Discover the Gateway to the Sierras in a Thrifty Rental Car
The city of Clovis, California, is located six and a half miles northeast of downtown Fresno and is nicknamed the “Gateway to the Sierras” because of its close proximity to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.
If you’re stopping by the city in your Thrifty rental car, you might want to check out the nearby attractions, including Badger Pass Ski Area, Chaffee Zoo and Bass Lake.
Badger Pass Ski Area
Pack your poles and head up in your Thrifty rental car to the Badger Ski Pass Area. This ski area is located in the famous Yosemite National Park and is the original Northern California ski area. For generations, families have been bringing their loved ones up to this friendly and affordable ski paradise. The Badger Pass Ski Area offers visitors a welcome relief from the heat of the desert sun and features one of the best sundecks in the Sierra. Sit back and watch your children learn to ski or snowboard while enjoying the California sunshine. This full-service ski resort offers ski and snowboard instruction, rental equipment, a ski shop, childcare and a cafeteria and lounge.
Chaffee Zoo
With approximately 125 species, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo is the only zoo in North America that currently houses Northland green geckos and Southern tent tortoises. Make a trip over in your Clovis rental car to view over 18 species that are part of the Species Survival Plan, or SSP, a program created by AZA member zoos. This program was created in order to develop breeding management strategies to help protect some of the planet's rarest animals. Rare species you can see include Addax Andean Condor, Aruba Island Rattlesnake, Chacoan peccary, Colobus, Cinereous vulture, Fennec fox, Keel-billed toucan, Lesser spot-nosed guenon, Malayan Tiger, Malayan Tapir, Mexican red-kneed tarantula, Orangutan, Radiated Tortoise, Red Wolf, Red Ruffed Lemur, Ring-Tailed Lemur, Scimitar-Horned Oryx and Siamang.
Bass Lake
To hit the water in style, head over to Bass Lake in your Thrifty rental car. Sunset Magazine named it as one of the “West’s Best Lakes” because of its excellent fishing, hiking, wildlife and huge variety of recreational opportunities. You’ll love the sapphire-colored water, surrounded by tall pine trees with plenty of shade if the sun gets too hot. Wakeboarding is very popular here, as well as boating and jet skiing. If you want to stay and enjoy the lake, there are three resorts and numerous vacation rentals on either side of the lake. Or, rough it and enjoy some lakeside camping.