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Things to do on New Years Day

It's New Years Day, Christmas, Hanuka, and Kwanzaa festivities are over and countdown is complete with the last glass of champagne served.  Now, what to do?  There are many things a family and singles can do to start their 2016 memories.  Here are some of our favorite ideas.
  • New Year's Day is a typically a slow admission day at most Southern California theme parks.  Most will be sleeping off a late night or nursing a really good hangover while you can get an early jump on the rides at places like Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Knott's Berry Farm, Legoland San Diego and Universal Studios Tours.
Legoland
  • Be part of the Venice Beach Penguin Swim, held annually on January 1st.  Registration is free but require calling 310-390-5700.  The swim starts at noon.  Learn more by going to Visit Venice.   If jumping into the fridged waters of the Pacific is not your thing, there are plenty of great bars and eateries off the boardwalk like Danny's Place, The Sidewalk Cafe and much more.  See some photos of the previous years' fun at Penguin Swim.
  • San Francisco offers an ice skating event at Union Square called the Polar Bear Skate where bikini clad females and chiseled Speedo sporting males strap on their ice skates and enjoy the day on the ice.  In Los Angeles, they hold their version of this event at Pershing Square.  For more information go to Polar Bear Skate.
Pershing Square

Photo Credit: Unionsquareshop.com
  • Take a walk down the streets of Hollywood where visitors can enjoy amazing sites such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a movie at El Capitan Theater or TCL Chinese Theater, or take photos opportunities with dressed characters lining the street.  Lay on the sidewalk where your favorite actor and actress have imprinted their signature, hand and foot prints into the sidewalks of Hollywood for a unique social media photo opportunity.
Photo Credit: Mark Ralston AFP/Getty Images
  • Gather the family and camp out to watch the Rose Parade live and in person.  Tickets for the grandstands are still available at Stub Hub and Ticket Office Sales or Google Rose Parade Tickets 2016.  Don't forget, you can also view the floats up close after the parade.  Located at E. Sierra Madre and E. Washington Blvd, the Tournament of Roses parks all of the float entries so that you can see the detail up close.  Tickets are $10 per person and children under 5 are free.  Bring cash for the food vendors and your walking shoes and arrive early because it gets very busy.  To learn more visit Tournament of Roses
Photo Credit: Google Maps
  • Visit the Baby Beach at Dana Point Harbor.  This ideal location is great for picnics and simply playing in the sand.  Located off the Harbor, the bay has a very gentle wave motion that is perfect for toddlers just starting to walk.  Shelters and BBQ grills are available as well as many great Harbor eateries.  Take a bike ride, a stroll along the beach, play Frisbee or just dig in the sand.  The weather is scheduled to be sunny in Southern California, pack up and enjoy a day out.
OC Beaches
Photo credit: Google Maps

  • Get a jump on your spring cleaning.  Take down the Christmas Tree, put away the holiday lights, throw out all of the old broken ornaments and pack away the stockings.  The New Year is always a great day to spend cleaning out the old and replacing with the new.  Go out into the garage with a great play-list on your I Phone and purge those items cluttering up your life.  The golden rule, if you haven't used it in a year...ditch it.  There are many people who can re-purpose items that you are not using.  Take your stash to your local Assistance League or Salvation Army and get a jump on your 2016 tax deductible donations.
Pozole


  • Nothing cures a hangover better than a bowl of Pozole or Menudo, a Mexican staple with beef, pork, chicken or tripe.  This soup has long been claimed as the cure all for the hangover.  Served in a red chili broth or in a white broth, the soup has hominy, onions and the meat of the chefs choice. You then garnish your dish with cabbage, onions, oregano, red chili flake and all the hot sauce you can handle.  So good...my mouth is watering thinking about it.  Try Corazón Cocina Mexicana in Garden Grove or go to Yelp for places serving near you. 
New Years Day is a great time to get out and play, dine on delicious food that will help with that incredible hangover, or simply start the New Year off clean and tidy.  We would like to wish you a very happy and safe Happy New Year from the Field Trip Mom family.

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