Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Saturday, 28 Dec 2019: Arrive Burbank; Welcome Dinner (D)
Schedule your arrival into Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR) no later than 4:00pm and take local transportation to the hotel. Alternatively, you can fly into Los Angeles Int'l Airport (LAX), which is a further away but has more flight options, arriving no later than 3:00pm. The tour will begin in the hotel lobby at 6:00pm with our Welcome Meeting, followed by dinner to get acquainted and discuss the upcoming days. Overnight Pasadena, Home of the Rose Parade - 5 nights
Sunday, 29 Dec 2019: Float Decoration; Historic Pasadena Walking Tour (B)
We're off to volunteer as a float decorator. What a wonderful opportunity to assist in the final stages of readying the floats for one of the world's most famous parades, the Tournament of Roses. Our exact assignment will be determined by our host. You could glue flowers onto a float or color corn husks....who knows? But we'll have the satisfaction of knowing we have been a part of something very special. After returning to Pasadena enjoy a walking tour of historic Old Town Pasadena, known for its elegant Art Deco architecture. We'll walk through quiet streets and back alleys and learn the dynamic history of this foothill city. The rest of the day is yours to explore Pasadena.
Monday, 30 Dec 2019: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library; Group Dinner (B,D)
This morning we visit the fascinating Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley where we'll see artifacts from President Reagan’s life as a child, a Hollywood movie star, governor and ultimately president. Walk through the Air Force One plane that President Reagan used throughout his eight years in office and see a piece of the Berlin Wall. We'll return to Pasadena late afternoon with time to freshen up before dinner together.
Tuesday, 31 Dec 2019: Catalina Island; Toast to the New Year! (B)
We'll leave the hustle and bustle of the city today and board the Catalina Express, a high-speed luxury catamaran that will transport us to Catalina Island, 22 miles off the coast of Southern California. The charming and historic town of Avalon is the most visited destination on the island. It is a world apart from the frenzy of the mainland cities. For a fun twist, we'll see the sights of Avalon from a golf cart. Avalon offers the quintessential beach town, laid back, but chock full of places to eat, drink and shop. Dinner is on your own tonight but we'll gather before midnight to toast the New Year.
Wednesday, 1 Jan 2020: The Rose Parade; Huntington Library; Farewell Dinner (B,D)
We will get an early start today to watch the beautiful flower-filled floats and see the nation's finest marching bands perform as we experience one of the nation's most beloved annual events. Originally started in 1890, the parade is seen by millions worldwide. Interestingly, the Rose Bowl, a college football game, was added in 1902 to help fund the cost of staging the parade. After the parade there is time to wander about the floats and grab a bite of lunch before we regroup to visit the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens later this afternoon. Tonight we'll gather for our Farewell Dinner.
Thursday, 2 Jan 2020: Return Home
Sadly, our time together has come to an end. Make your return flight at your convenience. Based on the departure time you provide WTT, your Tour Leader can assist with organizing travelers into small groups so you can ride-share to the airport if you wish (transfer cost not included).