The art scene is LA is not confined to the museums and some special places that people can go to. It is all over the place for the art lover to revel in and enjoy. In fact, LA has art walks, art museums and various theatres for performing arts too. A leisurely walk or self tour along any of the art walks can leave you completely bewitched with the talent and creativity of the artist. Here are some art places that you can go to when you are visiting LA.

Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk – In the downtown financial district and historical core you can enjoy an art walk every second Thursday of each month. The walk is open from noon till 9pm. In this tour, you can cover about 40 art galleries and museums that are located in various places in downtown LA. Some of the galleries that you can visit include The Hive Gallery & Studios and Bert Green Fine Art. While the former breaks limits and provides shocking entertainment, the latter believes in showcasing contemporary art that blends in despite the strong message that the art communicates. The Los Angeles Center for Digital Art has a display of digitally created magic. Some of the displays and exhibits shall have you wondering how it was possible to create such a masterpiece.

Chung King Road – For anyone who is mesmerized by oriental art and culture this is a place that should not be missed. There are various artifacts that you may have to actually discover as you walk the street.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) – A well known museum in LA located midway between downtown LA and Santa Monica, this museum is closed on Wednesdays. Operating hours are from noon to 8pm but the museum opens an hour early on weekends. Some of the galleries that you can view include European paintings, Art of the Pacific, Korean Art, American Art, Art of the Ancient Americas and Modern Art. Some of the collections are changed periodically for restoration and other reasons but you may be also able to see African Art, Chinese Art, Costumes and Textiles and Ancient Egyptian Art too. When you are there, do not miss the Teresa Margolles, Steve Wolfe On Paper, Eye for the Sensual: Selections from the Resnick Collection, Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700–1915 and In the Service of The Buddha: Tibetan Furniture from the Hayward Family Collection.

The Museum of Contemporary Art – Located downtown this is a museum that no art lover can miss. The museum has more than 5000 pieces of art ranging from pop art to more recent renditions of emotions. Some of the popular collections of the museum include The Panza Collection (80 seminal works for your viewing pleasure), The Barry Lowen Collection (minimalist, post-minimalist, and neo-expressionist pieces), The Rita and Taft Schreiber Collection, The Scott D.F. Spiegel Collection and many more. There is also the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Photography Collection too.

Performing Arts – The art scene is LA is not confined to static arts that you can just watch. Performing arts thrive in the city with many theaters and theater groups that bring different kinds of theater for your pleasure. Ahmanson Theater has been around for more than 40 years and brings comedies, drama, musicals and more from time to time for residents and tourists alike. Some of the hits that have been put up include the Light in the Piazza, The Color Purple and My Fair Lady among others. Pantages Theater has been open for more than 75 years and is a legendary place to watch some of the legendary shows like Wicked. Mark Taper Forum offers plays and shows that are more contemporary in nature and therefore apt for the avant-garde folks. The place has received tony Awards and Pulitzer Prize too. The Actor’s Art Theater is a cozy place with 32 seats for anyone who wants to visit. But the size is not to go by since it presents some of the most awesome theater possible. And if you are in the mood to see something original, then you may want to check out Hollywood Fight Club, a place that puts up independent pieces and brings out new talent.

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.

Covering an area of more than 650,000 acres, the San Bernardino National Forest is managed by the Federal government of United States.  The forest includes the San Bernardino Mountains on the Transverse Range and the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains on the Peninsular Range. It also has five wildlife areas that include Cucamonga, San Gorgonio, Santa Rosa, San Jacinto and Bighorn Mountain. The forest has an elevation that ranges from 1000 feet to more than 11000 feet.

Created as San Bernardino Forest Reserve in 1891, the place was rechristened as San Bernardino National Forest in 1907. Not only does the place provide a great spot for adventure and recreation, it is also critical in providing watershed protection for California.

San Bernardino National Forest: Getting there

Driving up to the San Bernardino National Forest is a good idea since you can enjoy the scenic beauty along the way and you also get to use the vehicle inside the camping grounds if you are using an RV. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to get to the National Forest from LA. The recommended route is to take I-10 E from LA and then move on to the CA-60 E road.

San Bernardino National Forest: Special Places to See

The sprawling forest has many places to offer you. Some of those that are a must see when you go there include the following.

