Los Angeles · onenicetrip

The reason we’re here

Saturday 1 January 2028, from 8:00

Rose Parade

Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena

Pasadena’s New Year’s Day parade of floats covered in flowers and other natural materials, with marching bands and riders on horseback. It starts at 8:00 and runs about five and a half miles along Orange Grove Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard and Sierra Madre Boulevard. Colorado Boulevard is closed to cars from 10 pm the night before.

Every 1 January, or 2 January when the 1st is a Sunday. The date changes each year by a set rule: check it before you travel. Source ↗

The plan(for the whole family)

Five days: stars and sea, a parade of flowers, and a gentle last day downtown.

Where we sleep

1 night

Base in Hollywood

Hollywood, Los Angeles

3 nights

Base in Pasadena

Central Pasadena

Day 1 · Thu 30 Dec
Stars and a telescope
We walk the stars of Hollywood Boulevard in the morning, then drive up the hill to the observatory, which opens at noon on weekdays. The view of the city is the reward.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame1.5 h
  Bronze-and-terrazzo stars set into the pavement along Hollywood Boulevard, each honouring someone from film, television, music, radio or live performance.
  What to see
  - The stars along Hollywood Boulevard
  - The handprints in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre
  - The Hollywood Sign on the hills in the distance
  Time
  About an hour and a half.
  Tip
  The boulevard is crowded and noisy, so hold small hands and keep bags zipped. Come in the morning, since the observatory does not open until noon on weekdays.
  To eat
  Tacos are everywhere in LA. A taqueria with a queue is a good sign.
- Griffith Observatory2.5 h
  An Art Deco observatory on the slope of Mount Hollywood, free to enter, with exhibits and a view over the city and the Hollywood Sign.
  What to see
  - The view over the Los Angeles basin
  - The Hollywood Sign from the terrace
  - The Foucault pendulum in the central rotunda
  Time
  Two to three hours, ideally until sunset.
  Tip
  It is closed on Mondays, and on Tuesday to Friday it opens at noon. Parking near the building is paid, and the observatory’s own site calls public transport the easiest way to get there.
  To eat
  Bring snacks for the children and plan a late dinner of tacos back in town.
Day 2 · Fri 31 Dec
Sand and a Ferris wheel
A beach day on the last day of the year: the pier at Santa Monica, then the boardwalk at Venice. In the evening we move to Pasadena, close to the parade route, for an early night.
- Santa Monica Pier2 h
  A wooden pier from 1909 reaching out into the Pacific, with a small amusement park and a Ferris wheel at the end.
  What to see
  - The Ferris wheel over the ocean
  - The beach and the mountains behind it
  - The pelicans and the fishers on the pier
  Time
  Two hours with the rides.
  Tip
  Walking the pier is free, while the rides are paid separately. It is breezy even on sunny days in winter, so bring jackets for the children.
  To eat
  Fish tacos or a corn dog by the beach, eaten away from the seagulls.
- Venice Beach Boardwalk2 h
  A beachfront promenade a few kilometres south of the Santa Monica Pier, with street performers, a skate park and an open-air gym.
  What to see
  - The street performers on the promenade
  - The skate park by the sand
  - The outdoor gym at Muscle Beach
  Time
  Two relaxed hours.
  Tip
  A paved beach path links the Santa Monica Pier and the boardwalk, so you can walk or cycle between them instead of driving and parking twice.
  To eat
  A fresh fruit juice or a taco from a stand, with the sea in sight.
Day 3 · Sat 1 Jan
Roses at 8 a.m.
New Year’s Day starts early: the Rose Parade begins at 8:00 on Colorado Boulevard, and we plan to be in place two hours before. Once the streets reopen in the afternoon, a quiet walk through Old Pasadena.
- Rose ParadeMorning
  Pasadena’s New Year’s Day parade of floats covered in flowers and seeds, with marching bands and riders on horseback, on a route of about five and a half miles.
