Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman starred in the 1986 mini-series Fresno. Fresno was supposed to be this backwater place, an absurd location with which to parody soap operas. I lived there, a few years after the mini-series debuted. And I even have fond memories, there are many more things to do there than when I was there on and off from 1989 through 1996. I spent a ton of time playing $2 blackjack at the Indian casino…
What does this have to do with rental cars? As I’ve written in the past, there are only two real game changing innovations in rental cars that I can think of in my lifetime. One is keeping your information on file so that you can be pre-assigned a car and take off by showing just your driver’s license. The other is picking your own car.
The pioneer in the space, of course, is National with its Emerald Aisle. I love National’s “Go Like a Pro” slogan because their Emerald Aisle concept, to me, is the perfect frequent business renter feature.
National knows that business trips (and leisure trips, especially to visit family!) don’t always take folks to the most popular, most conventionally exciting destinations. If they did, there wouldn’t be air service to Omaha, Des Moines, Milwaukee, or Boise.
National, though, thinks that off-the-beaten path destinations can offer a lot to folks visiting, with the right inside tips. They call these places “Underrated, Over-Traveled.”
And since I used to live in Fresno, I decided to focus there. It’s also been many years since i lived there, and it’s changed a ton. So I’d love to learn the latest tips.
Prizes: When there’s something on offer from a company for me, my practice is to try to make it available to readers instead. I am not taking anything for running this contest. Instead, there’s a ‘grand prize’ in addition to five winners.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- $250 AMEX gift card
- National Extreme Sport Duffel
- National Case Logic Zippered Tech Journal
- National Ultimate Privacy Luggage Tag
- National 14oz Striped Coffee Tumbler
- National BicRoundstic & Notepad
Five additional winners will receive the following prize pack:
- $50 AMEX gift card
- National Extreme Sport Duffel
- National Ultimate Privacy Luggage Tag
- National 14oz Striped Coffee Tumbler
How to enter:
Leave a tip about Fresno, California either
- as a comment in this blog post, or
- via Twitter mentioning @garyleff and the hashtag #NationalUOT
You may leave as many tips as you’d like, but each must be a bona fide tip about Fresno.
- The tip can be about anything as long as it can reasonably be put on a map. (National will be sharing tips on its Foursquare page, and by entering you explicity grant permission for this with or without attribution.)
Subject area examples include Dining, Sports/Activities, Bars/Nightlife, Outdoors/Park/Public Facilities, Arts/Films/Theater, Historical/Famous Landmarks.
If you enter via twitter, you must also follow @garyleff so that I can direct message you if you win. If you don’t follow me on twitter you won’t be eligible.
If you enter here with a comment on this blog post, the email address you identify yourself with (which won’t be published online) must be real so I can contact you if you win.
Entries must be submitted no later than Noon Eastern time on Friday, July 18. I will pick the winners.
The fine print: the contest is open to US residents only (talk to the lawyers on this, sorry!). I’m the final arbiter in all matters related to this contest and in all matters of interpretation. There is no appeal. I’m doing this because there’s an opportunity to send out some cool prizes from a brand I like, and not taking anything from them in return, so please don’t give me a hard time in the process. However do note that National Car Rental is sponsoring the prizes.
- You can join the 30,000+ people who see these deals and analysis every day — sign up to receive posts by email (just one e-mail per day) or subscribe to the RSS feed. It’s free. Don’t miss out!
The Forestiere Underground Gardens make an interesting visit.
When visiting Fresno, take time to hang out in Woodward Regional Park! Great for a picnic too!
National Parks: Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Mike’s Grill on Cedar has amazing BBQ
Park Inn Fresno is a Club Carlson category 1 hotel property for 9,000 points per night or 9,000 points for 2 nights if Club Carlson Visa card holder.
Club Carlson members can buy 9,000 points for $63. That is quite a savings on the hotel’s standard rates.
Check out the AAA fresno grizzlies
Even Fresno CA has an Indian restaurant in case you get up in mood for a spicy curry on a hot 105F day 😉 @ Lahori Tikka on Bullard Avenue
Fresno is a great jumping off point for Yosemite NP and Redwood NF is you’re coming from the south.
Visit the Fresno Chaffee Zoo for a reasonably priced attraction.
The Forestiere Underground Gardens is a unique place to visit.
The Woodward Regional Park is a great place to check out Japanese gardens.
The Rotary Storyland Playland Family Amusement Park has recently been re-modeled and is a nice place to take kids.
You can get season tickets to The Fresno Philharmonic.
