Take a fabulous excursion to the Tournament of Roses Parade and other unique locales

If you’ve always wanted to experience the color, excitement and pageantry of the Rose Parade up close and personal, now’s your chance. The City of Mission Viejo is offering a New Year’s Day excursion to Pasadena for the 129th Tournament of Roses Parade. 

You will enjoy this sensory event from reserved grandstand seats along the 1350 block of Colorado Boulevard. Bring blankets and cushions for comfort. The trip departs at 5:45 a.m. from the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center and returns at 1 p.m. Cost is $153.  Register at this link: Course #7735

Next up is an exciting Covered Wagon Tour and Cookout excursion on Thursday, February 15. This Old West experience includes an authentic chuck wagon meal, live cowboy western music and panoramic views of the Coachella Valley. The delicious buffet lunch includes barbeque tri-tip beef and chicken, coleslaw, cowboy beans, garlic bread and apple pie. 

You will then board a mule-drawn covered wagon for a fun and fascinating narrated tour through the pristine 30,000-acre Coachella Valley Desert Preserve. While drawing your wagon across long-established desert trails, the onboard naturalist guide will share much about the wildlife, flora and fauna and local Indian customs on this unique adventure. The covered wagons have padded seats and rubber tires for a comfortable experience. You’ll also make a stop at Hadley’s, famous for breads, nuts and date shakes. Cost is $119. The trip departs at 8:30 a.m. and returns at 5:30 p.m.  Register at this link: Course #8509

Just before spring 2018 is an excursion to the Wisteria Vine Festival on Sunday, March 18.  Here’s your opportunity to see this enormous wisteria vine, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “World’s Largest Blossoming Plant.” Holding more than one million blooms at its peak and weighing over 250 tons, the vine attracts people from around the world to Sierra Madre on this day to embrace the vine and festival. Sierra Madre’s Wistaria Festival is known as a world-class event featuring works by nearly 150 juried artisans, craftsmen, dynamite music along with fabulous food and drinks.

You will also have some time for browsing and lunch on your own at the shops and eateries in Old Town Pasadena. Trip departs at 9:30 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m. Cost is $59.  Register at this link: Course #10000

For more information about any of these fun-filled excursions, call 949-470-3062.