  What to see
  - The flower floats rolling down Colorado Boulevard
  - The marching bands
  - The riders on horseback
  Time
  Be there two hours before the 8:00 start. The parade lasts about two hours.
  Tip
  In the current guide, the Tournament of Roses allows kerbside camping from noon the day before, and Colorado Boulevard is closed to cars from 10 pm on 31 December until 2 pm. With small children, grandstand seats are easier than a night on the pavement. Check tournamentofroses.com for the 2028 details.
  To eat
  Pack breakfast and warm drinks the night before. The roads are closed and the pavement becomes the dining room.
- Old Pasadena2 h
  The historic downtown of Pasadena, with restored brick buildings, shops and small courtyards along Colorado Boulevard.
  What to see
  - The restored brick buildings
  - The courtyard passages between the streets
  - The street where the parade passed
  Time
  Two quiet hours after the parade.
  Tip
  Colorado Boulevard stays closed to cars until 2 pm, so walk in after the parade. Many places keep holiday hours on 1 January, so do not plan around one particular shop.
  To eat
  Ice cream on a bench is a good reward after a very early morning.
Day 4 · Sun 2 Jan
Gardens and a bridge
A slow Sunday at the Huntington gardens, close to Pasadena, then the long curve of the Colorado Street Bridge at the end of the afternoon.
- The Huntington3.5 h
  A library, art museum and large botanical gardens in San Marino, next to Pasadena, with a garden for children.
  What to see
  - The Desert Garden of cacti and succulents
  - The Children’s Garden
  - The rare books of the library
  Time
  Three to four hours.
  Tip
  It is closed on Tuesdays, and weekend visits are by reservation, so book on huntington.org before the trip.
  To eat
  Lunch afterwards in Pasadena, where bakeries and taquerias are easy to find.
- Colorado Street Bridge1 h
  A curved concrete arch bridge opened in 1913 over the Arroyo Seco, with a walkway and a view of the San Gabriel Mountains.
  What to see
  - The curve of the arches
  - The San Gabriel Mountains from the walkway
  - The late sun on the arroyo
  Time
  An hour, with a slow walk across.
  Tip
  Walk across on the pavement, with children by the hand, because the traffic passes close by. The light is best in the last hour before sunset.
  To eat
  Finish with horchata or a hot chocolate before heading back.
Day 5 · Mon 3 Jan
Downtown, then home
We take the Metro from Pasadena to Union Station and spend the last morning downtown: a historic station, a brick-paved lane and a food hall, before the flight home.
- Union Station1 h
  The city’s grand railway station, opened in 1939, with tiled floors, high wooden ceilings and quiet garden courtyards.
  What to see
  - The old waiting room and its high ceiling
  - The tiled floors
  - The garden courtyards
  Time
  An hour, easily.
  Tip
  From Pasadena, the Metro A Line goes to Union Station, so there is no need to park downtown. The children will enjoy watching the trains arrive.
  To eat
  A coffee and a pastry for the grown-ups, juice for the children.
- Olvera Street1 h
  A brick-paved pedestrian lane in El Pueblo, the historic centre where the city was founded in 1781, lined with Mexican market stalls.
  What to see
  - The market stalls with crafts
  - The old plaza next to it
  - The church of La Placita
  Time
  An hour at a gentle pace.
  Tip
  Olvera Street is a short walk from Union Station across Alameda Street, and it has no cars, so it suits small children.
  To eat
  Taquitos and churros are the classics here.
- Grand Central Market1.5 h
  A covered food hall in a building from 1917, with dozens of stalls under neon signs in the middle of downtown.
  What to see
  - The neon signs over the stalls
  - The food counters, from tacos to ice cream
  - The old building itself
  Time
  An hour and a half for lunch.
  Tip
  Order from different stalls and share everything at a table, so that everyone gets what they want. It is a good last meal before the airport.
  To eat
  Tacos, pupusas, noodles and ice cream: the market is a food tour in one room.