AAA Hoosier - AAA Sojourns Vacations

Detailed Description
Itinerary

Package details include:

Join us on an escorted vacation that has become an annual AAA Member favorite from AAA Sojourns. Revel in the colorful history and pageantry of one of the nation’s most beloved New Year’s celebrations, the Tournament of Roses. View floats at the 123rd annual Rose Parade interpreting the 2012 theme, Just Imagine, from prime parade route seats as miles of rose-adorned floats, spirited marching bands, and high-stepping equestrians march down the boulevard.

After the parade, head to Victory Park to cheer on the winning floats at the post-parade Showcase of Floats. Get a closer look at your favorites and see animated floats in action. Plus, for an additional charge, you may also choose to attend the revered Rose Bowl Game** for an afternoon of college football.

To round out the holiday festivities, tour the ship Queen Mary followed by an exclusive dinner in a private dining room; visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library which includes a full scale replica of the Oval Office and the airplane used as Air Force One; enjoy a special New Year’s Eve dinner; and see final float preparations at a pre-parade Float Barn Tour.

Price includes:
• 4 nights accommodations at Westin Long Beach Hotel
• Daily breakfast, 2 lunches and 2 dinners, including a festive New Year’s Eve dinner
• Tour and dinner aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach
• Visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library
• Pre-parade Float Barn Tour
• Grandstand seating at the Tournament of Roses Parade (seat location is corner of West Colorado and Orange Grove and within the blocks of 414-450; this is where the TV cameras are located and where the bands stop to perform)
• 2012 Rose Parade Program (1 per person)
• Admission to Showcase of Floats in Victory Park
• Round-trip airport transfers

**Rose Bowl Ticket includes transfers and box lunch: $350 per person. Tickets are located in the end zone and are subject to availability. Inquire at time of booking. Upgrade ticket from Goal Line to 15 Yard Line: $450 per person.

Note: There is considerable walking on the sightseeing portion of the tour. Please plan accordingly. Additional hotel nights may be available. Inquire at time of booking.

Day 1 - Arrive in Los Angeles
Transfer from the Los Angeles International, Long Beach or Burbank Airports to the hotel. Please plan to arrive at the hotel no later than 2:30 p.m. to ensure that you have time to check-in before a 4:30 p.m. departure for the guided tour and dinner aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
Accommodation: Westin Long Beach Hotel- 3 nights

Day 2 - Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation / New Year’s Eve Dinner
After breakfast, depart for The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library, the largest of the twelve federally funded presidential libraries. A full scale replica of the Oval Office – a feature of most presidential libraries – is a prominent feature of this museum. The hilltop grounds provide expansive views of the area, a re-creation of a portion of the White House Lawn, and, like many presidential libraries, a piece of the Berlin Wall. One of the highlights of the library is the 90,000-square-foot (8,400 m2) exhibit hangar that serves as the setting for the permanent display of the Boeing 707 aircraft utilized as Air Force One during Reagan's administration. The aircraft was also used by six other presidents in its active service life from 1973–2001.

A lunch buffet will be served beneath Air Force One before heading back to the hotel to freshen up for your New Year’s Eve dinner.

Day 3 - Float Barn Tour
After breakfast, depart early to tour the Float Barns and see the final float preparations. The rest of the afternoon is free.

Day 4 - Rose Parade
After breakfast, head to Pasadena early to get a good spot for the 123rd annual Rose Parade. (We recommend bringing a jacket or blanket with you because it is early in the morning and it may be chilly.) This year’s theme is Just Imagine. Prepare to be dazzled by float artistry, equestrian excellence, the nation’s best marching bands and of course, miles and miles of roses! After a sit-down lunch, head to Victory Park for the post-parade of Showcase of Floats. Get a closer look at your favorites and see animated floats in action.

Please note: This is a long day with an early wake-up call, float viewing and walking. The Parade ends at 10 a.m., and the Showcase of Floats viewing area opens at 2 p.m. After the end of the Parade passes by our group seats, the group will board the motorcoach and drive away from the area for lunch. This allows time for the parade to finish, for participants to clear out of the area, and time to assemble floats in the Showcase of Floats area. You will need to walk from where the motorcoach can park to the entrance to the Showcase of Floats and throughout the Showcase area. Please be prepared with comfortable walking shoes.

Optional: Head to the revered Rose Bowl Game for an afternoon of college football (available at additional cost). A box lunch is provided for those attending the game. You will miss the Showcase of Floats today but you can make your own arrangements to see the floats when the Showcase of Floats opens again on January 3.

If you do wish to see the floats on January 3 we highly recommend that you arrive early as you will need to park at one location and then be bussed to the float area. There are separate lines for purchasing tickets for the bus and for boarding the bus once you purchase tickets. If you arrive mid-morning you will likely have a long wait in both lines and there is no place to sit while waiting.

Day 5 - Depart Los Angeles
After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to Los Angeles International, Long Beach or Burbank Airport. Please arrange flights to depart after 10:00 a.m.