Relax and unwind in the small community of Bass Lake, California. The area is home to its namesake lake, as well as in proximity to Yosemite National Park. Spend days boating, fishing, and hiking on the numerous hiking paths that wind their way through old-growth forests and lush greenery. Many Bass Lake vacation rentals are situated only a short drive or walk from these incredible outdoor attractions. Start your Bass Lake journey with this list of the top 15 things to do in the area.
1. Hit the Lake With Bass Lake Boat Rentals and Marina
Spend a day on the lake, the area’s biggest attraction, fishing, water skiing, and soaking up the sun with a rental from Bass Lake Boat Rentals and Marina. This local business can rent you a boat for an afternoon or entire day, along with life vests. They also offer kayaks, jet skis, and pontoon boats.
2. Spend a Day Fishing With Supplies from Forks Resort Marina
Fishing and lakes seem to go hand in hand, and your group must spend at least part of a day seeing what the catch of the day is. Gather up your rods and reels, and then stop by Forks Resort Marina for live bait and any lures or equipment you forgot back at the vacation rental. Choose a spot along the bank and fish for your dinner.
3. Rejuvenate at the Pines Spa
Leave all your stress behind when you spend a day at the Pines Spa. Ask for the Thai Herbal Poultice massage for an exotic experience that leaves all your muscles relaxed and knot free. This spa offers a range of services, including facials and body treatments. A pedicure can leave your feet in tip-top shape for flip-flops.
4. Explore the Art Scene With Sierra Art Trails
Sierra Art Trails sponsors many events throughout the year for you to see work from local and regional artists. Take a tour with their Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour, where you can not only see the work but meet the artists and see them at work. They host a variety of unique exhibits and other art type events.
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5. Try Something New at the Queen’s Wine Bar and Beer Garden
Sample some regional wines and your old favorites when you take older children to the Queen’s Wine Bar and Beer Garden. This hotspot features a large selection of beers from microbreweries and imports. Check the schedule before making your plans as this attraction welcomes musicians for live concerts throughout the year.
6. See a Unique Art Form at Brian Allan Chainsaw Carving
For a unique demonstration, stop by Brian Allan Chainsaw Carving to see how this local artist takes a piece of wood from local lumber and turns it into a detailed bear or other creatures with a chainsaw. Afterward, select your own wood carving to take home as a souvenir or as a gift for someone else.
7. Try Your Luck at Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino
Close your eyes and you almost feel like your in Vegas when you spend an evening at Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. This local casino offers all your favorite games from slot machines to table games. Check out the casino’s schedule of live performances or have dinner in one of the on-site restaurants.
8. Dress Up for Dinner at Big Trees Lodge Yosemite Restaurant
Slip on your heels before leaving your vacation rental for a meal at the Big Trees Lodge Yosemite Restaurant. Housed in an authentic-style Victorian building, the restaurant offers elegance and good food. Before or after dinner, step out on the meandering verandah to enjoy the fresh mountain air.
9. Rent Bikes From Yosemite Bicycle and Sport
Winding their way around Bass Lake are a series of bike trails, and Yosemite Bicycle and Sport rents a variety of bikes to get you out and about. The friendly clerks can help you pick out a mountain bike to navigate the 8 miles on the Forks Trail at Goat Mountain.
10. Take to the Skies With Airborrn Aviation
Do a little sightseeing from the skies with a flight from Airborrn Aviation. For an hour, you fly over some of the most stunning scenery in the state with views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Historic Yosemite. The plane accommodates three passengers so that everyone has a window seat, and the pilot points out all the major sights.
11. Take a Tour With Discover Yosemite
Load the family into one of Discover Yosemite’s vans for a day of touring the Yosemite National Park, where there’s a cascading waterfall practically around every turn. Your guide shares all his local knowledge about the plant and animal life along with tips and trivia about the park. The tour includes a meal that you enjoy in the middle of this beautiful terrain.
12. Go Golfing at River Creek Golf Course
With stunning mountains as a backdrop, the River Creek Golf Course offers 18 holes of golf, where you can practice your swing while on vacation. While waiting your turn, step under the shade of the massive trees that line the course and rolling hills. The club’s bar and grill is a great place to grab a celebration drink and snack after your game.
13. Go Hiking With Lasting Adventures, Inc.
Put on your favorite hiking boots and pack an extra bottle of water before leaving your vacation rental for a day of hiking with Lasting Adventures, Inc. This company works with your group to create a custom hike to explore the places you want to see and keeps your skill level in mind. During the summer season, they offer day camps for children.
14. Learn to Take Photos With Susan Holt Photography
See the Sierra Nevada Mountains from a new perspective, behind the lens of a camera, with a day spent touring with Susan Holt Photography. Holt is a native to the area and takes groups to the best spots to get amazing pictures of the sheer majesty of these snow-capped mountains.
15. Ride With Yosemite Trails Saddle and Sleigh Company
Explore the area around Bass Lake and the surrounding area with Yosemite Trails Saddle and Sleigh Company. Plan to arrive early so one of the stable hands can help match you with a horse that suits your skill level, and then enjoy a couple of hours wandering through the forests and meadows alive with a riot of colors.
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