About the Author: Amy Schmittauer is currently on a road trip sponsored by Fox Rent A Car.  She is a freelance social media consultant, blogger, and copywriter from Columbus, Ohio.  Her true passion lies with video production and vlogging, originating from the influence of the many inspiring personalities of Youtube. You can find her videos at Savvy Sexy Social for advice on implementing social media for your business, and on Schmittastic for personal experiences and all the footage from the #FoxRoadTrip.

If Hugh Hefner owned a hotel in Phoenix, it would be the Clarendon. This place is the bomb. Dot com.

Welcome to Phoenix’s The Windsor, home of the delicious Halibut Sandwich and Kale Salad, some delicious craft Arizona local brews, ice-cream cookie sandwiches, and a wall comprised entirely of tape decks.

I only happened upon this place because while relaxing at the chic pool at the Clarendon hotel I suddenly found myself in conversation with a local Phoenix guy named John. After a few hours of chatting about life, travel, and the very cool tattoo that a year from now will cover all of his arms, back, legs and more we decided to head down the street to this local hot spot in Central Phoenix.

The thing about Phoenix, Arizona is that during the summer months it is no surprise when the temperature is greater than 110 degrees.  Unfortunately this takes away from the whole dining outside experience. What’s really great about the Windsor is that they have little water mist sprinklers that cover the restaurant similar to those at Disney World so your dining experience never gets too sweaty. It’s like heat lamps for Northeasterners … just the opposite!

After our tasty brew and chatting with bartender soon-to-be-dad Will we headed over to the second half of the restaurant that offers a fine selection of ice cream and cookie sandwiches. My sweet tooth could not resist. We split a chocolate cookie with pecan ice-cream mashed up in the center. It was delightful.

Other than the great people and company the best part of The Windsor was hands down this amazing wall comprised entirely of cassette tapes. I found everything from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Madonna to Johnny Cash to Hanson on this wall.

So next time you’re in Phoenix, Arizona make sure you check out this chic, down to earth, and friendly bar/restaurant. And tell Will congrats on his newborn baby for a free local AZ brew! (Not guaranteed… but it’ll still make him smile and get you ice cream sandwich points!)

OK, so you’ve been expecting the sanitized version of events – you know, the “gee we’re all having such a freakin’ great time” experience.

You’re not getting it.

No, today, I’m dishing out the cold, hard truth:

I wish I had never come on this road trip.

I mean. What the hell was I thinking? Three weeks in a car with three total strangers, leaving my wife and son on the other side of the world, living out of a suitcase.

No. I didn’t think this through.

It would be OK if the guys in the car were better company, but they’re not.

Here’s the skinny:

Lauren Rains

Don’t believe the “nice girl next door” image. This girl can cuss. In fact, I don’t think there’s a five minute break between one expletive-ridden tirade and the next.

I’m no prude. I like to think I can curse and swear like the rest of them. But this girl is HIGHLY offensive. I don’t even know half the words that come out of her mouth.

And she’s RUDE. You should see how she treats the servers. Just the other day she emptied a whole plate of spaghetti and meatballs over some poor dude’s head, just because he asked her if she needed any more water.

“DON’T F***ING INTERRUPT ME WHEN I’M TALKING,” she screamed, before punching him in the nuts for good measure.

I’m terrified of her.

Nick Laborde

Eighty percent of Nick’s luggage is made up of various weapons. He made us pull over in the middle of the Arizona desert so that he could “shoot me some darn critters.”

We sat by the side of the car, Rains cussing to high heavens for the entire two hour stretch, before Laborde came back, drunk on whiskey and covered in blood.

“Did you get anything?” I asked.

“I can’t say I did,” he replied, enigmatically.

He spent the next three hours on the phone to somebody called “Clyde”, talking in whispers.

Amy Schmittauer

Amy is the worst of the lot.

She refuses to speak. She hasn’t yet said a single word to anybody.

The only time you hear her speak is when she fires up her video camera.

