Accessible Family Adventure in Hendricks County, Indiana

Embassy Suites by Hilton Plainfield Indianapolis Airport

Travel days can be unpredictable, especially when accessibility needs are involved, but Embassy Suites offered exactly what we needed: space to breathe and wrestle, room to reset, and a layout that made navigating with Elijah’s wheelchair simple and stress‑free. It became our home base, calm, comfortable, and reliable. And the kids’ favorite an omelet bar!

Pinheads in Brownsburg

We kicked off our adventure at Pinheads, where the entire upstairs suite was reserved just for our family. Josh from Visit Hendricks County met us with a warm welcome before giving us space to settle in and explore.

And explore we did.

It was Elijah’s first time bowling, but watching Elijah win and watching Isaiah cheer him on like the proudest big brother alive, that’s the kind of moment that becomes part of your family’s story. The food was delicious, and you could not ask for better staff! Afterward, we wandered downstairs to the arcade, soaking in the lights, the energy, and the joy of a first night done right.

This was the most unforgettable start to our accessible adventures in Hendricks County.

Breakfast at Brewlab’s Mama Bird Bakery & Café

Gluten‑free options that don’t feel like compromises? That’s Mama Bird.

Everything tasted intentional, warm, and made with care, the kind of breakfast that makes you feel seen when you travel with dietary needs. It set the tone for a day that would become one of our most meaningful travel days yet.

Murphy Aquatic Park (Sensory Hours + Private Cabana)

Avon, IN

This is where the day shifted from “fun” to “unforgettable.”

Murphy Aquatic Park had the fun waiting, plus a private cabana just for us. Sensory hours meant Elijah could explore without crowds or noise, and he experienced:

• His first wave pool
• First waterpark
• His first time using a beach wheelchair

Watching them roll into the water with confidence, watching the waves lift them, while he laughed, was everything. Accessibility wasn’t an add‑on here. It was the foundation.

We stayed into the afternoon, cuddling in the cabana, letting the kids play until their joy softened into that sun‑tired glow.

Hotel Reset

A return to Embassy Suites became more than a pause in the day it was a necessary reset, the kind that keeps joy from tipping into overwhelm. As soon as we got back to the room, the boys did what brothers do best: they wrestled, laughed, tumbled across the beds, and burned off every last ounce of energy they’d been holding in.

That kind of play is its own form of regulation, a way for them to shake off the noise, the excitement, the transitions, and settle back into themselves. Elijah was all in, and the room felt full in the best possible way.

Eventually, we changed clothes, rehydrated, stretched out across the beds, and let the quiet wrap around us. No schedule. No rush. Just a family catching its breath between adventures.

It was exactly what we needed to make the rest of the day feel doable, balanced, and joyful.

Dinner at Oasis Diner (Plainfield)

Dinner at the retro‑charming Oasis Diner was more than a meal; it was a conversation that mattered. Kim from the Visit Hendricks County team joined us, and meeting the person whose passion helped shape how accessible Hendricks County has become felt like connecting with the heart behind the hospitality.

Corinne Bailey Rae at Accessible Hendricks Live Concert Series!

Our night ended with a first: Our first concert.

Hendricks Live! welcomed us with accessible seating, smooth navigation, and staff who made us feel cared for. Early entry allowed us to settle in, find our seats, and enjoy the moment without rushing.

Watching Elijah and the mini-humans take in the music wide‑eyed, calm, and fully included was a memory I’ll carry forever. I watched them more than the show!

W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park (Grit Freedom Chair)

Avon, IN

At W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, we met naturalists at the fishing dock, including Ryann Hoffman, to experience the Grit Freedom Chair.

The Grit Chair gave Elijah something he doesn’t always get: the chance to experience nature with his siblings.

They moved through the trail with confidence and pride.

This wasn’t just an activity it was access to a world that isn’t always built with him in mind.

Lunch at Ms. B’s Teas (Clayton)

Last, we ended our accessible Hendricks County adventure at Ms. B’s Teas, a cozy, charming spot with gluten‑free options that made lunch feel effortless and comforting. The atmosphere felt like stepping into a friend’s kitchen, warm, calm, and full of small details that make families like mine feel welcome.

And then came one of the sweetest surprises of the trip: several members of the Visit Hendricks County team were already there waiting to meet us.

After two days of experiencing the heart behind their accessibility efforts, getting to talk, laugh, and share stories felt like closing the loop on everything we had seen. These weren’t just staff members. They were people who cared deeply about inclusion, who showed up not just in planning but in person.

It was the perfect final note to a trip built on intention, kindness, and community.