San Diego Restaurant Week is in full effect now until Friday the 20th.

You can score amazing deals on some of the best restaurants in the city, with lunch prices ranging from $10 – $20 and three-course dinner menus ranging from $20 – $40 per person.

Whether you’re going on a romantic date, or just taking the family out to dinner, there’s something for everyone this year with over 150 participating restaurants.

Here are a few examples of what you can enjoy.

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Great Deals on Lunch

Via Italia Trattoria

You can get a two-course lunch for only $10! Which is great news, because then you can add a paring with two wines for an additional $8.

Trattoria i Trulli

Another North-County favorite, Trattoria i Trulli, has a two-course meal for $15. One of the dishes they’re highlighting is the Pollo Ripieni a Scamorza, which is a “Chicken breast stuffed with sun dried tomato pesto & smoked mozzarella finished in a lemon-thyme white wine sauce served with roasted root vegetables”.

Splurge on Dinner

Some of San Diego’s nicest restaurants are also participating in restaurant week. You can get a great price on three-course meals at some of the top restaurants in the city. Here are some of our favorite.

Nobu

Nobu, located at the Hard Rock Hotel downtown has a three-course meal for $40. You can enjoy fresh seafood like the Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno, the steamed Chilean sea bass with black bean sauce, and top it all off with mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches.

Grant Grill

The Grant Grill is located at the Grant Hotel downtown. They satisfy both meat and fish lovers with their Dry Aged Duck, Niman Ranch Striploin, or Grouper.

But the best dish might be the end of the night. Chocolate fans will love their “Cappuccino”, which is “coffee mousse, crispy milk foam, cinnamon chocolate crumble, and amaretto ice cream”.

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.

San Diego is beautiful year round.

And although we may not have real seasons, we just bring the seasons to us!

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Outdoor Ice Skating in San Diego

There are two different outdoor ice skating rinks available close to Downtown San Diego this year.

You can ice skate Downtown in front of the Horton Plaza mall and NBC building until January 8th. It’s like you’re (almost) at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan!

If you’ve always wanted to ice skate on the beach (and who hasn’t?!), then you can head over to the Hotel Del Coronado until January 2nd.

New Year’s Day Brunch

What a better way to kick off the new year than with a Champagne Brunch Cruise.

You can take in the seafood bar, omelet and carving stations while cruising around the San Diego harbor. Complete with bottomless champagne and live entertainment, it sounds like the perfect start to 2012.

See a Show

The How the Grinch Stole Christmas Musical is playing at the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park until December 31st. It’s the 14th straight year, and includes the classic songs from the animated version.

Enjoy an Apple Pie

Julian, a small town just about an hour outside of San Diego, is a charming mountain village with snow and delicious homemade apple pies.

You can also stay in a bed & breakfast and enjoy the town’s holiday events.

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.

San Diego, the “Napa Valley of Craft Beer” or “American’s Craft Beer Capital”, kicks off it’s annual 10-day festival tomorrow.

There are more than 400 events planned in bars, hotels and restaurants throughout the county. They include everything from upscale beer and food pairings, to scavenger hunts.

The San Diego Craft Beer week isn’t just for beer lovers. It’s an event for foodies and winos that displays the regions award-winning style and tastes.

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San Diego ranks among the top beer cities in the world with Portland, Denver and Philadelphia. According to the NCTimes,

At this year’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver, where more than 450 breweries were represented, San Diego breweries brought home a record 20 medals.

In 2010 at the World Beer Cup, where 642 brewers from 44 countries entered more than 3,300 beers, San Diego breweries won more medals than the traditional beer countries of England, Germany and Belgium combined.

The final event will be a huge Beer Garden food-pairing at the Torrey Pines Lodge in La Jolla. Some of the city’s top chefs will be preparing dishes that complement the complex, craft brews.

And one of the most exciting events is the North to South (and South to North) Craft Beer Crawls this Sunday. People will be shuttled from San Marcos to Downtown and vice versa to try out the different styles and tastes in each area.

If you’d like more information about the San Diego Beer Festival, please visit their website here.

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.

Halloween in San Diego is one big party.

The hotels transform into costume parties with dozens of musical acts. They have multiple venues and cash prizes for the best dressed.

There’s also a huge block party that takes over half of the Gaslamp Quarter.

Here are 3 of the best Downtown San Diego parties you can’t miss.

Image courtesy of LA Wad

1. Monster Bash

The 11th Annual Dos Equis XX Monster Bash is one October 29th from 6:00 PM to midnight. It’s a block party spanning eight blocks.

They have three stages, 10 bars, 50 toxic dancers and thousands of people! There will also be a costume contest with a grand prize of $3,000.

The block party takes place on 7th Avenue between Market and J Street. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and there’s an additional $25 VIP upgrade.

