It's been several years since we went to the Rose Parade float viewing.  To be honest, I was OK with not going since I don't really like thick crowds, and there were a LOT of people there last time.  92.4% of those people either stepped on my right foot, or stepped in front of me to get a better view (a better view than me, that is)  This year it was not bad.  There seemed to be more open space, so I only ended up pushing a couple of people over and accidentally standing on their backs.  Of course, I did apologize and wipe the dirt off of their shirts when I was done looking at the float and stepped down from them.

Getting to see the floats at the viewing is much more impressive than seeing the parade or watching on TV.  You may be able to imagine the size of the floats, the amount of flowers and plants, leaves, and seeds being used.  But to see the detail up close, like the orange peels that make up an eagles foot, or the pampus grass used as the hair for so many animals or people, or just the shear scale of things like the bugle player who stood 60 feet tall.  That is something you have to be up close for.