The minute the camera is off, she doesn’t open her mouth again. She recently scribbled a note to us, in her own blood, that said “I hate you all.”

Other than that note, she’s communicated only by eyebrow signals. Whenever we try to put anything up to the vote, Amy turns up the volume on the ghettoblaster that she carries everywhere on her shoulder (mainly Britney), sighs audibly and raises her eyebrow.

I haven’t worked it out yet, but I think it’s left eyebrow for yes and right eyebrow for no.

Me, I spend my days hiding in the room. When we’re in the car I sit in the trunk. I’m terrified and perplexed.

I want to go home.

***

Matthew Kimberley is the author of How To Get A Grip. Please send help. You can follow his experience of the Road Trip over at Matt Is In …

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.

The natural and rugged desert beauty of Phoenix makes it the perfect location for outdoor activities. Although temperatures rise in the summer, there are a lot of relaxing activities like renting a paddle boat on a lake. Here are some more outdoor Phoenix activities presented by Fox Rent A Car.

Image courtesy of victorfe places

Nature is always the first thing that comes to mind when looking for free things to do. Hiking is a great way to plan a fun day without spending more than gas money to take you there. Camelback Mountain close to Phoenix has two major hiking trails – the Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail – which are not always easy, and can be quite steep. But if you are able and have the physical condition to do some serious hiking, you will enjoy the great views of Phoenix on these trails.

There are also a few rock climbing sites close to the trails.
Encanto Park can be another fun nature escape. There are paddle boats you can rent but you can also plan a fun afternoon or a family picnic and bring a badminton game or foot ball, plan a afternoon of outdoor games!

Papago Park
If you like outdoor activities you will enjoy Papago Park. You can have a relaxing day with walking, fishing, and enjoying a nice picnic (remember to reserve a picnic shelter!);  or you can plan a more sport oriented day and visit Papago Park to do some rock-climbing, hiking or biking.Once a gain, if you travel with kids, this park is a great leisure place for some family fun.

Southwest Desert Adventures

Another great desert adventure is the Jeep Tour with Southwest Desert Adventures. Get on a 4 x 4 car and let the great guides show you parts of desert you would not see otherwise. On this Phoenix desert adventure you discover the desert with a different angle and get to see all the most amazing desert nature spots hidden from civilization! Ask them what other tours they offer. They also take you hiking, horse back riding or even fishing!

The Sonoran Desert is beautiful and offers a lot attractions and desert adventures. Don’t forget to check out the Balloon rides as well, for amazing scenic sky views of the desert! And remember to be prepared when visiting the desert, it’s a large environment and it can be dangerous to explore it on your own without being well informed and prepared. Enjoy the desert adventures in Phoenix.

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.

Vacations are great for relaxing and catching up on some rest. But sometimes you just need a vacation to let loose and have some fun and excitement. If you’re looking for great outdoor activities, and exciting, action packed days, then head over to Phoenix this spring. The weather is perfect year-round, and there’s plenty of fun stuff to do in Phoenix. Here are some of our favorites.

Image courtesy of dougtone

Outdoors Attractions

Nature is always the first thing that comes to mind when looking for free things to do. Hiking is a great way to plan a fun day without spending more than gas money to take you there. Camelback Mountain close to Phoenix has two major hiking trails – the Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail – which are not always easy, and can be quite steep. But if you are able and have the physical condition to do some serious hiking, you will enjoy the great views of Phoenix on these trails. There are also a few rock climbing sites close to the trails.

Helicopter Tour

I said no plane… not helicopter! You are in Arizona… and what is this state famous for again? The Grand Canyon, right! The first Phoenix flight you should think about is that one: the sky view of the Grand Canyon! Different Helicopter Tours to discover the Grand Canyon from the sky are available from Phoenix. But be aware, this is an all day attraction, and it’s worth it. You are surrounded by breath taking views of the changing landscape and colors of the Grand Canyon. It’s an amazing experience!