2. Halloween at the W

The W San Diego is throwing The Greatest Show on Earth. It’s hosted on Saturday, October 29th and will have 11 musical acts!

It’s from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am on B street and State street. Tickets are $40 pre sale. If you book a room package, then you’ll receive 2 complimentary tickets.

3. Halloween Bash at the Hard Rock Hotel

The Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego throws some of the best parties downtown.

And on Saturday, October 29th they’re throwing a huge costume party. It takes place over three floors, five venues and 15 DJs.

Tickets are $50 and the party is on 5th Avenue and L street.

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 winter months are steadily approaching, and bring with them some of the things humans hate most: cold, snow and awful driving conditions. Now would be a perfect time to start planning for a vacation to escape the cold for a couple of weeks, because we all know how nice sunny beaches feel when your family is shivering near a fireplace in December.

Below I’ve included five of the best locations the United States has to offer, and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Image courtesy of Anirudh

1. San Diego

Home to some of the prettiest beaches in the world, San Diego makes for a perfect destination away from the cold weather. In addition to lounging on the beach and enjoying some sun, you could also partake in the many activities that accompany a location such as: water-skiing, boating, surfing, volleyball and especially swimming.If you’re a sports fan, you’ll also want to check out QualComm Stadium, home to the San Diego Chargers football team. What better way to spend the day than to watch a rousing game of football and watch a whole slew of guys pound each other into the ground?

2. San Francisco

The Gold Gate Bridge, the famous trolley system and the world class dining and atmosphere are just some of the attractions most often affiliated with San Francisco. With an assortment of art and culture exhibits and attractions, wild and sophisticated nighttime activities and high class hotels, those who visit the famed city will have plenty to do.Take a ride on the trolley while you’re there, too. You have to!

3. Las Vegas

This one really needs no introduction, because, well, it’s Las Vegas! Gambling, drinking, partying and a loose atmosphere make this a hotspot for fun and excitement. While gambling in the casinos and viewing the special design of hotels like the Bellagio, Excalibur and the Hard Rock are wonderfully fun, there are other attractions as well like visiting spas, golf courses, racing and even indoor skydiving.

4. Seattle

While this may not be the warmest location of them all, Seattle does have a mild climate all year round. If you can handle 50 degree weather and a bit of rain here and there instead of 30 degree weather, you’ll love what Seattle has to offer. Aside from being a beautiful city, it is one of the northwestern cities that has a very sophisticated and youthful population. If you’re the artsy or culture type, you’ll be in heaven. But just about everyone will enjoy the ski resorts, beaches, dining and even the first Starbucks coffee house to ever be built in Seattle, all within an hour or two apart.

5. Phoenix

Phoenix has a very warm climate, and visitors will love the outdoor activities that are available to them. With many parks and outdoor attractions, all nature lovers will enjoy everything about them. Perhaps one of best outdoor attractions that many find to be exhilarating fun is the River Rampage water rafting and kayaking, where you can combat the white, raging rapids and make your way down river, making for an exciting adventure.

There you have it, folks, the five best vacation destinations for those seeking refuge from the colder months. You’ll be glad you took a vacation when those blizzards and 20 degree winds swoop in. That’s for sure!

Joe Petchonka has been a writer for over five years, and has written for newspapers, websites and automotive dealerships. In addition to having an extensive writing background and bachelor’s degree in English, he has helped companies develop professional material to help them achieve their goals. He currently writes for Nexteppe, who helps dealerships sell Queens Used Cars, New York Used Cars, CT Used Cars and Bronx area Kia cars, in their social media department.

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.

Some of our most popular cars here at Fox are the Camaro and Mustang Convertibles.

Well as I was walking through the sunny San Diego lot this morning, there were some great ones laid out.

It’s almost like they set them up for me!

Which one is your favorite? Are you more of a Camaro or Mustang person?

Camaro

Mustang Convertibles

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.

On the edge of Seaport Village in Downtown San Diego, stands the picturesque Manchester Grand Hyatt.

The Hyatt is a combination of urban retreat and lavish resort. They have two tennis-courts, a 24 hour gym, outdoor pools and spa, restaurants, bars, and a rooftop lounge.

And at 40 stories, it’s also the tallest waterfront hotel on the West Coast!

Image courtesy of Mastery of Maps

Image courtesy of camknows

Image courtesy of Jeff Kubina

Luxurious Lobby

You’ll be greeted by vaulted ceilings and ornate detail as you enter the lobby area.

Next to the lobby you’ll find Redfield’s Deli and Sportsbar for a quick bite. If you’re in the mood for a breakfast buffet, then you can wander over to Lael’s.

Just outside you’ll find Ann Marie’s Coffee Shop, and Sally’s Seafood on the Water.

Or if you’re in the mood to relax, try visiting their Kin Spa

Directly off the lobby, you’ll see the Grand Lobby Bar. It’s a great spot to start the evening… or end it in style.

