Mind’s Eye Travel creates tours designed for both comfort and safety for people who are blind or visually impaired. The carefully screened destinations and customized itineraries offer sensory discovery, camaraderie, accessible activities and accommodations, and opportunities for independent travel within trips.
Travel packages can also be organized for individuals and families for a variety of locations. Mind’s Eye tours are designed for blind persons traveling with a sighted guide, though the company will provide assistance at meals and special activities for those traveling alone.
Mind’s Eye Travel 2010 Group Tour Schedule
Alaska Inside Passage Cruise on the Sea Princess (10- day round trip from San Francisco, May 22—June 1)
Hear glaciers crack, paddle a native canoe, hike in a hushed rainforest, ride a dogsled, and sip high tea while experiencing old Alaska’s Russian roots and culture. The Sea Princess offers deluxe staterooms, fine dining (braille menus on request), and pool, spa, and fitness facilities. The Mind’s Eye group will enjoy a hosted cocktail party and front-row theater seats; guide dogs get playtime and a relieving area. Sighted guides are available for onshore excursions.
Rates: $1,249 double occupancy, $1,949 single + a $117.25 per-person government fee.
San Francisco, Sonoma and Napa Wine Tasting Sensory Tour (Four nights, May 18 – 22)
Hear the clang of the cable cars and the calling of birds on Alcatraz; smell the sea air at Fisherman’s Wharf; squeeze ripening grapes on Napa Valley vine; taste dim sum in Chinatown and chocolates at Ghirardelli Square. Trip includes four nights deluxe accommodations, full breakfast each morning, one lunch, all wine-tasting fees, cable-car ride, Alcatraz excursion, and a private coach and driver on the wine-tasting days. Rates: $1,295 double occupancy; $1,695 for singles.
Mind’s Eye Tours Offer Adventure, Security to Blind Travelers
New York City
(Three nights, October 6 – 9)
This tour includes luxury accommodations in Times Square and breakfast each morning; a guided tour through the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island; a private tour of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, and tactile tours of the sculptures in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Egyptian galleries and exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art. Rates: $1,095 double occupancy; $1,595 for singles.
Canada & New England Fall Foliage Cruise
(Seven-day round trip from New York City; October 9 – 16)
This autumn cruise aboard the Caribbean Princess traverses the scenic waterways and towns of New England and Maritime Canada. Highlights include: Newport’s historic mansions; Boston’s Freedom Trail; kayaking in Acadia National Park; riding the famous Bay of Fundy tides; and a traditional lobster bake on the beach. Rates: from $1,085 double occupancy; $1,685 for singles plus a $117.25 per-person government fee.
New Zealand's South Island
(Seven nights beginning November 13 or 20, 2010)
Experience the stunning beauty of alpine glaciers co-existing with coastal rain forests on this private-coach adventure tour from Christchurch to Queenstown. Tour includes all island travel, deluxe accommodations for seven nights, a full breakfast each morning, and four gourmet dinners. Highlights include: traveling by tram and punt on the River Avon, cruising Akaroa Harbor, exploring New Zealand’s famous Antarctic Centre and the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Centre, panning for gold at Kawarau, and a gondola ride up to the Skyline complex overlooking Queenstown. Rates: $3,495 double occupancy; $4,295 for singles.
Mind’s Eye holds only a small number of rooms; early reservations are encouraged and deposits required. Call (207) 542-4438 for more information.
Mind’s Eye Travel’s carefully chosen destinations ensure blind and visually impaired travelers a feast for the senses as well as comfort and security.
Andrew Leibs - Andrew Leibs is Suite101’s Feature Writer for Accessible Recreation. He is a longtime chronicler of the disability movement with ...
Join the Conversation