Hammer Travel Offers Destinations—Near and Far – Lake Minnetonka Magazine

Swimming with dolphins, taking in the view from the top of the Empire State Building or riding the London Eye—while many of us take traveling experiences for granted, the team at Hammer Travel knows there are people who need a little extra help to see the world, and its making sure they get it—one trip at a time.

Hammer travelers gather for good times at Universal Orlando Resort. Photos: Hammer Travel

Tom Ryan is the brainchild behind Hammer Travel in Wayzata. He developed the travel wing for the nonprofit disability service provider Hammer and NER 15 years ago. After successfully launching fishing trips for Hammer’s clients, Ryan wondered if they could take things a step further while also expanding the nonprofit’s mission to “enable people with disabilities to live meaningful, self-directed lives.” Ryan dreamt of taking aspiring cowboys to Deadwood, South Dakota, and Mickey Mouse aficionados to Walt Disney World. He pictured beach days, baseball games and trolley rides along the streets of San Francisco.

Spring training is where it all starts for baseball fans.

“I didn’t really believe in anything until I started working in group homes,” he says. “I realized my job is to make people’s lives better,” says Ryan, director of travel and community life.
Today, Hammer Travel offers all those adventures Ryan initially thought of and many more with up to 30 trips each year. All travel excursions include dedicated and qualified volunteers—many of them Hammer staff—in a 1-to-4 ratio to ensure travel runs smoothly, and that travelers feel and are safe and secure. (Travel expenses are covered for the volunteers.)

A visit to Alaska brought on stunning mountain views.

Each trip has a maximum of 12 participants, and many of the special outings quickly sell out after they are announced. Among the most popular trips are anything related to Walt Disney World or Minnesota sporting events. Everything is included in the cost of the trips, except for souvenirs and transportation to the airport or pickup location. Hammer Travel strives to offer a variety of locations and is conscious of including driving trips for those who are averse to flying. “The destinations are important, but we learned what people enjoyed the most was being away from the norm,” Ryan says.

Las Vegas is a win-win for this group of travelers.

Through trial and error, staff has developed methods to ensure the trips run smoothly. “We get in as much as we can, but there has to be balance,” Ryan says. “There definitely needs to be down time, water breaks and time to sit and have a snack.”

The result is happy travelers—time and time again. “We get so many comments like, ‘Wow, I never thought I’d be able to do this,’” Ryan says. That’s music to his ears. “What’s going on
now is exactly what we envisioned.”

Travel Ready

Ryan Russell of Plymouth estimates that he has been on 15 Hammer Travel trips, including five Disney cruises, two Alaskan cruises, a cruise to Mexico and a trip to London, which was Hammer Travel’s first foray across the pond. “London was my dream trip,” he says, wistfully detailing the visit to Tower Bridge, the London Eye and a drive through the countryside.

Ryan’s first trip was to Los Angeles in 2013. “I love meeting new people, and I love the trip leaders,” he says. “I get so excited. It’s the best travel organization.”

Ryan Russel enjoys a Western Caribbean Cruise.

Ryan’s mother, Diane Russell, says that they tried another travel group with “terrible” results, but the moment they met the Hammer staff, she knew her son would be in capable hands. “They are all so kind, so caring,” she says. “It makes me feel good.” Diane especially loves seeing all the smiles on the travelers’ faces when she picks up Ryan from the airport after a Hammer Travel trip. “It’s so nice that he gets to travel with his own peers,” she says. “He loves it, loves all the adventure.”

“The group leaders are amazing,” says Pam Wright of Excelsior. “It’s been such a good experience.” Wright’s daughter Sarah Lundquist has been signing up for Hammer Travel trips since the very beginning. The 48-year-old goes on two to three trips a year. “She works at Trader Joe’s and saves her money for the trips,” Wright says.

Sarah Lundquist visits a Nashville, Tennessee, museum.

Lundquist has visited Albuquerque, New Mexico; Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee; Sedona, Arizona; and the Wisconsin Dells. Her favorite trip was to the Minnesota Twins’ spring training in Fort Myers, Florida, where the travelers have been known to get access to the field to meet the players. Wright, who admits she’s not a big traveler, says the trips have broadened her daughter’s horizons. “I can’t say enough wonderful things about Hammer Travel,” she says.

Craig Wencl has been on a number of trips with Hammer Travel, including California, Hawaii and Jamaica. He signed up to go to Iceland. Wencl says that the reasonable prices and the staff keep him coming back for more. “I like the tour leaders,” he says.

Craig Wencl takes in the sights in Iceland.

That’s just what Edina’s Cindi Laurent and Excelsior’s Diane Klimowicz love to hear. Laurent has volunteered for more than 20 trips over the last six years and loves “sharing in the joy of discovery” with clients. “It has been my joy and privilege to have this volunteer opportunity,” she says. “I love to travel with purpose. This gives me purpose.”

“It’s very gratifying,” says Klimowicz, a former staffer and now volunteer. She has served as both a tour leader and a volunteer for the trips and appreciates making a traveler’s day, even in the smallest ways. “There are people who have never stayed in a hotel before, people who have never seen the ocean before, and they’re so grateful to have the opportunity,” she says. “It’s such a positive experience.”

Hammer Travel
1909 Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata; 952.277.2461
Facebook: Hammer Travel
Instagram: @hammertravel