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WHAT TO DO
ON NEW YEARS IN CALIFORNIA
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Not sure where to go? You've come to the
right place!
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Traveling to different places to celebrate New
Years Eve is fun and interesting. There is an opportunity to meet
new people and experience how they choose to bring in the
new year. If you're looking to celebrate New Year's Eve in a big
way, California's cities and towns have lots to offer. If you haven't
made your plans yet.. better hurry! Here are some ideas that you can
still make happen.
If you can spare the time, plan two days for your
mini holiday. Hotel rooms on New Years Eve tend to be more expensive,
but usually drop down as much as half the price if you add New Years Day
to your stay. This will drop your average night stay by quite a bit.
This will give you a chance to rest and relax after a late New Years Eve
night out and you'll find that most travelers head home on Jan 1, which
makes for no crowds!
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| Las Vegas: An easy trip to make from
California is Las Vegas, Nevada. On New Years Eve, over 250,000
people hit the strip, which is closed down to vehicles. A huge
fire works display from the top of the big hotels and great
shows from the magic of David Copperfield to the famous
theatrical play, Phantom Of The Opera, dinner shows, exotic
shows, dancing, concerts, comedy, wow you name and they have it
going on. Pretty much anything you can dream in along the lines
of dining and adventure you will find in Vegas. |
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Sacramento:
The state capitol hosts two fireworks displays in their Sky
Spectacular, an earlier one accompanied by
family-friendly tunes and a midnight show with rock music.
Sacramento’s best New Year’s Eve tradition lights up the
skies above Old Sacramento with bright colors and flashes
during the New Year’s Eve Sky Spectacular. This free
celebration is open to all residents and features activities
for the whole family to enjoy. Including children’s
programming, live music, dinner specials, hot food and drink
vendors and a variety of colorful street entertainment along
with a comedy club with numerous show times offered. If you
are looking for a nice hotel that isn't too hard on the
pocket book, try the Holiday Inn, next to Old Sacramento.
It's a short stroll and you will be right in the middle of
the action. There are many pubs and fine dining
restaurants to choose from whether you're fancying an
elegant meal from the Firehouse Restaurant or on the water,
you can book a room or have a fabulous meal on the historic
Delta King Riverboat.
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2015 Schedule of Events – Old
Sacramento
December 31, 2015
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6:00 pm
-Mr. DJ will entertain with kid-friendly pop hits while
Sacramento’s best magician, Charlie Fass will wow the
crowd with his illusions
-TWO Premier 3D Game Theaters with External TV Screens for
premium gaming fun
-Balloon Twisting by Twist N Shout
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9:00 pm
Sky Spectacular Fireworks Show! – Music Simulcast on Star
106.5
9:30 pm
Thunder Cover – California’s BEST New Cover Band!
Midnight
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show! – Music Simulcast on 96.9
the Eagle
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| Lake Tahoe: There is always lot's
going on in Lake Tahoe for New Years Eve celebrating. Harrah's
hotel offers fine dining at Fridays Station and a kicken New
Years Eve party at the Vex Club. They also offer a band and
dancing on the main floor with no cover charge.
You can use the underground tunnel to
Harvey's casino and have delectable dining at Kitchen 19 or The
Sage Room or for a small cover
charge go to Tahoe Wabo bar. It is sure to be packed with
excitement and a great band. If you are looking for a good show,
check out The Improv at Harvey's, located on the floor/casino
level adjacent to the Hard Rock Cafe.
Hit the slopes for a day of skiing at
Heavenly Valley or take a tram ride to the top of the hill and
enjoy a hot beverage in the lodge. Heavenly Village is a winter
wonderland of beautiful lights and seasonal decoarations and
msot likely a nice coating of snow. There are lot's of dining
options, a movie theatre, outdoor fire pits and terrific pizza
at Base Camp. They
just began offering ride services like Lyft and Uber in the
Tahoe area, so be sure to take advantage of this service.
We spoke with many of the locals that said
the DUI rate is very high in the Tahoe area. Don't risk it!
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| San Francisco:
The big event in San Francisco is the New Year's Eve fireworks
display and you can find out where to watch it in the San
Francisco New Year's Eve Event Guide, which also offers some
great things to do for non-dancers and non-drinkers. San Francisco offers a large variety of festivities from
Bay Dinner Cruise, to fire works at midnight on the wharf. There
are many venues and parties that offer inclusive dining and shows.
In our 2015
Travel blog, we decided to see what goes on in Union Square
for the close of our 2014 year celebration. It was
packed with people coming into the city to celebrate. if you
decide to do this, be aware that hotel costs are doubled. We
decided to stay 2 nights to avoid the traffic jam leaving on new
years day and the room cost was half the price. We stayed at the
Handlery Hotel adjacent to Union Square and spent the evening at
Left O'Douls a pub next to the hotel. The Handlery is an old
classic hotel and the accommodations were very nice and the price
within our budget of about $320 for the holiday night. You can
easily get a ride anywhere in the city with Lyft
and they are offering a $16 OFF your first ride coupon deal.
Another idea to check out tickets for the
theatre, plays and sports events.
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Monterey:
The celebration is called First
Night and it's designed to be an affordable, alcohol-free
family celebration. |
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FIRST NIGHT MONTEREY ADMISSION BUTTONS GIVE YOU:
- From 3pm until midnight: 20+ venues with over
70 Performances
- 8 Interactive Art Stations
- Twilight Procession
- Countdown-to-Midnight Finale!
- 9 Hours of fabulous Art, Music and New Year's
fun all the way into the New Year!
Admission Buttons can be purchased for a pre-event
price online and at our retail locations through December 30, 2015.
Buying a button ensures that First Night Monterey offers the best in
community arts and performing acts. Your button supports the First
Night Monterey celebration and directly supports the artists fees.
Many FNM venues are indoors, and an admission button is your ticket to
these performances!
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Yosemite:
The Ahwahnee and Wawona Hotels host New Year's dinner dances
THE AHWAHNEE
2015 Dinner Dance Celebration Package
Ring in the new year at The Ahwahnee with
a six course dinner, live music, dancing, party favors, and
a complimentary sparkling wine toast. Take your pick of two-
or three-night packages with lodging at The Ahwahnee,
Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, or Curry Village. Packages
include lodging for two, two tickets to The Ahwahnee New
Year's Gala, and a complimentary portrait sitting (portrait
must be purchased separately with the Curry Village
package).
The 2015/16
Ahwahnee New Year's Eve Menu incorporates as many
seasonal local ingredients as possible. Menu may change
slightly depending on availability.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Los Angeles Theme Parks:
Disneyland
stays open late to bring in the New Year, but it's very
crowded, sometimes so packed that they stop admitting guests
by afternoon. All those people make a Ridemax
itinerary not just a good idea but a necessity.
Universal Studios closes early, but you'll find a big party
just outside at Universal
Citywalk and admission is free
- Los Angeles:
Angelinos love to party, and you'll find big events everywhere
from the Queen Mary to the Paramount Studios lot
- Rose
Parade:
The parade actually takes place on New Year's Day, but many
people arrive on New Year's Eve afternoon to stake out a
viewing spot along the street, as early as the local police
will let them. An all-night party ensues that's hard to
believe unless you see it.
- Catalina Island:
The Casino
Ballroom is an especially festive place to dance in the
New Year, with "big band" music in a glamorous
venue
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