Image courtesy of Jeff Kubina

Unbelievable Views

As great as the rest of the hotel is, you really can’t beat the views. You’ll have amazing views of the city and harbor from each hotel room.

However you can’t miss the Top of the Hyatt lounge. It has arguably the best views in the city, including un-obstructed views of Coronado Island!

Image courtesy of BigRedBall

Image courtesy of BigRedBall

Image courtesy of Tina HSu

Image courtesy of San Diego Shooter

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 are driving around California for 12 days later this month and will be sharing some of their stories on the Fox Rent A Car Blog.

A California Road Trip. It’s something that every serious traveller has to do at least once in his or her lifetime. But if you’re lucky enough to be able to road trip through this great state twice, then you know you’ve struck the jackpot. And that’s exactly what we get to do!

Between August 21 and September 1, the two of us driving from San Francisco, California to Las Vegas, Nevada via Yosemite National Park and several other Californian cities. Here’s a map of our planned road trip:

The Plan

12 days, 7 cities and approximately 1500 miles of driving. Here’s a quick rundown of where we’re visiting on this epic adventure.

• San Francisco – where we are currently and the starting point of our road trip (San Francisco International Airport).
• South Lake Tahoe – via Sacramento. There are plenty of great outdoor activities which we’ll take advantage of.
• Yosemite National Park – via Bodie, a ghost town east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We’ll be doing plenty of great hikes in the National Park.
• Bakersfield – a great place to rest our weary eyes and have a nice long shower after camping in Yosemite.
• Los Angeles – there’s so much to do in this city and we’ll be stopping in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica/Venice Beach among others.
• San Diego – the drive down the Pacific Coast Highway will be half the fun with many stops in the beachside towns through Orange County.
• Palm Springs – this desert resort town is a perfect place to explore on the way to Vegas.
• Las Vegas – the last destination is the Sin City – Las Vegas, Nevada. Just in time for the Labor Day Long Weekend!

Want to follow our big adventure? Keep following the Fox Rent A Car Blog or visit our website Don’t Ever Look Back.

Image courtesy of humbertomoreno

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.

Southern California is full of beautiful beaches, amazing museums, and picturesque views.

And best of all, they’re almost all free!

Here are some of our favorite things to do in San Diego and Los Angeles.

San Diego

San Diego is a very diverse city with lots of attractions and great neighborhoods with various events year round to keep you busy during your visit.

Image courtesy of Port of San Diego

Free Harbor Tours around San Diego Bay: The Port of San Diego offers 2 hours tours to help you learn every thing about San Diego for free. You get to learn about the organization of the port itself but also history facts about the city while enjoying a beautiful view of San Diego Bay from the Ocean. After you enjoy the tour, you can walk around Seaport Village and check out all its boutiques.

Image courtesy of Bill Gracey

Taylor Guitar Factory Tour: Have you ever heard of one the finest Guitar makers in the US? Taylor Guitar. If you like music and if you are passionate about guitars you will find this free activity quite interesting. At 1 pm, between Monday and Thursday the factory offers free tours where you learn every step  of the guitar making process.

Of course, you can also enjoy the San Diego beaches for free, or go fly a kite at the bay, and go watch the seals in La Jolla. Don’t forget to go walk around Balboa Park, go to the top of Mount Soledad for a great panoramic view of San Diego and drive to Anza Borrego or Julian to discover the behind the scene of San Diego County! Of course there are so many more fun free things to do, just maybe start with this!

Los Angeles

Image courtesy of jntolva

If you want a nature break, Griffith Park is also a very popular stop to make while visiting LA. At the Greek Theater they often have concerts going on. It is easy to attend the concert without buying a ticket, just park your car and walk up toward The Observatory - which by the way is another very interesting free attraction in Los Angeles. As long as you are respectful security will leave you alone. So you might not be able to see the show, but you can still take advantage of the music for free!

Another popular attraction in Los Angeles is the La Brea Tar Pits Museum, which offer free entrance every first Tuesday of the month. It is a very interesting fossil museum, where you get to learn a lot about the last Ice Age and observe a large collection of fossils.

Image courtesy of @andrewghayes

While talking museums, let’s not forget to mention the Getty Museum, which is free and always presenting incredible exhibits. The Academy of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is another fun free things to do in Los Angeles. Its galleries will let you have a closer look at incredible art pieces, and also movie and celebrities’ outfits, and other diverse exhibits.

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.

San Diego, CA is one of our favorite cities. And looking at these photos will let you know why!

The beautiful San Diego Marina

Lounge at the historic Hotel Del Coronado

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Spend the day at Sea World

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Take a ride on a pedicab

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Watch the Padres at Petco Park

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Light up the town in the Gaslamp Quarter

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A stroll through Balboa Park Museums

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Top 5 Offbeat Things to Do in San Diego

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.