions on the Best Accessible Travel Destinations for Chocolate Lovers
There are so many great places where chocolate can be found that this list may not be all-inclusive. However, when you can find a beautiful and interesting destination that also offers incredible chocolate, it’s a win-win situation. I hope my recommendations on the best accessible travel destinations for chocolate lovers have inspired you to consider visiting one of these great places.