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway – From the snow peaked mountains of Palm Desert to the Banning pass, this byway covers about 67 miles and is a trail that is not to be missed. Imagine going from desert palms to an ecosystem of conifers and mountains in a matter of these few miles. Once at the topmost elevation, you can look at the civilization below and wonder why you live in a crowded place at all.

Rim of the World Scenic Byway – Covering the mountainous route from the San Bernardino Mountains from Cajun Pass to San Gorgonio Pass, this is a trek that will give you more than a 100 miles of sheer scenic pleasure and delight.

Cucamonga Wilderness – If you are in this wilderness, you could be at an elevation of anywhere between 4000 and 8500 feet. Check out the dangerous slopes, remnants of landslides and earthquakes and the tough terrain in the area.

Hangmans Tree – A large stately Juniper tree in the forest has been there since the days of the Holcomb Valley. It is called the Hangmans tree because it was the location of some of the most significant punishments and justice in the area.

Gold Mountain “Lucky Baldwin” Mine – This is a mine that marks the last major gold discovery in the area by Barney and Charles Carter who accidentally hit upon the mountain while searching for some silver.

San Bernardino National Forest: Things to Do

The San Bernardino National Forest is an adventurer’s delight. Not many are aware but the national forest receives more visitors than the Yosemite National Park today. A large number of activities are possible in the forest in summer and in winter too. Some of the outdoor fun that you can enjoy here includes the following:

Biking - Mountain biking has its share of thrills and scares. Biking is allowed on specific routes like the forest road and the trail network. The pacific Crest Trail is off limits for bikers as is any trail leading into the wilderness.

Camping – An option for those who want to escape the traffic and the noise for an extended weekend, camping at San Bernardino is a pleasure with facilities like picnic tables, restrooms, fire rings and more. It is advisable to make reservations, especially during the summer time when camping is an all time favorite activity at the higher elevations. At this forest you can choose to camp at campgrounds or indulge in some dispersed camping as well if you would rather have more privacy.

Nature Viewing – There is nothing that bewitches the soul more than to watch the ever changing flora and fauna of the San Bernardino Forest. Plant lovers can see special wildflowers in the Front Country, Arrowhead and big Bear Mountaintop and at San Jacinto too. There are some specific plant watching areas that have also been designated like Heaps Peak Arboretum Sequoia 3W05, Heaps Peak Arboretum, National Children’s Forest, Woodland 1E23, Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail 3E07 and Indian Vista. Deer, squirrels, bears or bighorn sheep can be spotted at various locations like Chaparral Neighborhoods Native Plant Garden, Mormon Rocks Interpretive Trail 6W04, Santa Ana River, Thurman Flats, Big Bear Lake, Heaps Peak Arboretum Sequoia 3W05, Heaps Peak Arboretum, Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area and Woodland 1E23.

Fishing – Another all time favorite at the location is angling. While there is a license that needs to be purchased on almost all days, there are 2 days that have been designated by the Californian Department of Fish and Game as free fishing days. However, fishing regulations that include proper gear, specific fishing timings, size limits and more apply even on these days.

Hiking – Set off on a long trail after you confer with the forest map in the morning. You can do day trips or choose to camp in a camping ground at nightfall too. Checking with a local ranger station to ensure that you are taking a trail that you can manage may be a good safety idea.

Hunting – Popular animals like mule deer, quail, turkey and water fowl are some of the most common game sport that takes place here in the San Bernardino National Forest. You can also find band-tailed pigeons, jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits and black bear.

Winter Sports – The kind of thrill that skiing, sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing can give on the slopes of these mountains is unparalleled. There are slopes for beginners, intermediaries and experts too.

Needless to say you can also have a picnic in the area with kids running around in meadows and enjoy a scenic driving experience anytime.

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 and the neighboring Nevada are almost always mentioned in any top skiing areas in the world. The terrain offers a wide variety for all kinds of skiers irrespective of whether they are novices or beginners or experts looking for a challenge. The great part of most of the ski resorts in California is that they are accessible by air and by road at most times. Those who are looking at South California for some skiing resorts have the option of choosing between San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains and those who live in North California drive to North or South Lake Tahoe is an extremely desirable option.

Skiing in California – Typical Skiing Season

The typical time of the year when skiing is open for all is between the months of November and March. But given the weather conditions in the state, sometimes skiing is possible right up till June in various parts of the mountains. While you may not need to check whether the resorts are open during season time, you may want to make a reservation since the sport is extremely popular among Californians.

