Rose Parade Caravan
Wagon Masters: Curt & Shirley Newton
Dates: December 29, 2012 thru January 6, 2013
Cost: Rig with 2 people $2,125 Rig with 1 person $1,400 Add'l person $850
The Tournament of Roses Parade is "America's New Years Celebration". This is your chance to
become one of the millions who see this spectacular event up close and personal and to be one of the
first SMART members to do so. You will begin with a welcome dinner and receive your beautiful red
jacket with its embroidered white rose. The next day we will travel by luxury motor coach to Simi Valley
to tour the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum. You can walk the interior of the "Flying White House"
on the Air Force One Pavilion, see an exact replica of Reagan's Oval Office, see the piece of the Berlin
Wall he was presented, appreciate the many artifacts, documents and personal possessions on display
there and walk the grounds of the Memorial Site overlooking the Pacific Ocean. On the way home we
will stop to visit a float construction site and see some of the countless volunteers "petal pushers"
covering every inch with flowers or other natural materials such as seeds, leaves and bark On New
Years Eve you will be free to use your ticket to stay as little or as long as you like at the Bandfest where
the 20 plus bands who have earned their place in the parade will be strutting their stuff. Then you can
visit downtown Pasadena with its restaurants and unique shops and absorb some of the excitement of
the thousands "camping out" along the parade route. We will ring in the new year at 5:30 in a local
restaurant made famous by its steaks but you can also choose between jumbo charbroiled shrimp, slow
roasted prime rib or Teriyaki chicken. You will need to get to bed early because tomorrow is THE DAY
we are here for. You will board our bus at 6:30 for the trip to our reserved seats in viewing stands within
the first half mile of the beginning. Orange Blvd has a slight incline in front of us so everything will pass
in front of you the slowest it will on the entire route. The parade begins at 8:00 and takes a little over
two hours to pass then you will re board our bus for a wonderful buffet lunch. After lunch our bus will take
us to the Post Parade viewing location where you can WALK AROUND all the floats at arms length and
take pictures from every angle and be able to fully appreciate the incredible design, details and colors.
And that will end our "most excellent day". The next day will be yours to do with as you will and there are
dozens of things to choose from to suit every interest. Your welcome letter from us will detail the many
choices you will have so you can make your plans. Thursday, Jan 3 will find us back on our bus for a
comprehensive Los Angeles/Hollywood city tour which will include the "sign", Rodeo Drive, Sunset
Boulevard, Mann's Chinese Theater, Kodak Theater (academy awards), and the world famous
"Farmer's Market" with its 100 plus booths where you can make your own choice for lunch. After
shopping till you drop the bus will take us to LaBrea Tar Pits and more points of interest. A star
studded day of history, glitz and fun. Friday will be another free day BUT we have been talking with
NBC and the Tonight Show. We were offered tickets for a Jay Leno taping THIS YEAR when they
misread my email. They will not schedule this early for next year but you can be sure we will continue
talking and hope and pray a day at NBC, lunch and the taping will be on the agenda. Then on Saturday,
January 5 our bus will take us all the way across town to tour the Queen Mary and after lunch we will see
the Aquarium of the Pacific.
We will say our goodbyes on Sunday morning over a continental breakfast and begin our trips back
home that is if you want to leave. Our welcome letter will give you more options for affordable choices
you can make as veterans that you may want to take advantage of since you are already in the area.
When this rally was mentioned in Shawnee there was a lot of interest expressed as SMART has never
done one here before. Sign up right away so you will be one of the first to go. Participation will be
limited to 42 people. Price includes 8 nights camping at KOA Fairplex/Pomona which offers free WiFi,
laundry, heated pool, security and your pets are welcome.