Rose Parade (138th Tournament of Roses)

The Rose Parade presented by Honda fills Pasadena's streets on New Year's morning with floral floats, spirited marching bands and high-stepping equestrian units. The floats hide state-of-the-art technology beneath flowers and other all-natural materials, a long way from the orange-blossom-covered, horse-drawn carriages that 3,000 spectators saw at the first parade. The 5 1/2-mile route starts at Green Street and Orange Grove Boulevard, moves at a leisurely 2 1/2 miles per hour, turns east onto Colorado Boulevard and ends at Villa Street.

Our take: Stake out a curb spot on Colorado Boulevard, where most of the parade viewing takes place.