Clovis

The greater Clovis area has a very good swimming pedigree, with Clovis itself being the gold standard of club teams around the Central California region for USA swimming. The pools are top notch - you would be hard pressed to show me any high school on the West Coast that can match facilities with Clovis Unified. Being from the area I will admit is is not exactly a "destination", but within 2 hours either direction you can be either in the mountains or at the beach (not many cities can boast the same).

I've read a few threads recently talking about Clovis. Most of it sounds very negative. I would just like to say that I recently swam in a masters meet there and had a wonderful experience. The pools are amazing and the meet organizers know exactly what they are doing. The weather is always warm, there are great restaurants and nice hotels. And if you want to swim fast--as far as I'm concerned, these pools can compete with Indy and Federal Way. If you don't mind driving you have Yosemite 2 1/2 hours away--well worth the drive. To those complaining, I say "Shut up and swim!"

What nice hotels are we talking about - and please don't list anything with the words "inn", "suites" or "court". Here is my personal hotel guide - "a vending machine is a bad sign ...:bed:"

Clovis does have great pools. Pool decks?? That is another question. Clovis has gone about making newer, bigger swim complexes with each new school in the area. Great for water polo and swim programs. You can fit tons of kids in one place. But this is how all the new housing is in the area as well, large and crammed in to a small area. But everyone should realize that Fresno/Clovis is an irrigated desert. If they didn’t steal there water from the Sierra Nevada’s the United States would have a food shortage. So, that being said, the only problem with a new swim complex in an irrigated desert is that it gets hot!!!!. The new schools don’t have trees, there is tons of cement to soak up the heat, very little grass, etc. I always prefer Clovis West due to the extra trees and grass (older school, great pool, mature trees, grass all around the pool deck). Clovis East and Clovis North (the pool where Masters Nationals will be) are cement jungles. It will be hot!! Even in May it gets very hot. And as someone else said, Yosemite will still have snow at that time. A problem for long hikes, but not for a day visit on the valley floor. As for nightlife, you have an Indian Casino within 20 minutes and "Riverpark" with tons of restaurants, but mostly a young kids area as far as entertainment. Hotels are all there close to the pool. If you are looking for mild temperatures, Late Feb to Mid April is great spring weather in Clovis. The end of Sep to Mid Oct can have great temps too. Other than that, get ready to bake. Negatives: Hot!! Not the most comfortable deck. Fresno/Clovis isn’t fun in itself Positives: Large, fast pool. Plenty of restaurants and hotels near by. Experienced people running great meets. If your from out of state, you are close to Yosemite, 2.5 hours from the Central Coast, Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Francisco.

To those complaining, I say "Shut up and swim!" Ditto that, Blackbeard. ... the only problem with a new swim complex in an irrigated desert is that it gets hot!!!! Not in May ... if any of you came out to Tempe a few years ago for Nationals, I imagine you should expect the same temperatures ... people seemed to enjoy that meet and swim fast. FYI, if you want hot, come out for the Arizona Masters LCM champs in late July! We'd love the company. Seriously, the weather should be good in early May ... all you pasty easterners can finally work on your tans and see the joy of swimming outside (this coming from a reformed, former pasty easterner who swam indoors until I finally moved to AZ a decade+ ago). As to nightlife ... who cares ... aren't we at Nationals to swim and swim fast?? If you want nightlife, go to Y nationals and party with the spring break crowd.

As to nightlife ... who cares ... aren't we at Nationals to swim and swim fast?? If you want nightlife, go to Y nationals and party with the spring break crowd. I'll tell you who cares - just about everyone. Who wants to go to a national meet solely for swimming? As to weather, I went to Fresno in mid June and the weather was quite pleasant. However, I'm not going back due to the travel time.

If you don't mind driving you have Yosemite 2 1/2 hours away--well worth the drive. If I go to Clovis I definitely would like to hit Yosemite. May should be a great time to visit with all the snow melt powering the waterfalls! Probably a little early for any hiking in the high country, though.

Not in May ... if any of you came out to Tempe a few years ago for Nationals, I imagine you should expect the same temperatures Only an Arizonan would think temps were pleasant when Nats were in Tempe. It was like 100 degrees!

What nice hotels are we talking about - and please don't list anything with the words "inn", "suites" or "court". Here is my personal hotel guide - "a vending machine is a bad sign ...:bed:" Yes, I second this, let us all do are part to keep competitive swimming a moneyed elitist country club sport. ;) FYI - Although lesser known then Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks are actually closer to Clovis and well worth a visit.

Only an Arizonan would think temps were pleasant when Nats were in Tempe. It was like 100 degrees! Yeah, I know, I had to bring the parka just to stay warm. :)