Alpine Skiing in California

California offers alpine skiing options and cross country ones too. There are four main areas for skiing in California – Northern California, Southern California, Lake Tahoe and Central California. While Northern California offers popular areas for skiing like the Cascade Mountains, the Gold Mountains, the Cedar Pass, Mt. Shasta Ski Park and Coppervale, Lake Tahoe has the North shore slopes, South shore slopes and the Donner Summit. Central California includes areas like Badger Pass, Dodge Ridge, Bear Valley, June Mountains, Shirley Meadows, Cottage Springs, Sierra Summit, Mammoth and Montecito-Sequoia.

Cross Country Skiing in California

Some of the cross country skiing areas in California include the Lassen National Park, Mt Shasta Ski Park, Camp Richardson, Clair Tappan, Eagle Mountain, Northstar, Squaw Valley, Spooner Lake, Tahoe Cross Country, green Valley Nordic, Rim Nordic and palm Springs Aerial Tram.

Some Popular California Ski Resorts in Detail

The numbers of ski resorts in California are many. Each one has its own characteristics that attract certain people. While some choose the ski resort on the basis of proximity to the place where they stay, others who are more enthusiastic about skiing choose resorts on the basis of the variety of slopes that they offer and the challenges that the slopes present. Below, we have discussed some popular ski resorts in California for your perusal.

Bear Mountain Resort – Twenty four chairlifts, 400 acres of skiing area and over 50 trails is what attracts skiing enthusiasts to this resort. The Park at the Bear Mountain is also a great place to learn skiing and therefore is a great place for beginners too.

Mt Shasta – This is a ski area where you will find trails that are lined with trees giving you a spectacular setting for skiing. At more than 14,000 feet, this mountain allows you to ski, snowboard and snowmobile too. There are also some terrain parks for those who are just beginning to try their hand at the sport too.

Coppervale Ski Area – Slightly south of Mt Shasta is the Copeprvale Ski area that is mainly manned by volunteers. A community supported skiing facility the numbers of jumps in the area, are limited. The attraction of this place lies in the warm comfort and ambience of the place.

Donner Ski Ranch – Known to be one of the first ski resorts of California, Donner Ski Ranch is still a popular destination for skiers. A few chairlifts can provide you access to acres of skiing slopes. The ranch is family run and can provide the perfect family vacation feel to the whole trip too.

Tahoe Donner Downhill – Not to be confused with the Donner Ski Ranch, the Tahoe Donner ski area is great when skiing is not all that you want to do on the vacation. It is a great place to go when you want to take a day off from the tourist activity in the Tahoe region and make a dash for the mountains. There is also the Snowflake Ski School where the instructors provide comprehensive sessions to all who are above 3 years of age. Those interested in cross country skiing can also explore 39 trails that are available.

Snow Valley Ski Resort – Located in the San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California, this is a resort that is only a few minutes away from Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs. So if you want to combine an angling and skiing trip, this may be the place for you. The place has 11 lifts and 30 trails to offer serious skiers.

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.

Planning an elaborate vacation is sometimes so arduous, time consuming and stressful that one prefers to stay at home and chill out rather than take all the tension that comes with flying and flight delays especially during the holiday season. But if you could just drive down to an expansive coastline or take a day trip to the mountains, the whole affair can turn out into an enjoyable few days that you get off from the ennui and boredom.

While it is extremely difficult to choose from among the various beach, mountains and entertainment weekend escapes that California has to offer, here are the top 5 that are a must visit if you have not explored them already.

1.       Lake Tahoe – Top 5 California Weekend Escapes

Lake Tahoe promises to be a great short vacation spot irrespective of the time of the year. The place has a lot to offer in summer and winter too. And this is true for the North side of the lake as well as the South side. The Lake sits on the California-Nevada border and is one of the most popular locations for snow boarders and skiers. There are a large number of ski chalets and after a tiring yet invigorating day of skiing, the casinos offer great night activity too.

2.       California Hot Springs – Top 5 California Weekend Escapes

There is nothing more relaxing than an hour spent in the hot springs of California with mineral water directly from the depths of the Earth. In California there are hot springs that can be found in various styles. There are those that have wooden tubs and those that are created in the Japanese style baths too. Hot springs can be found all over Northern and Southern California. You can check out Drakesbad Guest Ranch at Mt. Lassen National Park, Orr Hot Springs, Surprise Valley, Vichy Springs or Wilbur Hot Springs in Northern California or Agua Caliente County Park, Beverly Hot Springs, Delight’s Hot Springs, Tecopa Hot Springs or the Fountain of Youth Spa in Southern part of the state. There is also the Desert Hot Springs Resorts in the Palm Springs Area too.

