130th Tournament of Roses Parade Pasadena, California
We can arrange your airfare! December 29, 2018 $1599 pp (land only) - 5 days/4 nights
The sights and sounds surrounding the annual Tournament of Roses Parade combine to produce a truly unique and memorable travel experience. From your visit to Pasadena seeing the floats being constructed and readied for their parade debut and throughout the Rose Parade, you will be astonished by the colors, the fragrance of thousands of flowers and the plant materials that cover these massive works of artistry. An optional post-parade viewing of all the Rose Parade floats can be added at a nominal cost. Every year the comments from our guests are that they have always dreamed of personally being at the Rose Parade and that it was on their “Bucket List” of things to do!
Saturday, December 29, 2018– Arrive Los Angeles (Welcome Reception) Welcome to Los Angeles and Cartan’s 2018/2019 Tournament of Roses Parade celebration! Cartan Tours will be providing complimentary transfers from the Los Angeles International Airport to the DoubleTree Hotel Torrance between 10:00AM and 4:00PM. The hotel is just 20 minutes from the Los Angeles International Airport. When you arrive at the hotel, a Cartan staff member will be waiting to welcome you and assist with your check-in arrangements. The DoubleTree is a wonderful place to stay! There are many restaurants and shopping within walking distance of the hotel. The time between your busy Rose Parade activities finds you in comfortable and spacious surroundings. This evening, join your Cartan representatives for a welcome reception with light refreshments. Here you will meet other members of your group and be introduced to your Cartan Tour Managers. A Cartan representative will review your activities and schedule for the days ahead and answer any questions you might have. Dinner is on your own.
Sunday, December 30, 2018 – Float Construction Viewing, Fanfest, Warner Bros. Studio Tour (B, L) Most mornings, you will be treated to a full American buffet-style breakfast. Today is a busy day, but sure to be filled with wonderful memories. Following breakfast we are on our way to Pasadena to enjoy the activities surrounding the Rose Parade. The viewing of the floats up-close and in living color has always been an exciting activity. This is your chance to see the detail of the vast array of flowers, seeds, and natural plant materials that cover these massive floats. “Fanfest” activities vary from year to year, but they always provide some tasty food and provide a chance to buy official Rose Parade souvenirs. After an included lunch, your afternoon activity will include a visit to Warner Bros. Studio, including a 2+ hour guided tour on 12 passenger electric carts with various stage stops made along the way (participants must be 8 years or older for the Warner Bros. tour.) We will return to the hotel with plenty of time to freshen up for dinner. Dinner tonight is on your own, and there are numerous restaurant choices near the hotel.
Monday, December 31, 2018 – Greater Los Angeles Sightseeing Tour, Farmer’s Market (B) Los Angeles is a fascinating place. Today you take a look at many of the places that Southern Californians call home. Santa Monica, Bel Air and Beverly Hills showcase every style of home from humble bungalows to breathtaking estates. See Rodeo Drive all dressed up for the holidays, then stop at Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Have your picture taken with a movie character or look for your favorite performer’s star. There are plenty of souvenir shops with unique products to keep you entertained as well numerous places to get a snack.
Our next stop is Los Angeles “famed” Farmer’s Market. The Farmer’s Market has been in continuous operation for over 70 years and boasts of shops with merchandise and food you will not find anywhere else! For example, the “senior doughnut makers” at Bob’s Donuts start work at 4:30AM in order to make at least 30 different varieties, serving about 1,000 doughnuts daily. “The Grove” is located across the street from the Farmer’s Market and features upscale shopping in a very pretty setting. Designed to make you feel like you are in a small town, an old world trolley gets you from one end to the other. Beautiful holiday decorations and a huge Christmas tree make this a very festive place to spend some time. We will return to the hotel with plenty of time to freshen up for dinner. Dinner tonight is on your own, and there are numerous restaurant choices near the hotel. If later in the evening you decide to see how Californians welcome the New Year, you will find a number of nightspots close to the hotel.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 – Rose Parade (B, L) An early morning is in order, as you do not want to miss a moment of the 130th Tournament of Roses Parade! Cartan’s Rose Parade package always includes top- category, reserved grandstand seats on West Colorado. This puts you at the start of the parade, with the sun at your back. The bands are in tune, the floats are ready and you are about to experience the thrill of watching the Rose Parade! After the parade, enjoy a delicious boxed lunch as we return to the DoubleTree Hotel. This afternoon, we will offer those who are interested a visit to one of the local beach communities. The coaches will stay a couple of hours, so you will have a chance to see the ocean and walk along the boardwalk.
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Purchase our optional Post-Parade Showcase of Floats package: This is a limited opportunity to view the floats after they’ve completed the parade route. Following the parade, we will take you to this special viewing at Victory Park. The viewing of the floats is a self-directed walking tour. Guests who elect to purchase this package should note that our motorcoaches will depart Pasadena about 4:00PM. It will be a long day, but for flower-lovers, a rewarding one. A limited amount of tickets are available. Post-Parade Showcase of Floats Package Cost – $30.00 per person
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Purchase our optional Rose Bowl Game package: After the parade we return to the bus to enjoy a boxed lunch that will be waiting for you. It is then a short drive from our parade parking to the Rose Bowl Stadium. You will arrive in plenty of time for the kickoff and pre-game festivities! Cartan Tours offers reserved corner end zone seating that include seat backs. After the game, you will be transferred to your hotel. A limited amount of tickets are available. **NOTE** Please refer to the FAQ section for what is allowed to be taken into the stadium. Game Ticket Package Cost – $749.00 per person
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 – Departure (B – time permitting) Breakfast will be offered at the hotel’s normal operation time. Cartan will have complimentary transportation from the DoubleTree Hotel Torrance to the Los Angeles International Airport starting at 6:00AM and continuing until 2:00PM. If your scheduled flight departs before 9:00AM, you will need to take a taxi on your own to the airport. Thank you for traveling with Cartan Tours on this “Trip of a Lifetime!”
Should you want to extend your stay in Los Angeles, we can assist you with pre or post nights at the DoubleTree Hotel Torrance. If you decide to stay an extra night, consider the following day tour Cartan Tours is offering:
NEW! Optional Rail Day Tour: Wednesday, January 2, 2019 – San Diego Stay an extra day in sunny California after the Rose Parade and join us on a California rail tour! We will leave the hotel early for our delightful excursion departing on Amtrak in business class from Fullerton Station. The train departs for San Diego at 9:15AM, with a light snack aboard. The 2 1/2 hour ride hugs the dramatic landscape along the coast. Upon arrival into San Diego , we will quickly taxi to Seaport Village for the start of our panoramic trolley tour, including a visit to Coronado. Following the tour, the trolley will return to Seaport Village where we will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Then it is back to the train station for our return journey to Fullerton, followed by a transfer back to our hotel with an estimated arrival time of 10:00PM.