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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.
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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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Memorial Day means many things to many people. It commemorates U.S. solider’s who’ve honorable died for their country. It also unofficially marks the beginning of summer, and it’s a day off of work. If you find yourself traveling to California this Memorial Day, here are some great events you should check out.
The thing to do on Memorial Day weekend is to go and see the traditional parade at the Presidio. The parade starts in the Main Post and ends at the San Francisco National Cemetery, where the Memorial Day ceremony takes places. Afterwards, feel free to stroll around on the Cemetery grounds and honor veterans and the fallen soldiers. You can see last years’ pictures here .For more information on how to get to the parade and where you can park your car, click here
Yosemite National Park
The park on the Memorial Day weekend may be crowded, but for a good reason. Spring is here! The snow is gone, flowers are blooming, the nature is awake and presents itself in the most beautiful and amazing ways you can imagine. Watch wild animals, hike through untouched nature, admire nature’s power. A drive to Yosemite National Park on the holiday weekend is definitely worth a second thought. You are want to go to Yosemite National Park, but not on the Memorial day Weekend? Find some handy tips when is the best time to visit.
Los Angeles
Just a little up North from Orange County Memorial Day gets more culturally influenced. There is an art festival in Hermosa Beach, Cajun Creole Music Festival in Simi Valley, St. Nicholas Valley Greek Festival in Northridge, and the Annual Topanga Days Country Fair. Sounds like a lot of fun exploring music and arts, enjoying Greek food and entertainment!
Of course, there are also the obligatory Memorial Day Ceremonies, among others in Forest Lawn, where you can attend any of their Patriotic Memorial Day Program. A detailed list of locations is on the Forest Lawn website.
San Diego
Being a military town, San Diego offers a variety of events and ceremonies for the fallen soldiers. The probably most impressive event will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma. The Memorial Day Service starts at 10am and next to showing your respect to San Diego’s fallen ones, you can lose yourself in the impressive view from the Cemetery over Coronado, San Diego Downtown and Cabrillo Monument.
In Coronado, you can visit Coronado Star Park, where a ceremony will be held from 10am. Getting to Coronado that weekend plus finding parking may be tricky, so allow yourself enough time for both to be on time.
About Fox Rent A Car:
Fox Rent A Car, your discount car rental company, has been providing excellent customer service along with low rental car rates 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.
Have you ever dreamed to switch your surfboard into a snowboard over night? Well you can! When you are in Southern California, the great advantage of the diverse landscape is that you can be at the beach in San Diego, Los Angeles or Orange County one day, and in the desert or mountains the next day.
Big Bear Mountain – California Destinations
Big Bear is only a 3 hours drive from San Diego, and a great change of décor in just a few hours. The drive up the mountain is preparing you for a different background. The palm trees are far behind, the colors changing and the houses are quite different. Big bear offers some exciting activities and attractions. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit Mountain are the two ski resorts in Big Bear California. All year long the two ski resorts here in Big Bear are great places to spend a couple days. During the summer, it is always nice to leave the warm beaches for a while and go enjoy the fresh air of the mountains. Ski lifts are open to bring you up the mountain and take you to nice hiking trails. In the winter you can enjoy the beautiful winter atmosphere in the white snow. The Snow Summit resort caters more to skiers, and Big Bear Mountain is a resort for snowboarders. You can enjoy the snow park and a few nice slopes. They both are small resorts, but still very impressive so close to the coast!
Palm Springs – California Destinations
When you are planing your weekend in Palm Springs you have 2 choices: make it a relaxing weekend getaway, sitting by the pool and taking things slow, or see and do as much to get your mind off of your job and discover what the desert has to offer. Golf is a favorite activity, yes, even in the desert. Let me inform you about some things you can’t do close to home! If you opted for a more active weekend, consider a nature adventure at the Palm Canyon of the Agua Caliente Indian Canyons. The scenery is worth the hike. Come enjoy the color contrast of the rocks, walk along the water, and learn about Indian art.
Now, if you prefer the relaxing side of a weekend escape in Palm Springs, you are at the right place. Palm Springs is one the best Spa destination of California. Most hotels offer spas package deals, and most of the accommodations found in Palm Springs are Spa Resorts. Palm Springs is home of one of the top 10 spas in the country: Parker Palm Springs Spa. This really is the deluxe version of all spas. If you are looking for something not as fancy, you have quite a list of Spas in Palm Springs to choose from.