3.       Orange County Beaches – Top 5 California Weekend Escapes

No list of weekend escapes of California is complete without a beach destination. While the coastline offered by the state is large and each beach boasts of something unique, the Orange county beaches are a ‘must-visit’ for all. When you drive over to Orange County, take time off to visit the Seal Beach, Surfside, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, San Clemente and the Sunset Beach. The beaches in these areas offer the quaint peacefulness and you can avoid the extreme crowds that you may otherwise encounter in other locations.

4.       Yosemite National Park – Top 5 California Weekend Escapes

With about 761,268 acres of national park area, the Yosemite National Park is another hot favorite weekend escape in California. The park has land at various elevation levels that range from 2127 feet to 13114 feet. It is accessible and open throughout the year though the Tioga Road is closed during the winter. Though the road to glacier point is closed towards the end of November, it is opened later in the year from mid December up till early April for those who want to drive up to the Badger Pass Ski Area. This is a place for the nature lover and one can see various kinds of flora and fauna. Adventure enthusiasts love the place for the numerous trails that it offers.

5.       Disneyland – Top 5 California Weekend Escapes

Many may feel that Disneyland is probably not the best of places for a weekend getaway. But ask any parent and they will tell you the kind of pleasure it gives them when their children squeal with joy on encountering the Disney characters. If you are planning to visit Disney’s California Adventure Park or the Disneyland Park during the Christmas break, make sure that you have reservations in advance since it is likely to be full to the brim.

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.

Holidays in Los Angeles are different and as soon as the holidays start at around Halloween there is a buzz of activity in the city. The city of angels practically turns into a festive pot as Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas and other festivities take precedence over everything else. Large holiday sales, lights, skating and vacations are a part and parcel of holiday in Los Angeles. To make the most of the holiday season this year, here are some events that have been planned. Some of these are eternal and have become tradition in the city too.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: Pre-turkey boot camp – get fit not fat this holiday

As you wait for the Christmas spirit to hit, knowing that you will not be able to say no to the delectable dishes in front of you, take time off and join this boot camp to get ready to enjoy the festive food without guilt.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: Annual Winter Holiday Festival at Downtown on Ice

Enjoy the ice all through the month of December at Pershing Square. The place is open Friday to Sunday at 6 to 10 pm on Fridays and 11am to 7pm on the weekends. Some other places where you can enjoy ice skating are LA Kings Holiday Ice at L.A. LIVE from December 3^rd to December 17^th, Redondo Beach till January 18^th, W Los Angeles-Westwood Hotel till January 24^th and Westfield Promenade in Woodland Hills till February 21^st.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: Los Angeles Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade

A parade where you see boats decked up and dressed to cruise down the Main Channel, this is a great holiday event that is leisurely and relaxed. Take a walk along the town of San Pedro and you will know what a beauty this parade can be.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: Hanukkah Family Festival

Enjoy the family festival at the Skirball Cultural Center on December 5^th. Jewish families and families of other religion are invited to this cultural gathering for fun, enjoyment and participation.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: DWP Griffith Park Holiday Light Festival

Open from December 3^rd to December 30^th every year, this display of lights and landscaping will definitely have you going ‘ooooh’ and ‘aaah’.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: Reindeer Romp at the LA Zoo

Catch this reindeers at the zoo all through December. This is free for anyone who gets a ticket to the zoo. As the reindeers touchdown in the zoo to say hi to the other animals, Santa also comes to check on his helpers and you can get a good photo opportunity.

Holiday Events in Los Angeles 2010: New Year’s Eve Gala

Obviously held each year on December 31^st, this is an event performed at The Millennium Biltmore. The high ceiling of the ballroom is all sophistication and the classiness will definitely make this a memorable experience.

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.

While there are some locations across the world where you could ski and surf on the same day like Chile and New Zealand, the one location in the United States that is the most popular if you want to surf and ski on the same day or during the same trip or holiday, California is obviously a place that will come up and be discussed with regards to the same. There are various combinations of beaches and mountains that you can explore when in Southern California and those who have been extremely adventurous just park themselves in a Beach Resort and then drive up in the snow after a morning of sun and sand and surfing. In most cases, it takes a couple of hours to hit the dense snow from where you can ski down.

