The Golden State of California is perfect for that west coast cruise for your next vacation road trip. Hidden laws and unknown penalties are things to always keep an eye out for when visiting California. When pulling out of any of the Fox locations located across California from San Francisco all the way down to San Diego keep these random but important facts in mind…

1. If you are visiting Half Moon Bay…Wearing a sweatshirt inside-out is deemed a “threatening misdemeanor”
2. Sunshine isn’t so bad…San Francisco made it law…this city is said to be the only city in the nation to have ordinances guaranteeing sunshine to the masses
3. Why would anyone want to hurt a horse? California made it law…In California; it is illegal to trip horses for entertainment.
4. On your way out of San Francisco, take warning of Palo Alto’s skate boarding laws…It is illegal to skateboard on walls “or other vertical surfaces”
5. On your next herding through LA…keep this in mind. “It is illegal to drive more than two thousand sheep down Hollywood Blvd. at one time”

This is just the beginning to a long laundry list of crazy and overly specific laws in California. Its been rumored even some law enforcement officers don’t know them all! In any case during your next drive out of a Fox location while visiting California, make sure and take heed of these crazy city codes and laws. Keep an eye out for more to come for Fox’s different state locations!

Fox is taking part in the Long Beach Aids walk this Saturday June 2, 2012. All the details for the event can be found here… http://aidswalklb.org/

This is how Fox is getting involved…

1. A donation is being made from Fox towards the Aids walk.
2. In addition we will match 50% of the donations gathered by family and friends of the Fox team taking place in the walk.
3. Currently we have 8 to 10 employees and family of employees taking part in the walk.
4. Come out and show support for Fox and the AIDS walk this Saturday.

Community and charity events such as this define Fox as a family based company. We look for ways to immerse our company and its employees in giving back to you our customers through the local community. If you happen to see an event in any one of our city locations email in to Fox at marketing@foxrentacar.com. Your input into how we impact the community makes a difference. Thank you for your support and we look forward to the walk!

Coming up with a list of the 20 best theme park rides in the US is easy. Narrowing this down to just 5? Now that’s tough! The best theme park rides tell some kind of a story, have innovative or extraordinary motion effects and comfortable, safe ride vehicles. If you are familiar with theme parks, you won’t be surprised to see Disney attractions dominating this list. With a gift for storytelling, a love for innovation and the budget to make big dreams a reality, Disney has all of the elements needed to make a great ride.

5. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland)

Debuting just in time for Star Wars Weekends in May 2011, the newly revised version of Star Tours has everything a rider could want. A familiar story with beloved Star Wars characters, exhilarating action sequences and the ability to offer a different ride experience each time.

The new Star Tours is still a simulator, but the motion is much smoother and better integrated than before. Expect to come face to face with some of your favorite characters from the Star Wars universe, including Darth Vader, Yoda and Princess Leia. With over 50 different ride combinations, you can ride Star Tours again and again without having the same experience twice.

4. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (Universal’s Islands of Adventure)

Is it real? That’s the question you’ll ask yourself again and again as you wind your way through the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man. Even experienced theme park thrill riders are hard pressed to figure out just how some of the truly amazing effects of this ride are produced.

Expect awe inspiring special effects, from the moment Spidey himself lands on your car with a thump until the thrilling high speed drop from atop a tall building. This ride employs motion base technology with 3D movie footage, perfectly blending the action and motion – you’ll feel like you’re really soaring alongside Spider-Man. Universal is set to update this already amazing attraction in 2012, so plan accordingly if you are heading to the Orlando area and want to take this one in.

3. Splash Mountain (Disney’s Magic Kingdom)

One of Disney’s classic rides is still one of its best. Riders board a hollowed out log and join Brer Rabbit on journey that only Disney could do justice to. From whimsical touches and details (note the hanging chipmunk laundry near the top of the mountain) to the signature drop into the briar patch, Splash Mountain delivers everything you could want from a theme park ride.