San Clemente – California Destinations
Located at the very southern point of Orange County, CA, San Clemente is the best beach town escape away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. San Clemente flew under the radar until 1969 with President Richard Nixon purchased a home, nicknamed La Casa Pacifica. San Clemente boasts a mild climate, beautiful beaches, and that small town feel that’s hard to come by in neighboring cities. It’s the perfect relaxing location to dine, drink, explore and surf! They have great organic restaurants, quaint cafes, classic dive bars and even a winery.
What are your favorite California destinations? Agree or disagree with any? 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.
California has some of the most unique geography in the country. It’s mild climate and fertile soil make California Wineries some of the best in the entire world. While everyone has heard of Napa Valley, there are several other California Wineries you should be aware of. Here are the top 5 destinations for California Wineries.
California Wineries in Sonoma
With 13 different viticultural areas, you bet you have a good choice in where to stop for a little wine tasting! But which are the most popular vineyards and wineries that you should not miss? You can start by deciding which wines you are interested in: Chardonay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Sauvignon or Merlot… and then select the wineries that produce these wines. Or you can just visit the most popular wineries of the Sonoma County. Benziger Family Winery is one of the most popular one for its garden and its great wines. It offers you a full experience. If you want to get a more European style visit, then you should go to the Chateau St Jean in Kenwood. Everything depends on the experience you are looking for.
California Wineries in Napa Valley
With picturesque views that have vineyards planted on slanting hills, a Napa Valley weekend getaway is actually a place you can visit at any time of the year. Even though you may have driven to this town, make sure that you rent a bicycle to take advantage of the numerous bike tracks and the scenic beauty that lines them. You can do a 10 mile trip to Yountville or a 30 mile one to Calistoga if you feel fit.
Obviously you have to stop by the vineyards for some interesting and rejuvenating wine tasting. The Artesa Winery offers a great view as you sip the refreshing wines too. You could also choose to take a sip out of the goblets at the Domaine Carneros or the Clos Du Val Winery.
While you are at the Napa Valley, you cannot afford to miss the Napa Valley Wine Train or the hot air balloon ride that the place offers. The best places to eat out here include Celadon and Zuzu.
California Wineries in Paso Robles
Small-town comfort and family-owned wineries make Paso Robles a relaxing, quaint year-round destination. Paso Robles is situated in California’s Central Coast, roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. And as you look at this AVA Map http://www.pasowine.com/ava-map/ it’s clear you have a ton of good choices. What makes Paso Robles such a great wine destination is the down-to-earth people, and lack of wine-snobbery that may be at some winery destinations. Even casual wine drinkers will have a great time relaxing at the vineyards and enjoying a wine tour.
Paso Robles wineries grow mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. However they’re also known for their great Zinfandels.
So where do start? One of my personal favorites, the Tobin James Cellars, is a great place to begin, and has one of the best tasting rooms.
California Wineries in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Wine Country is divided in 4 different areas. In the Santa MariaValley Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the main productions. This area is also popular for golfing escapes. Cambria Winery is very popular for its wines selection and especially for the view. If you are looking for a more off the beaten path winery in Santa Barbara, you should visit the Kenneth Volk Vineyard in Foxen Cayon for a unique experience. Santa Inez Valley is home to most of the wineries of Santa Barbara Wine Country. If you like Cabernet and Merlot, you will enjoy this wine-growing area. The Santa Maria and Santa Inez Valley are the most important vineyard areas. Sta Rita Hills, which is on the Santa Inez Valley appellation, and Los Alamos Valley also grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. For a great picnic spot and a Pinot Noir degustation, Melville Vineyard in Sta Rita Hills offers you a great mediterranean touch. In Los Alamos, come enjoy your wine between the cattle ranches and farms at the Bedford Thompson Winery. As one of the largest in the region, this winery offers a interesting wine experience in a rustic setting.
California Wineries in Temecula Wine Country
One of Temecula’s oldest wineries is the Mount Palomar Winery. It has been around since 1969 and offers the classic Bordeaux and Bordeaux blends. This winery also makes the most delicious port and a Solera Cream Sherry too. So make sure that you get a taste of these as well when you are on your tasting spree.
The South Coast Winery Resort and Spa offers you a chance to taste some tingling wines with a yoga twist. Even though this winery is a new kid on the block (the first bottling was in 2003) it has already won more than 400 awards. Given the popularity of yoga and wine tasting both, this is a place you might want to make prior reservations for.
The Thornton Winery gives you an opportunity to wine and dine at the same time. They are famous for their Brut Reserve and Cabernet-Merlot blend. Try getting here on a weekend and you will get a chance to attend the Champagne Jazz Concert Series.
