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. Starline Tours has been operating in the LA region for 50 years. That's 50 years of mild Christmas weather bundled with the knowledge of everything that goes on around town.  Trust this respected tour operator to show you a good time any time of year, but especially during California's mild winters.

Christmas in Los Angeles is more festive than people imagine, with traditional holiday activity 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:

Topping the list of LA's epic seasonal events are those at the Grove Shopping Center, starting with the tree lighting November 16 at 7:30 p.m. where the classic tale “T'was the Night before Christmas” comes to life along with the season's first flurries, a visit from Santa and fireworks.  Beginning November 17, Santa takes his post at the Santa House.  Each day throughout the season visitors can enjoy music, drummer boys, visits from Gingerbread men, timed snow fall and hot cocoa carts – even in 80-degree weather. It's the perfect place to wear those Uggs.  Next door is the Original Farmers Market, a market and more – and great place to buy unique gifts and have a bite. Take Starline's CitySightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Red Route.

A Kitschy Christmas Parade with History

The 86th 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 and Grandstand seating prices range 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, outdoing everyone in the process, which is so LA. Hollywood Boulevard info@starlinetours.com

Take a spin on the nice ice

What could be more fun than skating on the 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, Downtown LA.  Take the Purple Route to Downtown Los Angeles on the Hop-On Hop-Off 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. During the Holidays, there's the added bonus of Christmas trees here and there and decked Boulevards with Christmas flair. Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing from Starline's location in Hollywood at Hollywood & Highland, and hotel pick-up is available.

Theme Parks Not All Dressed Up Like Eskimos

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.  www.starlinetours/starlineexpress 

Show everyone back home you were really there

Hollywood's Museum of Selfies gives you plenty of options to snap and post in the most unique poses. