About the Author: Tyler Recklein is a senior at Franklin Regional High School. He’s been in band since 4th grade and a part of the drumline since freshman year. When he’s not pursuing music, he spends his time playing lacrosse for the high school varsity team. He is also a solider in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and is preparing for Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training this summer.
The Tournament of Roses Parade is a parade watched around the world with an audience of over 60 million people. When we first got the news that our band, the Franklin Regional Panther Marching Band would return again to this parade for the second time, we were ecstatic. While in California though, I saw myself thinking less about the parade and more about the great time I was having.
Marching at the Tournament of Roses Parade. Photo credit: Marvin E. Weston
Scholastica Travel put together a trip of a life time. For never being on the West Coast, this trip made me want to come back every year. While in California we went to Universal Studios which was a blast, followed by a tour of Beverly Hills and Old Town Pasadena. We ate dinner on the famous Queen Mary and soaked up the California sun. Everything about this trip was perfect. We had zero problems other than a few sick kids, but what’s a school trip without someone getting sick? The lines were short, the rides were fun, and the food… the food was fantastic. We had plenty of opportunities to go shopping down Rodeo Drive and other shopping centers and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one having trouble getting my suit case closed on the way home. The last stop we made on this trip was to the Santa Monica Pier. The atmosphere was amazing and watching the sun set across the Pacific ocean was beautiful. Not listening to my peers around me, I decided to jump into the freezing cold water and grasp what I like to call “the whole experience” of the West Coast. This trip was an experience of a life time and lasting memories I will never forget. The only complaint is that I couldn’t stay longer.
Ready to plan your school trip to the Tournament of Roses Parade? Click the button below to get started!
