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!

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.

• March 26th: Tokyo, Japan - Ramen Night

• April 23rd: Central Mexico - Pozole and Fresh Tortilla Night

• May 21st: Bangkok, Thailand - Pad Thai and Thai Cucumber Salad Night

• June 25th: Naples, Italy - Traditional Lasagna and Ceasar Salad Night

• July 23rd: Small Town, USA - Grill Out Night

• August 27th: Beirut, Lebanon - Kabobs and Lebanese Sides Night

• September 24th: Northern Italy - Handmade Ricotta Gnocchi and Pesto Night

• October 22nd: San Antonio, Texas - Old Timey Chili and Vegan Cornbread Night

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

Register here! There are 12 spots per event.

Rockabilly Roadhouse

April 27, 2024 | 5:30 - 9:00 PM

Forney Transportation Museum | 4303 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216

Tickets: $50/adult *Special pricing for Band Members and kids

It’s time to shake, rattle, and roll at the Rockabilly Roadhouse, benefitting The Wayfaring Band! Travel back in time for this family-friendly night of 50’s rock ‘n roll fun and nostalgia. Dress in your rockabilly best –slicked-back hair, leather jackets, and swinging skirts, cause we’ll be dancing the night away to classics and oldies, with performances by champion swing and jive dancers. Between sets, you can stroll among a dazzling display of vintage cars that'll take you back in time, dig into our delicious Stomp Street Taco Bar, and top it off at the Neato Sundae Bar.

Great food, drinks, and fun in a nostalgic atmosphere are included in the price of admission, but bring a little pocket money to up your party look with fabulous 50s hairstyling, score some Wayfaring swag, and maybe even a tattoo!  We’ll have lots of other opportunities to support our fundraising efforts that keep the Band on the road.  Wheelchair accessible, ASL-interpreted.

Get your tickets now, and let's rock 'n' roll!

• Delicious buffet generously donated by Catering By Design

• Event planning services generously provided by AW Events

South Padre Island, Texas

May 14-19, 2024 | 6 days / 5 nights

Cost: $3,900 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available! FULL - Waitlist started

Contact us to register and/or to request a scholarship application.

Calling all beach bums! Pack your bags for an island adventure on South Padre Island off the southern coast of Texas. We will revel in the calm, turquoise waters and 34 miles of beautiful sandy beaches that are synonymous with this barrier island. There’s plenty of wildlife here – from birding to dolphin watching, a hike on the Sea Turtle Art Trail, and a visit to the [gulp] Alligator Sanctuary, we will surely be taking a walk on the wild side. We’ll get our scream on at the Gravity Park, a local amusement park, and make time for some granular architectural exploration at Amazin’ Walter’s Sandcastles. We’ll be sure to hit the water, too. Should we float some banana boats or get physical with stand-up paddles? Sign up for this Gulf Coast escapade!

This trip is best for travelers who enjoy swimming/water activities and beaches and who don’t mind a little heat and humidity. This trip includes two long travel days with connecting flights.

Montreal, Canada

June 18-24, 2024 | 7 days / 6 nights

Cost: $5,000 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available! FULL - Waitlist started

Leadership Fellow Cost: $3,000 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available!

Contact us to register and/or to request a scholarship application.

Parlez-vous Francais? Let’s brush up our French with a summer visit to the city of Saints! Come along as we jet north and enjoy the French-Canadian vibe of Montreal.  We will wander down the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal and delight in the outdoor seating that lines this part of the city, greeting folks with “Bonjour,” since 70% of the city’s inhabitants speak French. June is known as festival season in this international city, and there are sure to be plenty of cultural attractions and entertainment. We’ll be sure to partake in the local fare, including poutine, a delicious dish made with fries, gravy, and cheese, and a refreshing Gibeau Orange Julep, orange sweet treats served out of its 40-foot-tall orange-shaped restaurant. We will catch the Tam-Tams at George-Étienne Cartier Monument in Mont-Royal Park, where performers gather to play drums, dance, and sell their goods. And, just to make sure we don’t miss a thing, we will enjoy the spectacular view from the Montreal Ferris Wheel at the Old Port of Montreal. This area along the Saint Lawrence River is famous for shopping and taking in all the sights of the city. Come along, Venez, on this international escapade to Montreal! 

Passport required. This trip is best for travelers who are okay with long travel days and big crowds. 

Santa Fe, New Mexico

July 15-20, 2024 | 6 days / 5 nights

Cost: $3,600 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available!

Contact us to register and/or to request a scholarship application.

Come along on a road trip to beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, also known as the Dancing Ground of the Sun. This magical southwestern jewel is known for its art, museums, and unique ways of showcasing the rich history of its inhabitants. We will explore the historic heart of the city at the Santa Fe Plaza, a showcase of adobe buildings, shops, galleries, and restaurants. We will soak up the local art scene, including stops at two famous and unique museums –  the original  Meow Wolf with its immersive,  otherworldly dimensions, and the Georgia O’Keefe Museum, a showcase of the works of an American icon.  We will also visit the Loretto Chapel and its physics-defying Miraculous Staircase, the internationally known Santa Fe Opera House, and the Santa Fe Railyard. With adobe-lined streets, delightful cafes, and nature walks in the thick of it all, we are sure to have full hearts and schedules in this charming capital city. Dreams come true, yes, they do, in Santa Fe! 

This trip is still best for travelers who enjoy long drives and don’t mind the heat.

Glacier National Park, Montana

August 13-19, 2024 | 7 days / 6 nights

Cost: $4,400 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available! FULL - Waitlist started

Leadership Fellow Cost: $2,800 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available!

Contact us to register and/or to request a scholarship application.

Our next National Park adventure will take us up north to Montana and the spectacular scenery of Glacier National Park. With a location that straddles the Continental Divide, we will be surrounded by melting glaciers, alpine meadows, carved valleys, and stunning mountain lakes. We’ll trek through amazing wilderness, and when we need a break, we’ll make a refueling stop at the Moose’s Saloon, a local favorite. We’ll go to the Whitefish Mountain Resort for a ride on the gondola for a scenic view of Whitefish Lake, the Flathead Valley, and Glacier National Park. We’ll explore Flathead Lake in kayaks, and we will spend plenty of time strolling the streets of Kalispell and Whitefish – two iconic Montana towns. Giddy up, Wayfarers, to the mountains we go! 

This trip is still best for travelers who enjoy the great outdoors and who don’t mind a little drive time every day. 

Chattanooga, Tennessee

October 1-6, 2024 | 6 days / 5 nights

Cost: $3,900 all-inclusive, originating in Denver. Scholarships available!

Contact us to register and/or to request a scholarship application.

Let’s set off for an adventure in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to Chattanooga, a charming town set along the Tennessee  River. We’ll hop on board the Incline Railway to the top of Lookout Mountain, where the spectacular view will let us see seven states. Who knew that Moon Pies were born in Chattanooga? Not us! We’ll get our Moon Pies to go, enjoying them aboard a Southern Belle river cruise along the Tennessee River with a stunning view of the endearing southern city. Stroll along the Walnut Street Bridge, which proudly holds the title of the world’s largest pedestrian bridge. And we can’t forget the infamous Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel, which was formerly a train station in the early 1900s. We’ll visit to see old train cars and play yard games in the now-modernized historic station. 

This trip is best for travelers who like a mix of city life with the outdoors. Wheelchair accessible. 

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. 

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!

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.