Any adult can join The Wayfaring Band on tour!

Our trips are open to adults who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), as well as caregivers, students, teachers, professionals, activists, retirees, and interested community members. Many of our virtual offerings are now open to the whole family… not just adults.

No matter your desire for exploration, growth, and transformation, The Wayfaring Band has an adventure in store for you. Be a part of it!

All members of the band have access to the same experiences on tour: adventurous activities, recreation and relaxation with friends, and a chance to increase life and leadership skills by participating in our vigorous social leadership program.

We limit each tour to approximately 16 travelers including staff, which helps ensure an intimate, customized experience. Unless otherwise noted, fees listed are all-inclusive, covering all meals, tips, activities, lodging, and transportation originating from Denver.

Our programs are best for travelers who can be successful with a 1:4 staff-to-client ratio. If you have more questions about if our programs are a fit for you, check out the FAQ sections of our various Traveler pages, or feel free to contact us to learn more. Ready to register? Shoot us an email!

Cocoa Beach, Florida

(Full, accepting signups for waitlist)

February 11th - 16th [6 days | 5 nights]

Let’s escape the cold and dive into the laid-back charm of Cocoa Beach, where sun-kissed shores meet thrilling adventures. We’ll stroll along the iconic Cocoa Beach pier, savor local eats in colorful downtown, and soak in stunning sunsets over the Banana River. We’ll visit the nearby Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center, kayak through mangrove tunnels looking for manatees and dolphins. We’ll eat key lime pies, relax at the beach, and maybe eat key lime pies on the beach. Every moment is infused with a sense of wonder and Cocoa Beach promises an unforgettable getaway filled with relaxation and discovery. Pack your sunscreen and let’s head to the beach! 

This trip is best for travelers who enjoy swimming/water activities and beaches.

Pacific Coast Highway Tour, California

March 25th - 30th [6 days | 5 nights]

Soak up the sun and surf of Southern California on our Pacific Coast Highway Tour.

We’ll hop on the PCH with stops at some of the area’s most famous beaches. Huntington, Newport, and Laguna beaches, oh my! We’ll catch professional surfers riding the waves, search for sea life in tide pools, and stroll along the area's many boardwalks and piers. Did we mention beaches? We’ll picnic on the beach at Crystal Cove State Park, follow the coastline in group pedal bikes and cozy up on the beach for a movie under the stars. If the stunning views of the PCH and smell of ocean air are calling your name, this is the perfect tour for you! 

This tour is great for those with a sense of adventure, but at a slower pace and are okay with a bit of travel each day.

Louisville, Kentucky (accessible)

(Full, accepting signups for waitlist)

May 13th - 18th [6 days | 5 nights]

Let’s head south to the “Derby City”, Louisville, Kentucky! We’ll stroll through Cherokee Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the creator of Central Park), delve into baseball history at the Slugger Museum, home of the world’s largest baseball bat, and savor the rich flavors of Kentucky bourbon on a tasting tour. We’ll visit Churchill Downs and go underground to explore  Mammoth Cave National Park. We’ll wander through downtown’s charming shops adorned with public art, then unwind with a scenic riverboat ride on the Belle of Louisville. At sunset, we’ll watch the magical light show at the Big Four Bridge and eat all the soul food our bellies can handle. Louisville, here we come! 

This tour is best for travelers seeking a mixture of city life and outdoor exploration who don’t mind some bustling days and ground transportation. 

Olympic National Park, Washington

June 17th - 23rd [7 days | 6 nights]

It’s time for a tour of the Pacific Northwest, so it's off to Olympic National Park we go! We’ll make our way from Seattle to Forks (calling all Twilight fans!) and head north to Port Angeles through the captivating rugged coastline and crashing waves that define the region. We’ll hop in kayaks to row our way through the crystal blue water of Lake Crescent, look for steelhead trout at the Salmon Cascades on the Sol Duc River, and feel the misty ocean breeze at Second Beach. And for the pièce de résistance, the Hoh Rainforest. This spectacularly temperate rainforest is known to be one of the quietest places on earth. The symphony of birdsong and rustling leaves invites us to pause and breathe in the magic of this vibrant ecosystem. Get ready to feel inspired, rejuvenated, and in awe of the natural world! 

This trip is best for travelers who enjoy road trips and the great outdoors.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (accessible)

(Full, accepting signups for waitlist)

July 15th - 20th [6 days | 5 nights]

Join us on an exhilarating journey through Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city brimming with hidden gems and vibrant culture. Starting at Point State Park, the confluence of three rivers creates a lively gathering spot filled with locals. We’ll explore the elegant Frick Campus and the bustling Strip District, and feel the warm and fuzzies at the Mr. Rogers Memorial. What will we eat in the Burgh? Primanti Brothers sandwiches, Pierogies, Pittsburgh salad, and Pamela’s Hotcakes, of course. We can’t forget the art scene - it’s off to the Mattress Factory and the Andy Warhol Museum. This city’s charms and quirks are around every corner - let’s dive in! 

This trip is perfect for travelers who like a bustling city with a side of charm.

Palisade Peach Tour, Colorado

(Full, accepting signups for waitlist)

August 14th - 18th [5 days | 4 nights]

All Coloradans know what happens in August -  it’s Palisade peach season. So let’s celebrate the right way, by going to the Annual Peach Festival! We’ll hit the road to Palisade and visit the Fruit and Wine Byway’s many orchards and vineyards, tasting the local fare at each stop. Peach jam, peach tea, peach wine, peach pie, and oh there's a peach eating contest for those who dare. We’ll celebrate the 140 year-long journey of peach farming in the Grand Valley by dancing to live music at the base of Colorado’s famous Grand Mesa. This journey is not just a getaway; it’s a celebration of flavor, nature, and history in the heart of our beautiful state!

