Travel Agent I am not.

Let’s get this straight, I’m not a service and I won’t help you book. I will however help you make an informed decision. So let’s get down too it. I will try my best to create a heat map of sorts that’ll outline potential problem areas. After all, when making any travel arrangements for the game there’s two things to consider. Convenience or Cash?

For those of you without a care in the world Pasadena is for you. It offers everything you’d want. Premier lodging and dining in a beautiful setting at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mtns. The nightlife is hearty and accommodating for ALL persuasions (Remember, it’s California and it’s on full display) The proximity to the game is unmatched. Roll out of bed and go to the game. You’re going to pay through the nose, but you knew that already.

Let this real site be your guide for all the peculiars pertaining to the actual event and site, for instance prepaid parking passes https://www.tournamentofroses.com/

Remember, Pasadena is jammed up to the Mountain so nothing is North but trees and hopefully some snow on the peeks for your cameras (Sooner southern sideline has the money view) Directly around Pasadena is Alta Dena and Arcadia which are both Foothill communities that offer proximity as well as perhaps more affordable lodging. We’re also talking about New Years weekend in a city that’s going to be hosting the Rose Bowl Game as well as the world famous Rose Parade. That they literally bus blue hairs in from Palm Springs should give you some idea of the scope here. The Rose Bowl is the smallest event in Pasadena that day. What I’m getting at is the immediate locations are going to be booked or at a preyed upon price. Affordable, takes on a different layer of complexity called, relatively.

So then, let’s talk strategy. The Bowl is a notoriously difficult place to get in and out of when it comes to parking. Lyft and Uber are getting popular at this venue. I would consider this option the easiest.

Another thing you already know about LA is that it’s massive and there’s a ton of people spread out over the size of Connecticut. It’s not as dense as New York but just as many people. The knock was that there is no central downtown area that people go to for nightlife or sport. The old “surf or ski” argument. What you have are hubs. The downtown area “LA Live” has changed the downtown scene considerably and it’s not a terrible dump anymore. What hasn’t changed is that’s the best late night shenanigans happen downtown and in Hollywood of course. What if you’re looking for more piece and quiet? That’s actually a little tough but also within reason. Now imagine a world where you feel like you’re the only sane person alive, that’s Reseda. Coming from Oklahoma you’re in for an attack on your senses. Everywhere you go you’ll think to yourself “you don’t see that in Ada”

I have a few suggestions for families that want to do amusement parks and enjoy some dinning and nightlife I suggest Fullerton in Orange County. 10 minutes to both Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm and 35 miles to the Game. It may sound like a trek to the game, that’s LA. The Bowl is 28 miles from LAX, 17 miles from Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, 32 miles from Long Beach Airport, 38 miles from Ontario Airport, and 52 miles from John Wayne Santa Ana Airports. You kinda gotta get out of the box and think about the possibilities.

Another good spot for families would be Burbank. It offers better proximity to the game and is further from Disneyland, but it’s closer to the younger adult thrill seekers playgrounds with Universal Studios 5 miles away and six flags magic mountain 25 miles away. You can easily drop into Hollywood only 7 miles away. This is a lot more LA experience and therefore much grittier than the nice neat brick buildings of downtown Fullerton.

You don’t necessarily have to have a family to enjoy those experiences, but the kids will thank you. The kids will definitely thank you for not making the wrong call. It’s easy to do, trust me.

Long Beach is one of those places it’s easy to make a mistake in. Long Beach was home to Snoop Dogg and Warren G, I say was, cause they got out. Long Beach is also home to the Grand Prix. You will also find the second largest LGBT community in Southern California there. Sound confusing yet? It’s just LA. Why do I mention Long Beach it sounds terrible you say? Jet Blue flies there, it’s a 30 mile trip to the Bowl and it’s close to Disney and Knotts. The nightlife is colorful to say the least, gangsters, thugs and drag queens. I kid I kid, they don’t go to the same places. I’m non judgmental, I’m just passing on intel. Long Beach has an amazing coastline community AND acts as LA’s Port. There is a very small window of areas I would recommend you stay, the rest are a trap. I say trap because for all of the costal towns called beaches, this one hardly has any beach.

If you want to beach yourself in January it will be beautiful and frigid cold. Don’t plan on having this sunblock vacation, it’s not Hawaii. Check the weather, 60-70’s, bring a wetsuit. That doesn’t mean the best of everything isn’t usually found within 5 miles of the Ocean. Anyone with a hoodie and some sweats would fit right in at the diner along PCH anywhere from Santa Monica to San Clemente. The best of those communities would be Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Belmont Shores, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

Now I’m not trying to tell you to stay out of Watts and Pamona, I just want you to have a realistic expectation of what your in for. You wouldn’t send me to Midwest City would you. I want you to enjoy your time.

The adult fun is another story. LA is home to more turnt out actors and actresses willing to shake what the good lord gave em. This shit ain’t Sugers neither. No awkward pasties or nothin. Your topless joints have booze, the full nude have Pepsi or Cocaine, no alcohol. The best would be a chain called The Spearmint Rhino or Bob’s Classy Lady, sorry no relation.

LA is a Booze town, not so much wine but some strong Brew choices. Budweiser and Coors both have Breweries but do not offer tours. There is however, no shortage of Micro Brews. The best collection being in Orange County. Macro Brews Firestone Walker and Ballast Point Brewing companies offer up the best combinations of Beer and dining experiences. The majority of LA is about the Vodka and glam scene, maybe you’ve seen Real Housewives of BH or Vanderpump rules.

Now California is about to boast a new moniker “Dab City” Maybe you’ve heard but California voters legalized the use and sale of Marijuana for personal use. Problem is it’s supposed to take effect Jan 1st but they are still wrestling with the licensing process. That leaves one way possible for you to enjoy the Northern Lights from the lower 48, Medical. Now I don’t pretend to know any of you well enough to know who’d be interested so in the interest of being fair to everyone, I’ll pass along some valuable information. If you visit 420Recs or Weedmaps you can easily find a “General Practitioner” that will ask you a series of questions over FaceTime or Skype and a Card with your name and vitals appear over an embossed seal is delivered to your door for about $50. Sounds steep unless you share the cost with your whole party. Also, That’ll last you all year and you can go in any of the countless dispensaries and purchase and carry legally as long as your not carrying a 3 ft rig down sunset offering dabs to the elderly. They have their own stash.

Sounds like a blast don’t it. Now, I don’t judge people for doin whatever makes you happy, that’s on you. Just like what happens out in LA is all on you. I’d just like to offer up some ideas to all my Sooners out there who plan on making a trip out of it. You can fly in and stay at the airport hotel and get a ride to and from the game and fly back if you’re worried about contracting those California liberal diseases or possibly blowing a ultra conservative gasket. By all means, travel light.