This is the first in our travel series for making the most of your Rose Bowl vacation. On January 1, 2010, the 96th Rose Bowl Game between the Pac-10 Champions, the University of Oregon Ducks and the Big Ten Champions, the Ohio State University Buckeyes, kicks off. The last time the outright Pac-10 and Big Ten Champions met was in 2004.

The Los Angeles area is so full of places to see and things to do, you would feel like the Tazmanian Devil if you tried to cover everything in a few days. Our travel tips will cover the Rose Parade in Pasadena, the City of Pasadena, Points West and Points South…and it is just the tip of the icerberg of all the fun things there are in a 10-mile radius.

Watching Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses Rose Parade
So you have your tickets for the Rose Bowl and plan to be in Pasadena for a few days? Don’t miss the opportunity to watch the Tournament of Roses Rose Bowl Parade in person. It’s one of the most magnificent parades to experience – marching bands, equestrian teams and of course, the breath-taking floats, which are lavish and by tradition, decorated with all-natural plants and flora. Southern California has balmy winter weather and the Parade has never been canceled due to rain. Still, it’s best to dress in layers and peel away as the day heats up.

Float Viewing
If you arrive a few days before the Parade, you can watch the finishing touches being put on the floats. It’s impressive to realize the sheer number of flowers, seeds, leaves and plants each float uses. Pay a small fee for float decorating, it’s a great experience. There are three build locations:

• Brookside Pavilion, Lot 1 (across from the Rose Bowl Stadium) – 1001 Rose Bowl Drive
• Rosemont Pavilion (across from the Rose Bowl Stadium) – 700 Seco St., Pasadena
• Rose Palace – 835 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena

Late on Dec. 31st, you can view the floats as they begin staging on Orange Grove Boulevard; if you’re an early bird, get there at dawn and view them before the parade start rolling. Parking in the area is hard to find…but if you can find a space it’s a cool way to see the meticulous attention to beautiful detail up close.

If you choose to avoid the crowd and watch the festivities on TV, you can view the beautiful floats up close at Victory Park for a few days after the parade for a small fee. You can buy viewing tickets in the park-and-ride shuttle service area. Plan ahead, sometimes it gets crowded!

The Route
The Rose Parade route is closed a day before the parade and crowds of locals and visitors alike stake out their spot along the way. The City of Pasadena allows people to start “camping out” at noon on December 31st. At this time, grandstand tickets may be hard to come by but Tickco.com, Sharp Seating Company, stubhub.com and even Craig’s List-LA might be good places to look. Parking for the Parade is challenging; Easy Parking Services offers reserved parking, check for rates.

The parade route is standard each year and the closer to the start of the parade you are, the more crowded it is as many celebrities and TV cameras set up. The Rose Parade starts at Ellis Street and goes north on South Orange Grove Boulevard; turns east on Colorado Boulevard (this is the most crowded grandstand area); continues for about 5.5 miles to turn north on Sierra Madre Boulevard and Villa Street, ending at Victory Park.

Parking and Lodging
Many seasoned Rose Parade viewers arrive in their RV and park along the route. The City of Pasadena has specific areas for RV parking. Otherwise, most of the mid-range hotels in the area can become expensive and are often booked full a year in advance. Some hotels such as The Best Western Colorado Inn and Westway Inn Pasadena afford a front row seat from hotel windows. Other mid-range to budget hotels along the route are: Comfort Inn, the Travelodge, Vagabond Inn.

Higher end hotels located closer to the Rose Bowl and the beginning of the Parade may be a smarter option, allowing you to walk to the Parade and the Bowl game afterward. These hotels’ rates may be even higher during this peak season: Hilton Pasadena, Pasadena Courtyard by Marriott, Sheraton Pasadena, Westin Pasadena.

Alternative Transportation to the Rose Parade
If you’re staying in other parts of Los Angeles, the Metro Rail’s Gold line has several stops you can take for an easy walk to the Parade route. From the downtown station, exit the Gold Line at Lake, Allen, Del Mar, or Memorial Park stations. Lake is a couple miles east of the Rose Bowl, but it’s the closest exit to the game.

Rose Parade Budget Tip: You can view the splendor of the floats in person and avoid the parade route crowds – either waiting for hours on the sidewalk or buying expensive grandstand tickets. Buy tickets for float decorating; tour the staging area and walk among the floats the night before or morning before the parade, then …turn off your alarm clock and watch the broadcast of the parade. After the parade, take a shuttle and buy tickets for the post-parade float viewing. You’ll enjoy the beauty of the floats up close and you’ll be able to talk with the builders and designers about their creations.

Part 2 in our series: What to do in Pasadena?

Pasadena Rose Bowl image via
Dragon Float image via