Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do on Campobello Island
Campobello is the world’s only international park and is managed by both Canada and the United States. This park is located near Eastport, Maine but the island itself is considered to be part of Canada, so you’ll have to go through customs to get on the island. Once you get through customs, there are some wonderful accessible things to do on Campobello Island.
Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do
Franklin D. Roosevelt Summer Home
FDR spent many summers in the area and owned a house on the island in which he and his family would stay. The home is now open for tours. Before entering the home, there is an accessible visitor’s center where there are accessible restrooms and a short film which talks about the former president’s time on the island.
The house has an accessible entrance and the first floor is completely wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, the second floor is not accessible. When I inquired how Mr. Roosevelt got around the second floor after he became disabled himself (a result of contracting Polio), the guide informed me that after his illness, the former president didn’t come to the home.
The house itself is very “normal” looking with no extravagance. In fact, 93% of the furnishings and items in the house are original to when the Roosevelt family stayed there. One of the highlights of the house is the beautiful view.
Scenic Drive
After exploring FDR’s summer house, I suggest taking in the rest of the island via a scenic drive. You’ll pass by beautiful beaches and coastal scenery. You may even see some wildlife along the way.
In the summer, when looking at the water, make sure to keep an eye out for whales (which can sometimes be seen from shore). While a lot of the lookouts don’t have accessible parking spots, when we were there in June, there were hardly any other cars along the drive.
Lighthouses
There are a couple of lighthouses on the island that are easily accessible by car. I love going to see lighthouses because each one is so unique and usually the scenery around them is incredible. Campobello Island allowed me to add some more to my list.
In short, Campobello Island is a great way to spend the day. A little bit of history and a ton of great scenery make this a great and accessible place to visit. If you ever make your way to Eastport, plan to check out this great island.
