So as a high schooler, I did the whole camp-out-all-night/celebrate-New-Year’s-in-a-folding chair/watch-the-Rose-Parade-with-the-rabble thing, but this coming 1/1/07 my wife will have none of that (partly because we’re older, my mom will be with us, and we’ll likely be tired from float decorating the days before).
So according to the web site, there are different sets of bleachers distributed along the route running down E.Colorado. I don’t know if I should assume that the most expensive tickets are in the “best” location, so do any Dopers have any recs on which areas to definitely consider (or avoid), based on your past experience? (All areas have parking so I’m not worried about that).
Sorry, I didn’t see your post earlier. Seems like the colorado/los robles area is pretty good. (and a block from my office, thank science that parade is on a holiday!)
My personal opinion is to avoid Pasadena entirely that day.
Oi! Although last year, with the heavy rain, the crowd was light. Showing up in my foulies I got as good a view of the parade as I cared to and stayed nice and dry.
I think Orange Grove or west Colorado Blvd are your best bets for seeing the parade from bleachers. Me, I’ll probably be inside at Jake’s, shooting some pool. I’m too old (or maybe just to lame and jaded) for parades.
Definitely Orange Grove. The bands are fresher, and the complicated mechanical floats won’t have had time to break down yet. Avoid the turn onto Colorado Blvd. though. Most of the bands look like hell in the turns, and even the good ones don’t look as good turning as when they are going