Most of the locations in California are apt for the surfing and skiing on the same day because of the proximity of the ocean and the mountains. Beaches like Imperial Beach, pacific Beach, La Jolla reefs, Scripps, Cardiff reef, Tamarack, San Onofre, Brooks Street, The Wedge, Seal Beach Pier, Malibu Beach, Campus Point, Huntington Beach and more are perfect locations because the best cross country skiing trails can be found in areas such as Mt. Pinos Nordic Ski Area, Rim Nordic Ski Area and Green Valley Nordic Ski Area, Montecito-Sequoia Resort Cross-Country Ski and Sequoia Ski Touring Area. There is Mount Baldy, Big Bear and other skiing attractions.

Another area, further up North on the California Coast, where you could ski and then drive down to surf include Lake Tahoe where you can choose any of the ski resorts to ski down from. The beaches that are relatively closer to this area include Fort Point, Dillon Beach, Black Point Beach, Half Moon Bay Beaches, Juan Beach and more.

Here are some options that people have tried and loved. Following these will ensure that you do not go wrong with the timing or land in trouble due to the setting sun.

-          Surf at Seal Beach in the morning and ski at Mt. Baldy in the afternoon.

-          Newport Beach surfing followed by Big Bear skiing at the Wedge.

-          Surfing at Huntington Beach and skiing at Big Bear

-          Skiing at Donner or Squaw in Lake Tahoe and Surfing at Mavericks about three to four hours later.

-          Mountain High and Malibu Surf Shack

If you are looking for ski resorts close to LA, you might want to check out Mt Baldy, Mountain High Resort, Sunrise Ski Area, Snow Valley or Snow Summit. The beaches close to LA are D and W, El Porto Beach, Manhattan Beach, New Jetty and 64^th Place. While Mt Baldy is the largest ski resort in Southern California, Big Bear is also fairly large with 26 serving lifts, and 400 skiing area.

While taking on the ‘Californian Dream’ of skiing and surfing on the same day, remember that you need to first and foremost keep safety in mind.

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.

Thanksgiving is a time that you spend with your family and are grateful for the people that you have who love you. And nothing is more popular than Thanksgiving dinner that is cooked by some special people in your life. While the ritual of preparing for the Thanksgiving dinner may be something that you cherish each year, you may want to thank the one person who cooks you a great meal each year this day by dining out. Spare them the process of cooking all day and then cleaning up later.

There are various things that you can also do in Los Angeles during Thanksgiving especially if you are traveling and are in LA this year.

Thanksgiving Dinner in Los Angeles

Find the perfect Thanksgiving Restaurant in Los Angeles and enjoy your Turkey Dinner!

The Langham in Pasadena offers Thanksgiving dinner each year and ensures that it is made special for those who are missing out on the homemade stuffed turkey. The Ballroom has jazz and you can also choose to dine in the Dining Room or The Terrace too.

The Millenium Biltmore Hotel is also a great place to dine out on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles. The rendezvous Court offers seasonal dishes and also has other Thanksgiving traditional items, all with an Italian swing to them. The turkey with apple stuffing and rich cranberry sauce, caramelized vegetables and roasted potatoes are always a great hit.

Cafe Rodeo at the Luxe Hotel Beverly Hills can offer you a three course meal for a deal and the Whist at the Viceroy has a carving station for the turkey.

Campanile can offer you the award winning Campanile on La Brea. Some interesting traditional fare that you can taste here includes mushroom barley soup, rosemary charred turkey breast and bread pudding.

If you are looking for more than just dinner on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, check out the The Laugh Factory. This is a place where you can enjoy great food as you witness some of the best comedians go up on stage and perform live. If you find yourself in Los Angeles alone on Thanksgiving for some reason this is probably the perfect place for you.

Volunteering on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles

Spending Thanksgiving by helping others is also something that may give you a lot of satisfaction. Volunteer to help at the Los Angeles Mission and serve Thanksgiving dinner to homeless children, men and women. Located in the middle of Skid Row, this is a mission that is active throughout the year but is a place that is known to serve a good special meal to everyone who arrives at their doorstep on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving in Los Angeles at Disneyland

If you want to give your children the time of their life on Thanksgiving then you might want to book for the Thanksgiving Family Feast at Disneyland. This place serves roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, ham, salad and dessert in buffet style and you obviously have the Disney characters roaming around the Grand Ballroom all the time. The Bear Country has a turkey on display that was spared at the White house and sent to live at Disneyland. Read the story behind this lucky turkey.