Skydiving

Be adventurous, take a jump day! Have you ever wonder what it feels like to be a bird for a minute? Here is your chance with another Phoenix flight. Experience a free falling dive in the sky and appreciate the silence of the sky, the beauty of the view, the majesty of the shoot carrying you through the air… what more could you want! And if you are not so thrilled about having to jumped out of a plane, you can always try the indoor skydiving!

Off Road Driving

A fun desert adventure in Phoenix is off road driving. It’s a great way to discover the desert and spend a fun adventurous time with friends or family. Extreme Arizona gives you the opportunity to get behind the wheel and ride off road while enjoying the beauty of the rustic desert landscape. You can rent one of their vehicles (Polaris Ranger, Jeep Wrangler or Tomcar) and go on this desert adventure by yourself or with a guide. Don’t forget your camera! Make sure to make your reservation.

Desert Dog Hummer Tour

Now if you want to take another desert adventure without coming back covered of sand, the Hummer Tour of Desert Dog is also a fun thing to do. What a better way to discover the desert than comfortable seated in an air-conditioned vehicle! You have the choice of 6 different tours, each with different sites and attractions. It’s a great way to discover Phoenix and the desert, with historical and cultural sights included.

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.

Phoenix is full of entertaining family activities. However, you may want to save up a few bucks and also take advantage of the free things to do in Phoenix while you are there! Here is a list of the top 5 free attractions for kids in Phoenix presented by Fox Rent A Car.

Top 5 Free Phoenix Attractions for Kids: Arts Workshop

The Vision Gallery organizes art classes for kids who want to unleash their creativity. Children between the ages 6 and 14 are allowed to join in and work with mud sculptures, sand paintings and more. While the classes are free, prior registration for these is required.

Free Phoenix Attractions for Kids: Goldfield Ghost Town

What could be more entertaining than visiting a ghost town with your kids? When visiting Phoenix, a visit to Goldfield should be on your list of things to do during your family vacation! Your kids will love the gunfight shows. You can plan quite a fun day there. From horse back riding to mine tours and a stop at the Saloon, Goldfield Ghost Town is worth the visit. Discover some of the Ol’ Wild West!

Free Phoenix Attractions for Kids: Cerreta Candy Co

This child friendly candy company, located at 5345 W. Glendale Avenue in Glendale organizes free tours, Monday through Friday at 10am and at 1pm. While on the trip you can see how candies are made and if you are lucky you may even get a chance to create a free treat for yourself. If you want to make sure that you are chosen to create a treat, you will need to choose a paid tour.

Free Phoenix Attractions for Kids: Outdoors Attractions

Nature is always the first thing that comes to mind when looking for free things to do. Hiking is a great way to plan a fun day without spending more than gas money to take you there. Camelback Mountain close to Phoenix has two major hiking trails – the Echo Canyon Trail and the Cholla Trail – which are not always easy, and can be quite steep. But if you are able and have the physical condition to do some serious hiking, you will enjoy the great views of Phoenix on these trails. There are also a few rock climbing sites close to the trails.

Free Phoenix Attractions for Kids: Museums

Museums often have a free day per month or even per week. The Children Museum for example is free every first Friday of the month from 6pm to 10 pm.
Phoenix organizes quite often festivals on weekends. Those festivals can be art festivals, or Native American cultural events. You can attend them for free. Try to find a community calendar for Phoenix, it gives you all the information you need about the festivals in and around Phoenix.

As off 2010, the public libraries of Phoenix County are organizing a culture pass program. By presenting your library card you can get a culture pass, which gives you free access to various cultural institutions. The passes are free. And if you don’t have a library card you can sign up for one, for free!

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.

We need your help!

What location should we run a Cinco de Mayo special? The city with the highest vote on Friday, April 22nd at 12:00 pm PST will be the winner!

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 looking for 2 more Bloggers to join our West Coast Road Trip! The sponsored trip will visit 6 major cities including Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Travel dates are from June 7th – June 22nd. Simply create a short 30 sec. video showing us why you are the perfect candidate for the trip, upload and share and tweet your video @FoxRentCar with #FoxRoadTrip

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.