Make it a ‘Starline’ Christmas in LA

If you would rather be dining in star-studded restaurants than dashing through slushy snow this Christmas, grab your sunscreen and head to Los Angeles where you can tour and tan at the same time on top of a Double Decker Starline bus. Even if you live in the LA area, consider being a tourist in your own backyard. Start your journey by checking out Starline Tours. It has been operating in the LA region for 50 years which means five decades of mild Christmas weather bundled with the knowledge of everything that goes on around town. 

Christmas in Los Angeles is more festive than people imagine, with traditional holiday activities from tree lightings, ice skating and a Mary and Joseph procession through the birthplace of Los Angeles to the kitschy Hollywood Parade, snowfall on cue with the lighting of a 100-foot tree and boat parades. It’s also the time of year when the happiest place on earth becomes the merriest place, and Christmas becomes Grinchmas.

Who needs snow shoveling when you can have sunshine, shopping and celebrating? It’s LA, baby, and Starline Tours knows where all the events and stars (the celebrity kind) are. Here are some ideas in and around Los Angeles and Hollywood this Christmas:

The Grove

Topping the list of LA’s epic seasonal events are those at the Grove Shopping Center, starting with the tree lighting in mid-November. Santa takes his post at the Santa House, and each day throughout the season, visitors enjoy music, drummer boys, visits from Gingerbread men, timed snow falls and hot cocoa carts – even in 80-degree weather. Just next door is the Original Farmers Market, a market and much more – and a perfect place to buy unique gifts and have a bite. For the best of The Grove and the Original Farmers Market, take Starline’s City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Red Route.

A Kitschy Christmas Parade with History

The Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade each year, always the Sunday after Thanksgiving, has thousands of viewers, both local and visitors.  It kicks off with a pre-show concert at 5 p.m.  There is plenty of free curb space along the 2.5-mile route, as well as Grandstand seating ranging from $45 to $85 (ticketmaster.com/Hollywood-christmas-parade).  Or, you and a few dozen friends can charter a Hop-On Hop-Off Double Decker bus, enjoy an afternoon tour and stay on board for a bird’s eye view of the Parade.

Nice Ice

What could be more fun than skating on an ice rink during Christmas—without the wind, snow, sleet and bitter cold? Due to advanced technology, this rink remains frozen so that people in sunny LA can enjoy this traditional activity without bundling up.  It continues through the holidays in Pershing Square in Downtown LA.  For skating fun, take the Purple Route to Downtown Los Angeles on the Hop-On Hop-Off Tour.

Night-time Tour

The LA City Tour by Night any time of year is spectacular, when Los Angeles comes alive after dark with sparkling city lights and shimmering avenues, but during the Holidays, there’s the added bonus of Christmas trees here and there and decked Boulevards with Christmas flair.  The tour runs Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing from Starline’s location in Hollywood at Hollywood & Highland, and hotel pick-up is available.

Theme Park Magic

Disneyland Christmas Fantasy is one of the fundamental reasons to believe in Christmas – and you don’t need to bring or borrow any children to come along.  The dazzling lights and dreamy snowfall at night is magically romantic – the perfect backdrop for that traditional popping of the question if that’s the plan.

The Starline Express provides round trip transportation from Hollywood to Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry Farm, which becomes Knott’s Merry Farm for $25 per person, with front gate delivery.  From Anaheim, the Express delivers visitors to Whoville for Grinchmas at Universal Studios during the holidays. 

Selfie Fun

Hollywood’s Museum of Selfies gives you plenty of options to snap and post in the most unique poses. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and extended two hours until midnight on Friday and Saturday.  Adults are $25, little ones less, and selfie sticks are available for rent.

Hollywood Sign

For unmistakable proof you are in California, head to the Hollywood Sign. Starline’s black SUVs whisk small groups up to 6 to the best viewing spot for validate your LA experience, then down into Madame Tussauds to grab poses with celebrities you might not have seen on the street.

Dine with Stars

Starline’s tip for snagging a seat in a celebrity-frequented spot is to rely on the experts – your hotel concierges. And, taking the original Movie Stars’ Celebrity Homes Tour with super-knowledgeable and just a bit nosy guides will also fill you in on the latest hot spots and who’s been spotted there. 

For more information and to book all of Starline’s tours, visit  here or call toll free 800-959-3131/ direct, 323-463-3333.

All photos courtesy Starline Tours