When doctors told Amy Tarpein that her son Elijah—diagnosed with a rare, terminal brain condition called lissencephaly—might not live to see his second birthday, she made a life-altering choice. Rather than retreat into grief, this single mother packed her family into a car and drove from Illinois to Florida. Standing at the edge of the ocean, she made a promise to her kids: they would show him as much of the world as possible in whatever time they had together.
That promise became the foundation of Elijah’s Baby Bucket List, a platform that has since grown from a personal journal into one of the nation’s most influential accessible family travel resources. In 2025, the blog was recognized by the Evergreen Awards as the Best Accessible Family Travel Blog in the United States, reflecting its growing impact on families navigating travel with medical and mobility considerations.
“During our travels, I quickly realized there was a major lack of accurate information about planning wheelchair-accessible family adventures,” Tarpein explains. “Not just for medically complex families, but for an aging population as well. Even some of the most well-known accessible travel blogs still contain misinformation.”
A bestselling author, internationally recognized public speaker, influential travel writer, and CEO, Tarpein has transformed her lived experience into practical, actionable guidance. Drawing from years of traveling with Elijah and her other children, she addresses the gaps often left by generic travel sites, offering families real-world insight into accessibility, logistics, and emotional realities that are rarely discussed openly.
What sets Elijah’s Baby Bucket List apart is its foundation in firsthand experience. Tarpein doesn’t simply highlight destinations; she documents the realities families face when traveling with medical equipment, mobility devices, and complex care needs. From navigating airport security with specialized gear to evaluating hotels for true accessibility, not just marketing claims, the platform delivers tested, trustworthy advice.
Beyond information sharing, Tarpein has become a powerful advocate for change within the travel industry itself. She works directly with destinations, attractions, and tourism boards to help them better understand accessibility from a guest’s perspective. These collaborations often lead to improvements that benefit not only the families with medical needs but also seniors and multi-generational travelers.
This advocacy has earned Elijah’s Baby Bucket List national recognition. The platform has received two Anthem Awards for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, including the Anthem Award for Accessible Family Travel – Special Projects, honoring its leadership in advancing inclusive travel through storytelling and meaningful industry engagement.
Industry partners have noted the value of Tarpein’s perspective. Erin Manning, Director of Marketing and Special Events at Exploration Place in Wichita, Kansas, shared, “The photos and recap they provided showed a comprehensive picture of what it’s like to be a first-time guest exploring the museum. I especially appreciated seeing our hands-on exhibits through the lens of someone visiting in a wheelchair.”
Equally impactful is the community that has formed around the platform. Families facing similar challenges regularly share their experiences and encouragement. One reader described the blog as “a game-changer for accessible travel,” crediting it with providing “the confidence and resources we needed to take trips we never thought were possible.”
At its core, Elijah’s Baby Bucket List is about more than travel—it’s about choosing presence, joy, and memory-making in the face of uncertainty. That message resonates deeply with families navigating serious diagnoses, reminding them that meaningful experiences remain possible, even under the most difficult circumstances.
As a single mother of ten who continues to travel the world with her four youngest children, including Elijah, Tarpein embodies the belief that love and determination can overcome limitations imposed by circumstance. Through her work, she is not only reshaping how families approach accessible travel—but also helping an industry move toward greater inclusion for everyone.
