Cassidy TravelCruises · Resorts · Family and group travel

Today

Trips planned around the details that matter.

Cruises, resorts, theme parks and family getaways, planned from Waynesville, Ohio. Traveling with grandparents, little kids, or someone who needs an accessible room? That's where I do my best work.

Start planning with Patrick Not sure where to start? Take the trip match

Trained and certified with Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Viking, Sandals and more · Certified Autism Travel Professional

Last call

Offers worth knowing about

Current offers from cruise lines and resorts, with the deadline up front and a note on who each one suits.

Terms, dates and availability are set by each cruise line or resort and can change. I'll confirm the current terms before you book.

Southwest Ohio favorites

Where Waynesville families keep going back

Four trips I plan most often, with how to get there, when to go, and what to know before you book.

Myrtle Beach

South Carolina's Grand Strand

Getting there
About 9½ hours by car, or a short nonstop: Allegiant flies from Cincinnati (CVG), with seasonal nonstops from Dayton (DAY) and Indianapolis (IND).
When to go
Late May, early June and September: warm water without the midsummer crowds. Ohio spring break weeks book up early.
Good to know
Condo resorts with kitchens and lazy rivers work well for three generations. Myrtle Beach approved free beach wheelchairs in 2026, and North Myrtle Beach has a ramp, mat and loaner chairs at 46th Avenue South. I confirm what's running before you go.
Plan a beach trip

Norris Lake

East Tennessee

Getting there
About 4 hours by car, an easy weekend.
When to go
June through August for houseboats and swimming. September is quieter and the water is still warm.
Good to know
Big lake houses suit extended families, and summer weekends fill by spring. Many houseboats board by ladder or a steep ramp, so I ask for photos first. A fully accessible fishing dock opened in 2026 at the Davis Cemetery Access Area in Campbell County.
Plan a lake trip

Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge

Tennessee's Smoky Mountains

Getting there
About 5 hours by car.
When to go
October for fall color. From early November to mid-February, Winterfest lights up Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, and Dollywood runs its Christmas season.
Good to know
Many cabins have steps or steep drives, so I ask for photos of the entry, bathroom and parking. Dollywood publishes accessibility guides, and its DreamMore and HeartSong resorts have accessible rooms, some with roll-in showers. In the national park, the paved half-mile Sugarlands Valley Nature Trail is the accessible trail, and the park lends an all-terrain wheelchair.
Plan a mountain trip

Disney World & Orlando

Central Florida

Getting there
About 13 hours by car, or about 2 hours by air: Allegiant flies Dayton to Orlando Sanford, and Cincinnati, Columbus and Indianapolis have nonstops to Orlando International.
When to go
Weeks without school breaks are calmer, with shorter lines for everyone.
Good to know
Disney's Disability Access Service is for guests who, because of a developmental disability such as autism, can't wait in a regular line; register by video chat up to 60 days ahead. Universal uses the IBCCES Accessibility Card; register 30 days to 48 hours before your visit.
Plan a park trip

Plan ahead

What to book now, and for when

The best rooms and cabins go first, from connecting rooms for families to accessible ones. Here's what to lock in each month, with Ohio school calendars and our home airports in mind: Dayton (DAY), Cincinnati (CVG), Columbus (CMH) and Indianapolis (IND).

Road trips

How far can you go by car?

No airports, no baggage limits, and the trip starts in your driveway. Tap a place on the map or in the list to see ideas by drive time from Waynesville.

Home

Trip match

What kind of trip fits your crew?

Four quick questions. You'll get a starting idea, and we can talk through the details.

Who's traveling?
What matters most?
How far are you willing to go?
What pace suits you?

Accessible resort finder

Sandals and Beaches resorts for wheelchair users

Based on Sandals' own accessibility sheet (February 2025). I confirm room details with the resort's Special Services team before every booking.

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About

Patrick Cassidy

I'm Patrick Cassidy, an independent travel advisor in Waynesville, Ohio. I plan cruises, resort stays, theme park trips and family getaways. My specialty is the trips with more moving parts: three generations on one vacation, families with young kids, teams on the road, and travelers who need an accessible room or a calmer pace.

I've served as meet director for the Bill Keating, Jr. Memorial Cincinnati Para-Swimming Open, one of the largest Para swimming meets in the country, and I travel with a power wheelchair myself. So I ask the questions a brochure skips, then I confirm the answers before you book.

Cruise

  • Carnival Expert, Diamond Level GraduateCarnival Cruise Line · 2026
  • Master of AdventureRoyal Caribbean University · 2026
  • Celebrity Learning ScholarCelebrity Cruises · 2026
  • Princess Academy CommodorePrincess Cruises · 2026
  • Viking Certified Expert: rivers, oceans and expeditionsViking · 2026

Resorts and parks

  • Completed Sandals Elite Advisor trainingSandals and Beaches Resorts · 2026
  • Universal Orlando Resort Specialist and Universal Studios Hollywood SpecialistUniversalandU · 2026
  • Patrick Cassidy is a graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge and has attained a special knowledge of Disney Destinations.

Accessibility and autism

  • Certified Autism Travel Professional (CATP)IBCCES · Credential CATP26431292 · valid through 2028
  • Certified Accessible Travel Advocate (CATA)Special Needs Group · 2026

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