Located in California Gold Country, the Black Bear Inn (www.arnoldblackbearinn.com/) in Arnold makes the perfect home base for a wheelchair-accessible Calaveras County getaway. This five-bedroom lodge is surrounded by the forest, and offers a quiet, comfortable and accessible mountain retreat. From the massive ceiling beams and the welcoming fireplace in the great room, to a secluded patio in the pines, the Black Bear Inn has all the ingredients for a relaxing and refreshing mountain retreat. And if you’d like to explore the area, it’s just a short drive to Calaveras Big Trees State Park, the Sierra Nevada Logging Museum and some fabulous Murphys wineries.

The Calaveras Suite

The Black Bear inn offers accessible parking near the entrance with level access over to the front door. Inside there’s plenty of room to roll around the great room, and barrier-free access to the accessible Calaveras Suite at the end of the hall. Access features in the suite include wide doorways, lever handles, good pathway access and low-pile carpet for easy rolling..

The suite is furnished with a 32-inch high king-sized bed with wheelchair access on the left side (as you face it). Other furnishings include two chairs, a table, a chest of drawers and an armoire. There’s also a fireplace in the oversized room, and if you’d like to enjoy the outdoors, there’s plenty of room to roll-around on the private patio. Of course, if you’d prefer to partake of the creature comforts, there’s also Wi-Fi and a TV available.

The bathroom includes a full five-foot turning radius, and is outfitted with an extra large — six foot wide by 4 foot deep — roll in shower. Other access features include a hand held showerhead, shower grab bars and a pedestal sink. Top it off with toilet grab bars on the back and left walls (as seated), and you have a very accessible suite.

The Little Extras

Although the suites at the Black Bear Inn are certainly comfortable, it’s the little extras that set this Calaveras County property apart. First and foremost there’s breakfast. It’s a full sit down affair in the main dining room or on the back patio. Owner Bruce Davison graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Academy in Sacramento, and whatever he serves is a treat. That said, cross your fingers that his delicious Nut Crusted French Toast is in the rotation. Crispy on the outside and creamy on inside, it’s the perfect way to start the day.

And then there’s the afternoon wine and cheese spread. It’s served in the gathering room, the back patio or even on your own private patio. And it includes artisan cheese charcuterie items, crackers and fruit, and of course your choice of local wine.

And for a real treat, Bruce can prepare dinner for you and your party — up to 10 folks. For a more intimate affair it can even be served by candlelight. And if you have a larger gathering like a family reunion or a girlfriends getaway, it can be also served in the larger dining room or on the back patio. Bruce uses fresh local ingredients, and his barbeques are phenomenal; but whatever you choose you won’t go away hungry. It’s truly the perfect way to top off a weekend visit to the Black Bear Inn.