Splash Mountain is an excellent gateway ride for little ones that are tall enough to begin riding thrill rides, but may not be emotionally ready. Combining a healthy dose of music, whimsy and fun with the thrills, your child’s reaction to Splash Mountain is a good gauge for measuring how ready they are to tackle other big thrill rides in the park.

2. Curse of DarKastle (Busch Gardens Williamsburg)

Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia is home to several amazing roller coasters and rides, and the Curse of DarKastle tops them all. The park is already a great destination for thrill seekers, with great coasters such as the uniquely diving Griffon, but DarKastle is the park’s must-ride experience.

Housed in the Germany section, this forbidding Gothic Castle is home to a ride that combines 4D technology with some supercharged action sequences. DarKastle combines the best elements from traditional motion simulators and 3d movie rides, and adds in a few extra twists and turns along the way, making it a top pick for any ride aficionado.

1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Universal Orlando)

If you could only choose one ride on this list, pick this one. Harry Potter and the Forbidden journey seamlessly blends video and ride technology into an experience even the most committed muggle can enjoy. Getting to the ride is part of the fun, as you make your way through Hogsmeade and then Hogwarts Castle itself. The line area can be so captivating that guests actually forget to move on to the ride itself.

Once you board your “enchanted bench” you’ll be whisked away on a magical journey via the Flue Network. In addition to escaping a boring class lecture, you’ll be treated to some traditional (and some the not so traditional) roller coaster moves. While the coaster here is not as wild as some, the atmosphere, visual thrills and overall experience make this one of the most innovative rides in the United States.

Photo credits

• Star Tours, Splash Mountain images – Walt Disney World press office
• Spiderman, Hogwarts Castle images – Universal Orlando press office
• Curse of Darkcastle image – Stephen Dettling

Samantha McNesby is a freelance writer specializing in topics related to travel, parenting, and the home. Samantha has been a writer for 12 years, and covers the Disney and Orlando parks for Theme Park Tourist, where you can find all the latest theme park news.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

This is a guest post by Kieron, one-half of the team at travel blog Don’t Ever Look Back. With the support of Fox Rent a Car, Kieron and his partner Amy drove around California for 12 days last month and will be sharing some of their stories on the Fox Rent A Car Blog.

Our Fox Rent A Car California Road Trip has come and gone and we look back at our 12 days on the road with wonderful memories. As with any great road trip, it was filled with plenty of highlights as we navigated the roads and highways of the Golden State with ease in the Chevy Cruze provided by Fox.

There really is so much to see and do in California that you could take a lot longer than we did and still miss out on so much. Here are 5 of our favorite destinations – hopefully this can inspire you to follow in our footsteps, rent a Fox Rent A Car and explore this magnificent state.

1. South Lake Tahoe

Whether it’s summer or winter, there’s always something to do in South Lake Tahoe. If it’s warm, give the fast-growing sport of stand-up paddleboarding a try out on the lake. And if there’s snow, world-class skiing is right on your doorstep.

2. Yosemite National Park

Words can’t even begin to describe how beautiful Yosemite National Park is and you definitely want to spend at least a couple of nights here. Base yourself in the spectacular Yosemite Valley and explore the park from there.

3. Los Angeles

LA is the second largest metropolitan area in the United States and a must-visit on any trip through California. Some of our highlights? Santa Monica/Venice Beach, the Hollywood Sign and the area of Beverly Hills.

4. The Beaches of Orange County

There are some great beaches along the coast of Orange County so if the weather is nice, head down there! Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach are the better-known ones but there are several others to check out.

5. Disneyland

If you’re traveling with children (or are a big kid at heart!), you absolutely want to stop at Disneyland, located in Anaheim. Get there early, enjoy your day and make sure you stay for the fireworks spectacular at the end of the night.

If you want to read more about our California Road Trip adventures, check out our Road Trip page at Don’t Ever Look Back.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

The number one topic people wanted to hear about on our survey was ways to save.

We can do that!

Fox already provides a number of ways to save on car rentals. Here are a few that highlight some of the best ways.

Image courtesy of owenwbrown

1. Last Minute Deals

Score last minute deals with the Fox Hot Deals.