We at Fox Rent A Car wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving in Los Angeles!

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.

Santa Barbara is one of the oldest cities of California. The Mediterranean climate and the red tiled roofs bring memories of small seaside towns in Europe. Located about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 330 miles south of San Francisco, it makes for a great weekend getaway for people living in these cities.

Weekend Getaway Santa Barbara: Getting There

One of the best ways to get to Santa Barbara is to take Highway 101. If you are traveling from the south, then you might want to opt for Highway 217 exit and check for specific directions. If you are traveling from the north, then the Storke Road exit and a drive towards the south is what is recommended.

Weekend Getaway Santa Barbara: Best Time to Go

Santa Barbara has good Californian weather uniformly due to its south facing location and topography. So it makes for a great weekend getaway irrespective of the time of the year that you want to take a few days off. Do note however, that summers are relatively more crowded as local hotels fill up with people who come here for UCSB’s orientation, homecoming and graduation.

Weekend Getaway Santa Barbara: Things to Do

The one thing that you do not want to miss when you drive to Santa Barbara is the arts and crafts show that is held every weekend. This takes place at the Cabrillo Boulevard. The place is always buzzing with excitement, the people are warm and hospitable and the food is excellent.

You may also want to check out the waterfront lined with palm trees. As you take this relaxing walk, take time off to visit Stearns Wharf where you can visit the Sea Center and pick up some souvenirs too. Once you are done with the seaside, take the State Street away from the seaside and you will come across some lively street shops where you can find some great picks. Not many are aware but Santa Barbara produces some excellent Californian chardonnays and pinot noirs. You can go wine tasting on one of the days that you are here too.

Don’t miss the leisurely brunch at the Brown Pelican where you get a great view of Hendry’s Beach. Lunch at Cold Spring tavern is also something that you should try and catch if you have time and are not too full already with the brunch.

For nature lovers, the Santa Barbara Botanical gardens offer a breathtaking view as the flora is mesmerizing. Park your car and hire a bike to be with nature for a while. Nature lovers can also hike on a trail in the Los Padres National Forest.

Weekend Getaway Santa Barbara: Romantic Resorts

While Santa Barbara is an enjoyable getaway for the family, it is also a romantic destination for a twosome. The glitterati have been known to get away from the paparazzi for many years. The private cottages at San Ysidro Ranch are a great place for a private rendezvous.

Some good resorts and hotels include the El Encanto Hotel, Pierpointe Inn, Historic Mission Inn and the Meadowood Resort.

This time of the year we all look forward to trick or treats, wearing costumes, creating jack-o-lanterns, making bonfires, playing pranks and much more. And the fun can be increased manifold if you go to an event where Halloween is being celebrated with horror movies and haunted houses. So Fox Rent A Car will publish a series of blog posts on the best Halloween Events Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix and Seattle. Here are some of the events that may catch your fancy in Los Angeles.

Halloween Events in LA Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights

All through the weekends in October you can visit universal Studios to get a flavor of what Halloween really is. Walk through mazes that you can get caught up in, scary actors, nightmare 3D rides and other ghoulish shows are what you can expect to see here. The scare event is so spooky that it is not recommended for those under 13 and people with a weak heart are also recommended to refrain.

Halloween Events in LA Disney’s Halloween Time

Check out Disneyland during Halloween and you may not be able to identify what you see. The Halloween makeover makes Mickey Mouse’s head become a pumpkin. But laugh is something that you may not be able to do even at Mickey’s Halloween party. The evenings are more fun with trick and treat stalls, Halloween crafts and scary faces to make it even more spine-chilling.

Halloween Events in LA Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Hunt

Knott’s Farm hosts a Halloween hunt every year and this year is not likely to be different. Touted as the original Halloween theme park this is a must-go-to place during Halloween. Werewolves, vampires, Dracula and maybe even Voldermort this year are characteristic of this great Halloween haunt.

Halloween Events in LA Knott’s Camp Spooky Costume Party

This one is for the young ones who need to retire early to bed. The daytime celebrations are less spooky but the costumes are great. Activities involved include trick or treating and some theme entertainment for the young ones. The party is on through all weekends in October.

