Because every family deserves the world.
I am Amy, a devoted single mother to Elijah and his siblings. Who I refer to as my “mini‑humans.” Elijah is the youngest of ten. Our journey into accessible family travel began with a diagnosis. This diagnosis changed everything.
A Mother’s Promise: Showing Elijah the World
When Elijah was diagnosed with lissencephaly, a rare and terminal brain condition, doctors informed us about his prognosis. They said he would not live to see his second birthday. We were told that travel would be impossible. Doctors warned us that life would be limited, unpredictable, and fragile.
He was only eight months old when we received that news. Faced with the unimaginable, I packed up my family and drove from Illinois to Florida. Standing at the edge of the ocean, with my children around me, we made a vow:
We will show Elijah as much of the world as possible.
That promise became a mission. That mission became a movement. And that movement became Elijah’s Baby Bucket List.
Today, this platform is the Best Accessible Family Travel Blog in the United States for 2025. It is a two‑time winner of the Anthem Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. It also serves as a trusted resource for families, caregivers, disabled travelers, and destinations worldwide.
Through our travels, I’ve discovered the incredible strength of a mother’s love. I have also seen the resilience that emerges in the face of adversity. I’ve also learned that we are never alone. The support from family, friends, and even strangers has carried us through the hardest moments. It has reminded us that community is everything.
Meet Amy, Elijah, and the Mini‑Humans Behind the Movement
Meet Amy Tarpein
I am a bestselling author, award‑winning travel writer, and one of the most recognized voices in multi-generational accessible family travel. My work reaches millions monthly and has been featured in national media, parenting outlets, and accessibility publications.
I speak globally on:
- Inclusive tourism
- Disability advocacy
- Accessible family travel
- Storytelling that drives change
At my core, I am a mother. I navigate road trips and airports with medical equipment and advocate for my child. Best of all, I choose joy in the face of uncertainty.
Meet Elijah
Elijah is the heart of this movement. He lives with lissencephaly, but he approaches the world with joy, curiosity, and courage. Every adventure we take is shaped around his needs, his comfort, and his happiness.
He is the reason we fight for accessibility. The reason we travel bravely. He is the reason this community exists.
Meet the “Mini‑Humans”
Elijah is the youngest of ten incredible siblings, my “mini‑humans” who love him fiercely and help carry this mission forward.
They are:
- His protectors
- His cheerleaders
- His travel buddies
- His built‑in best friends
They show the world what inclusion looks like in its purest form: love without limits, patience without conditions, and joy in every shared adventure.
As a family, we travel together. We learn, adapt, and laugh. We prove that accessible travel is not only possible but also beautiful.
Our Mission: Making Accessible Family Travel Possible for Every Family
During our adventures, I realized there was a significant lack of reliable resources for planning wheelchair‑accessible family vacations. This gap affects not only families with medically complex children but also our aging society. Grandparents, caregivers, and adults with disabilities who deserve to travel with dignity.
Even reputable travel blogs often give inaccurate or incomplete accessibility information. As a result, this leaves families frustrated or misled. They can’t join in experiences they were promised would be accessible.
This realization ignited a passion in me.
I wanted to create a comprehensive, honest, lived‑experience resource to help families like ours navigate the complexities of accessible travel. My goal is to offer:
- Accurate accessibility insights
- Practical suggestions
- Realistic expectations
- Support for medically complex families
- Guidance for destinations striving to become more inclusive
Everything I create is designed to make travel possible, joyful, and empowering for every family. This applies regardless of diagnosis, disability, or mobility.
What We Do
Inspire families to explore the world with confidence and dignity
Share lived‑experience accessibility reviews
Create honest, detailed guides for accessible destinations
Partner with DMOs, museums, and travel brands to improve accessibility
Advocate for inclusive tourism through speaking, writing, and consulting
Why Families Trust Us
Because we live this life.
We travel with:
- Medical equipment
- Wheelchairs
- Feeding pumps
- Sensory tools
- Emergency supplies
- And a child who teaches us every day what resilience looks like
Our content is real, raw, and rooted in experience, not checklists or assumptions. Families trust us because we show the truth: the wins, the gaps, the challenges, and the joy.
Our Promise
We will continue to:
- Advocate for accessibility
- Tell the truth about what works and what doesn’t
- Celebrate inclusive destinations
- Push for change where it’s needed
- Share Elijah’s journey with honesty and heart
Because every family deserves the world, and together, we’re making it more accessible.
By sharing our experiences, we hope to inspire other families to seek out their own journeys. Proving that the world is full of possibilities waiting to be discovered. These possibilities exist even in adversity.