This tour is perfect for travelers looking for an adventure close to home and traveling by car.

Ireland and the wild atlantic way

(Full, accepting signups for waitlist)

October 7th - 17th [11 days | 10 nights]

Let’s journey across the pond to the Emerald Isle! Starting in Dublin, we’ll immerse ourselves in the striking Irish culture, from pubs to public markets, live music and brilliant local food, and get the tour of a lifetime at The Little Museum of Dublin. From Galway to Dingle to the many towns in between, we’ll explore castles on remote countrysides, ancient stone formations, miles of rolling green hills and stone fences, and sheep - we’ll see lots of sheep. We’ll hope for blue skies at the Cliffs of Moher and sip on Irish Whiskey when it’s cool and rainy. Order up for Shepherd's Pie, soda bread, Irish stew, seafood chowder, and heaps of potatoes in every form. Are the green rolling hills, warm culture, and delicious accents calling your name?! Erin go Bragh

Passport required. This trip is best for travelers who are okay with long travel days and excited to experience a different culture.

Supper Club Series

5:00 - 8:30 pm | 1255 W Virginia Ave, Denver, CO 80223

Cost: $100/night

Eat your way around the world while learning globally practiced cooking techniques with Chef Johnny of Chef and I.

• November 19th: Nakatsu, Japan - Japanese Curry and Kara Age Fried Chicken Night

Register here! There are 12 spots per event.

Inclusive Talent Initiative   

Band Aids

The Wayfaring Band rejects the assumption that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are limited in their capacity to enjoy the full human experience. Part of that human experience includes the tangible benefits of purposeful employment. In our daily connections working with people experiencing I/DD, we hear firsthand about the serious lack of meaningful job opportunities for people with disabilities in our society. As a solution, we have developed the Inclusive Talent Initiative – our commitment to providing employment opportunities for people with I/DD as part of our own operational model and to compensate them for their time appropriately. 

This approach significantly enhances the lives of those we employ and sets an example for other businesses, demonstrating the value of accessing this untapped yet vital segment of our workforce. Our team of Band Aids fills specific part-time jobs that fit their individual gifts, desires, and goals in the areas of social media consultation and production, website accessibility consultation, co-creation of our anti-ableist training curriculum, marketing and design support, program support, partner and donor outreach, and donor stewardship. 

To ensure an authentic and sustainable employment model, our professional staff brings its expertise to bear, identifying and providing any accommodations necessary for each person hired as part of this initiative, ensuring a positive and productive experience that strengthens relationships and community building, supports creativity and creative expression, person-centered projects and skills training, as well as entrepreneurship and employment.

The Inclusive Talent Initiative provides meaningful employment opportunities to the disability community, addressing our organizational goal to authentically involve our clientele in a way that aligns with our ethics of paying all people for their work because in modeling a truly diverse workforce, we demonstrate that all people add value to any business or organization. 

Everybody In: Disrupting Ableism - Coming soon!   

COMING SOON! Our innovative grassroots campaign will catalyze transformative change in the way

disability is perceived. With anti-ableist training for businesses, organizations, and nonprofit partners,

we will help everyone gain the knowledge and skills needed to be better allies to their friends,

neighbors, and colleagues who experience disability.

Mini Magazine: I’ve Been Not Going Anywhere Since I’ve Been Here

A Handmade Zine Chronicling Nearly A Year in the Lives of Some Waylaid Wayfarers

The records and reflections compiled in this zine include activities, memories, conversations, collaborations, and celebrations of our collective efforts to resist loneliness and fear during a time of extreme change and uncertainty. By centering the lived experiences of people with Down syndrome, autism, developmental delays, genetic differences, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), we aim to capture the vital voices of our community, preserving and uplifting them for future generations.

You can enjoy the zine online by downloading the digital viewing version below. If you’d like to print your own copy at home, download the printable version instead, and then be sure to print on both sides of the paper for the best results.

It’s free to enjoy our zine, but we invite you to make a tax-deductible online donation to help keep our engine running until we’re back on the road again. Thank you!

BIPOC Caucus POSTER: How do race and disability intersect?

A Graphic Recording of Discussions between Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) with and without Disabilities

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota while being arrested for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. In the weeks that followed, protests in support of Black lives and against police brutality erupted around the world. Within our local community, we wondered how Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) with and without disabilities were being affected. We created a discussion group that included both program participants and staff members of color from the band so they could discuss the intersection of race and disability in a safe space among peers. The caucus met weekly through July and August and included 19 members of The Wayfaring Band. For the final three sessions, the caucus members were joined by a graphic recorder who bore witness to their conversations and recorded the highlights, designing a poster in four parts. The poster poses three essential questions:

• How has racism harmed me?

• What does belonging mean to me?

• How can you help?

People with disabilities make up a third to half of all people killed by law enforcement officers. Disabled people of color, in particular Black and Native people with disabilities, experience the highest risk. We invite our community to spend some time reflecting on the suggestions outlined in the lower section of the poster, titled “How Can You Help?” We all play a role in dismantling white supremacy culture and embodying anti-racist ideals.

Feel free to download a copy of the poster so it’s easier to view on your computer. You may also print the poster to hang in your home or office.