Accessibility Tips from a Professional Tour Guide

Candice Smith, an award-winning tour guide and the founder of Tours Around Michigan, started her business in 2018. Her passion for history and storytelling led her from a career in public relations into tourism, where she shares her love of discovery with others.
Candice has made an effort to prioritize inclusivity and incorporate feedback from her clients to improve her tours, including about accessibility.

We want all of our tours to be accessible and enjoyable for all!

Here are her accessible travel tips:

Know before you go: Research and plan as much as you can ahead of time. Reach out to the place you plan to visit. Ask questions and let them know what your needs are and tell them about your Amigo.

Be flexible: No matter how much planning you do, eventually something happens that you don’t expect. Allow yourself to be open to new experiences and prepare yourself to adapt based on the situation. Something you didn’t plan for might turn out to be a pleasant surprise. “Traveling is about exploring,” Candice says, “and sometimes the best and most memorable experiences happen when something out of your control makes you change plans.”

Ask for help: If you need extra assistance on your trip, ask someone else to lend a hand at any part of the experience.

Start Small: For those who may have never traveled before, Candice recommends starting small. Become a tourist in your hometown and check out that place nearby that you’ve always heard good things about. Figure out what your needs are when traveling and how to prepare for those unexpected hiccups. That way, you know what to expect when it comes time to plan your next adventure.

Ultimately, the goal is to allow yourself to become fully immersed in the place you’re visiting. Travel is an opportunity that can provide growth, one of my big goals is to inspire people to keep exploring.

Planning a trip in Michigan? Check out Tours Around Michigan with Candice Smith at toursaroundmichigan.com.

Learn more about our Amigo TravelMate, recently redesigned with a longer lasting lithium-ion battery.