On our main website, you’ll find the lowest rates for the next two weeks.

2. Loyal Customers

The Fox Rent A Car Rewards Program is the best way to save on car rentals.

Earn points with each rental and use them on your next rental with Fox Bucks. Your points are applied directly to your next rental car. You’re allowed to use them whenever you’d like.

You can also redeem points for gift certificates. You can pick a Super Certificate on the Gift Certificates website, for a larger list of stores.

Give By Category

3. Coupons for Friends

Get discounts on a variety of cars and locations from our Facebook Specials.

“Like” us and the discounts will be yours!

You can also Check-In to our locations and receive upgrades and more!

About Fox Rent A Car

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly when to travel.

I mean the right place at the right time.

Well a great article from About.com has given us some clues and detailed when you should travel to specific U.S. cities.

Image courtesy of BG³Photo

January

New York, NY
San Francisco, CA

March

Los Angeles

June

Phoenix

August

Las Vegas

November

Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Reno, NV

December

Napa-Sonoma, CA

What do you think?

Do you know of a good time to travel? Let us know in the comments below!

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Traveling is tough when you’re young.

You don’t have that much money, and it’s hard to get a hotel or transportation.

But it just got a little bit easier.

Fox Rent A Car is pleased to announce that we now rent to 20 year olds. College kids now have the chance to save big with Fox on their next big trip.

Fox has an attractive selection for young drivers, including economy through SUVs, convertibles, Jeeps® and luxury vehicles.

With Fox’s Choice Program, renters can select their preferred make, model and color upon pick up.

“We are a discount rental agency,” stated Jakub Kopiczak, Marketing Manager. “Our low prices are attractive to everyone, including budget minded students and youth. By allowing this age group more options, we feel we’ll attract a larger clientele base. Our goal is to be a low cost value leader across the board.”

Fox Rent A Car serves 13 airport locations, including:

• Phoenix (PHX),
• Salt Lake City (SLC),
• Los Angeles (LAX),
• Ontario (ONT),
• Burbank (BUR),
• Oakland (OAK),
• San Jose (SJC),
• Orange County (SNA),
• Las Vegas (LAS),
• San Diego (SAN),
• Seattle (SEA),
• San Francisco (SFO) and
• Denver (DEN)

Many other airports are serviced by Fox affiliates. The complete list of all airports could be found in Fox website.

About Fox Rent A Car

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

If you’re traveling to Southern California the weekend of July 15th and July 18th, please be aware that the 405 will be closed in the West LA area.

This will have a massive impact on any and all traffic in the surrounding areas. The 405 is a major freeway running north & south from Orange County and Long Beach, up through LAX Airport and West LA to the San Fernando Valley.

The 405 is one of the most congested highways in Southern California, so this closure will have a significant impact in and around the Los Angeles area.

According to the LA Times:

The 405 will be closed for 53 hours beginning the evening of July 15 and ending early the morning of July 18 — mostly for demolition work on the Mulholland Drive Bridge.

The northbound 405 will be closed for 10 miles between the 10 and 101 freeways, and the southbound 405 will be closed for four miles between the 101 Freeway and the Getty Center Drive exit. The work is part of a larger $1-billion freeway improvement project that includes constructing a 10-mile northbound carpool lane to complete what officials say is a network between Orange County and the San Fernando Valley.

The closure in July will allow crews to demolish the south side of Mulholland Bridge and then spend about 11 months doing bridge reconstruction on the south side. After that, crews will demolish the north side of the bridge, which will require another extended freeway closure.

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

Fox Rent A Car is pleased to announce that our West Coast Road Trip is starting tomorrow! We’re sending 4 bloggers across Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Napa Valley, San Francisco and Monterey. Travel dates are June 7th to June 22nd.

Bloggers

Matthew Kimberley is the author of How To Get A Grip – the last self-help guide you’ll ever need. One of Problogger’s “40 Bloggers to Watch in 2011″, his website was snapped up for publication when it was only two weeks old. Matthew has been featured on the hugely popular Problogger, Lifehacker and 37Signals blogs.