For some seiously good road food, try a cravings on W. Shaw. They grill their burgers and dogs over almond wood. Try the egg and avocado burger or a dog with pastrami and onions. Fresh cut fries served in those plastic baskets with the red and white checkerboard liners – classic!
The bullfrog hunting in the canals is an all time local favorite.
A family friendly idea…attend a mystery dinner at the Organic Fresno Theater and Restaurant. For $25, you can enjoy a 4-course, gourmet, organic meal and be entertained with a hilarious who-dunnit!
i only remember that when carlson hotels gave promotions for each of its brands, radisson, park inn, country inn, fresno is a place where you can get all the three promotions work at the same city. that’s rare in US since there are only a few park inns in north america.
The Mad Duck Neighborhood Grill & Taphouse (at 765 W Herndon Ave) is a great place to grab a pint. Try their sliders!
Check out the FORESTIERE Underground gardens!
There is a very attracvtive new federal courthouse there, and a building I think is city hall is 70’s fashion forward.
Just outside Fresno is a unique tourist attraction, a protected park that features some of the world’s most exotic and endangered wild cats. Visit cathaven.com to learn more.
Forget anything you could obtain with hotel points. The Picadillly Inn is Fresno’s Plaza Hotel, Waldorf-Astoria, and Four Seasons all rolled up into one. It’s always been Fresno’s best-known local hotel.
Try the Santa Fe Basque Restaurant for local Basque cuisine. The Central Valley is a Basque hub.
Parts of the Forestiere underground gardens are over a century old. They are modeled after Italian catacombs. Fresnans go there in the summer to beat the heat.
On Wednesdays, downtown Fresno has ‘Market on Kern’. Kern Street is between M and N streets. They have local produce, organic cheeses, honey, and jewelry.
@Scott which Picadilly do you like?
Best part of Fresno? The road out of town! :0
Try the asian fusion restaurant Dai Bai Dang. It has a pretty extensive menu of dishes covering Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. Ask for Dan Dan Noodles!
Vineyard Farmers Market is held year round, Wednesdays: 3PM – 6PM
Saturdays: 7AM – Noon.
Take the kids to the Chaffee Zoo.
If you like art you can not go wrong with the Fresno Art Museum!
The best pancakes I have ever had anywhere are at Batter Up! in Fresno. It’s a small, family-run restaurant with great food and great service.
Park Inn by Radisson in Fresno only requires 9,000 Club Carlson points! And if you have the Club Carlson credit card and stay more than one night, your last night is FREE!!!! What a great value!!!
the Fresno Mariachi Festival is next week if you’re going to be in fresno
Fresno State has some pretty good athletic teams, especially football. Check them out while in town.
In the spring, you can be a part of the Fresno County Blossom Trail, and in the summer you can be a part of the Fresno County Fruit Trail.
Visit Aspen Acres to see llamas, miniature horses, emus, pygmy goats and geese.
Take part in the Shinzen Japanese Friendship Garden annual events like the Spring Blossom Festival and Toro Nagashi (Floating Lantern) Ceremony.
Wings at the Silver Dollar Hofbrau!
Country Inn and Suites Fresno North is a Club Carlson property that requires only 15,000 points per night AND if you stay multiple nights and are a Club Carlson credit card holder, your last night is FREE! What a deal!!
The zoo there is always a fun outing
Oh visit BlackBeards Family Center! They have so much to do …we LOVED the Ropes Course Adventure!
Fresno’s #1 ice cream shop according to urbanspoon is:
La Boulangerie De France by 91% of those polled.
Chaffee Zoo is different the place to visit!
Visit Woodward Park for some nice outdoor fun. For a small daily use fee, you have access to the park’s extensive grounds.
Forestiere Underground Gardens!
Dog house grill! Can’t miss.
Fresno is the raisin capital of the world, for what that’s worth!. The Fresno Grizzlies are a good team for lower level (and lower ticket price) baseball.
Fresno has the Forestiere Underground Gardens.
Rent a car a drive to Yosemite. On the way is the not so famous gem – Millerton Lake South Shore Trail. A must-visit location!
The Fresno State farmer’s market is open everyday in the summer. Stocked and run by FSU students, they grow and sell the best corn in California, picked fresh every day while in season.
As a man interested in eating well, you need to know about Trelio. This restaurant is run with care and commitment by two brothers: one is the chef, the other is the sommelier. Their ingredients are top-notch, their menu changes nightly to show off those ingredients, and the prices are an incredible value for such high quality.