Rose Parade & Coastal California Tour - December 2024 Departure

Welcome to LA! If you booked your flight with YMT, a representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. After an informative briefing on the days ahead, you are free to enjoy the evening. Take advantage of our free shuttle to nearby Manhattan Beach for dinner on your own, or a sunset stroll along the Strand. This walking path sandwiched between posh mansions and white sand beaches is frequented by surfers, professional volleyball players, and celebrities.

This morning, you’re in for a real treat with YMT’s exclusive float viewing event. On this amazing tour held in Pasadena, you’ll go behind the scenes to see the floats and flowers up close, with plenty of time to talk to the White Suiters, the Rose Parade volunteers clad in bright white uniforms. If you’d like to join one of our optional tours, you’ll proceed directly to the tours from the float-viewing event. Later in the evening, learn the history and traditions of the Rose Parade during a presentation hosted by the Tournament of Roses Committee. This private event back at your hotel includes a delicious dinner. (B, D)

Today we take a guided tour of Downtown LA, Hollywood and Beverly Hills, with many of the highlights of the City of Angels. View the iconic metal curves of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in the bustling, revitalized heart of downtown Los Angeles. Many of your favorite films and shows are shot in this lively neighborhood, so keep your eyes peeled for familiar sights!

In Hollywood, you’ll see the ornate TCL Chinese Theatre, a legendary movie palace built in 1927 where the hand and footprints of Hollywood Royalty line the street. Check out the Dolby Theatre, the annual home of the Academy Awards, and stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame where stars and creative visionaries from across the entertainment industry are immortalized on this legendary stretch of Hollywood’s busiest thoroughfare.

Your tour also includes Beverly Hills, the exclusive enclave for Los Angeles’ wealthiest, with high-end shopping, and the finest restaurants. Will you see a Real Housewife dining on crudités? An actor picking up a new outfit? Anything is possible! (B)

Witness the Tournament of Roses Parade! Watch in wonder from your reserved grandstand seats as the floats covered in millions of leaves and fragrant petals pass by. See elegant equestrian units stride down Colorado Boulevard to the sound of marching bands from around the country. “America’s New Year’s Celebration” is an institution that you’ll love even more after experiencing it in person! (B)

Visit Santa Barbara. The “American Riviera” is known for its Spanish-style architecture, mild Mediterranean climate, and ocean views. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the lovely Santa Barbara Mission. The “Queen of the Missions” boasts magnificent twin bell towers, sprawling gardens, and ocean views from its position on a hill overlooking downtown Santa Barbara. Continue your tour up the scenic road to Solvang, a charming Danish replica village situated in the picturesque Santa Ynez Valley. Travel north to end the day in Pismo Beach. (B)

In the morning, tour famous Hearst Castle. The sprawling estate, once owned by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, offers splendid views of the coast. Enjoy a 45-minute self-guided tour of the grand rooms inside the castle, with time to stroll the garden and pool areas. Continue to Elephant Seal Beach and Ragged Point. Keep your eyes peeled for California Gray Whales migrating south along the coastline. Spend two nights in Monterey, home to the waterfront street immortalized by John Steinbeck’s classic novel, Cannery Row. (B)

This morning, discover the bustling “City by the Bay” during a comprehensive city tour of San Francisco. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge, visit Nob Hill, and catch a glimpse of the famed Lombard Street, as well as many more exciting sights! The evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. (B)

Your tour ends with a final day in San Francisco. See the city from a whole new angle on a highly enjoyable San Francisco Bay Cruise. (B)