Nick Laborde is the author of the independent lifestyle and travel blog Locationless. He chronicles his journey from selling his house and nearly all material possessions to travel the world.

Lauren Rains is the author of The Mad To Live, the fast-growing personal development & travel blog about how to live the wild, crazy, meaningful life we’re all meant to live. She’s also the founder and head designer at Wild World Design where she’s quickly becoming the go-to girl in kick-ass web design and big impact social media for entrepreneurial digital nomads and the travel companies they visit along the way.

Amy Schmittauer is a social media consultant, blogger and copywriter. She’s primarily known for her daily vlogging (video blogging) on Youtube. She also just launched  Savvy Sexy Social, which is a resource and advocate site for women entrepreneurs who are looking to win in social media marking for their business.

Don’t Miss this Special Treat!

Are you Los Angeles based company or sole proprietor? You can meet our bloggers in person and ask them questions at the Blogging for Fun and Profit Luncheon and Panel in Santa Clarita, CA on Wednesday, June 22nd.

For more information, please visit the Facebook Event page, or Rebecca’s home page.

Wolf Creek Restaurant & Brewing Co.
27746 Mcbean Pkwy
Santa Clarita, CA 91354

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.

From Melrose Drive to South Coast Plaza, California is known for great shopping. But the Golden State doesn’t just specialize in high end fashion. California also has some of the best outlet malls you can find, with name brand designer shops up to 70% off! Here are some of the best outlet malls in California presented by Fox Rent A Car.

Image courtesy of █ Slices of Light █▀ ▀ ▀

Los Angeles

At Melrose Avenue, you can check out Red Balls or Von Dutch for some good Hollywood style clothes. Aardvark and Wasteland are famous for their secondhand items. You will also be able to find all kinds of affordable stuff – lingerie at Agent Provocateur and home accessories at the Johathan Adler store.
You can find the best boutiques like Madison and Anna Sui at Sunset Plaza and accessorize with Ann Cherico’s latest knick knacks.

Third Street Promenade Santa Monica is a well known shopping walk due to the unending array of shops that include fascinating antique stores, apparel boutiques like Polka Dots & Moonbeams and home accessory outlets like Zippers.

If you are looking for some great deals, you might want to visit Nordstrom Rack, the department store that can find great deals on branded shoes, clothes and accessories. You will probably scream with excitement on finding discounted prices for Lucky Brand, Ugg, Burberry and many more. The Citadel Factory Outlet can offer some of your favorite brands at a discount of up to 70 percent at times. This is obviously a place you don’t want to miss while in Los Angeles.

Some of the other areas where you can find great deals visit the Desert Hills Premium Outlets, Ontario Mills or Cabazon outlets towards the east of Los Angeles.

The Cabazon outlets have over 150 name-brand shops including Barney’s Coach, Crate & Barrel, etc. They’re located off the I-10 at Fields Road Exist, roughly 20 minutes from downtown Palm Springs.

San Diego

If you don’t mind getting behind the wheel and drive out of San Diego City for better prices, great deals and sales opportunities, great outlets can be found all over San Diego County.
- By shopping in the Carlsbad Premium Outlet, you automatically save between 25 to 65% of the normal prices. The Carlsbad Premium Outlet is another great San Diego outdoor shopping experience with numerous great designers and leading brands choices.
- Viejas Outlet Center is one the top San Diego shopping destination. You can find savings up to 70%. This outlet is nestled in the Indian reserve of Viejas, and you can therefore discover a little bit of the Kumeyaay Culture. The outlet also offers night entertainment, a casino and great dining options.

San Isidro is home of the Las Americas Premium Outlet. It is the largest one in San Diego county with a beautiful setting.. Being right next to the border between the US and Mexico, you can also take advantage of the Duty Free shops, if you don’t mind waiting in line to cross the border. But remember to bring your passport!

About Fox Rent A Car:

Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rates for rental cars since its founding in 1989. Today, our success in these areas has enabled us to develop into the largest independent car rentals company headquartered in California. You will find Fox Car Rental offices conveniently located at major airports throughout the world.