Halloween Events in LA Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest

Bump into a zombie in a scary maze and you could let out a blood curdling scream yourself! Add extra thrills and spine chilling experiences to your Halloween this year by taking a few scary rides too. Located at the exit off Interstate 5 in Valencia, you can visit here every October weekend.

Halloween Events in LA Monster Massive Halloween Weekend

Planned at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, Monster Massive is probably one of the largest Halloween events in North America. This is a place where you can get some decent adult celebrations for Halloween. Multiple rooms and stages adorned by various DJ’s and crazy dancers is what you can expect to see and experience here.

Halloween Events in LA Halloween OC

Taking place on October 30^th, this costume ball will have 4 stages and 2 giant hangars. Special effects that knock you off and sexy costumes with music that continues till breakfast, this event is likely to be the best this year.

Halloween Events in LA Haunted Hotel Halloween Costume Party

If you chance to pass through Crowne Plaza Hotel in Redondo Beach on October 30^th, you will see witches, ghouls, murderers and ghosts entering the Costume Ball.  Dance floors and spooky outfits are sure to chock you out of your wits if something else does not.

We really hope you enjoyed our Halloween Events 2010 Series! If you missed one of our posts, find them here:

Halloween Events in Los Angeles

Halloween Events in San Francisco

Halloween Events in Las Vegas

Halloween Events in San Diego

Halloween Events in Phoenix

Halloween Events in Seattle
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.

Disneyland may well be one of the most enjoyable places for children and for adults alike. But any parent who has tried to plan this trip for his or her child will know that the enjoyment does not come cheap. Disneyland is not just another theme park that you go to. And to be fair, you would want to make the most of the trip once you have decided to visit. Here are some super duper tips on how you can save up on your next Disneyland trip.

-          Decisions – The first thing that you need to do is to make decision with regards to the number of days that you spend at Disneyland, whether you want to connect it with a beach vacation in Southern California, combine it with a road trip or visit some other Theme parks such as Universal Studios, Six Flags or Sea World. It is also important to know whether you can be flexible about the dates for travel. This can make a fair amount of difference in terms of the money that you pay for the lodging at Disneyland.

-          Plan ahead – When you promise a Disneyland trip to your children make sure that you do not promise a date before you have researched the whole thing. Visit the Disneyland website and get detailed information on theme park attractions, live shows and entertainment that is planned, restaurants and resorts and specialty shops.

-          Off season travel – not only can you avoid the high price of tickets and hotel rooms, you will also be able to stay away from the crowds if you plan to go during the off season time. Typically this theme park is flooded with tourists from mid-June to mid-August. Also long weekends like the Easter weekend, Labor Day weekend and Thanksgiving week are also crowd attracting times. On the contrary, check out some of the events planned by Disneyland like the Epcot International Food and Wine festival, ABC Super Soap Weekend, Holidays Around the World and more.

-          Accommodations – Some of the resorts in Disneyland are fairly expensive. But you can save by choosing one of the budget accommodations offered by Disneyland too. These resorts offer complimentary scheduled trips to the Disneyland theme park. If you are looking for higher savings, then you can choose a resort located outside the park. Remember that you will need to make a decision based on a fine balance between how much you spend on transportation and your hotel. If you have younger children, walking may not be an option. AAA and AARP members get special discounts and rates too.

-          Multi-Day tickets – If you choose to purchase the one-day, one-park ticket at Disneyland, the trip will end up being extremely expensive. Look for the multi-day ticket options or the ‘park-hopper’ that allows you to move between parks. Buying Disneyland tickets at the entrance gate is also expensive. Check out the deals that are available online and pick the best.

-           Eating out – Lunch rates at Disneyland are relatively lower than the ones that are charged for dinner. Make lunch your largest meal of the day. It is also a good idea to carry water bottles and snacks for the kids since these are priced higher at the food stalls. Pick up some of the free magazines specific to Disney in the theme park and you will be able to find many restaurant discount coupons too. Do not fall for the Disney Character Breakfast for autographs and photographs with characters. There are various places where the characters meet children and you can use this opportunity for photographs without the hefty price tag.

-          Set a budget for the gift shop – The souvenir shop is extremely expensive. And while you cannot expect your children not to buy anything, you should set a budget limit for each person, if you do not want to break the bank here. The attractive gifts are too alluring to resist otherwise.

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.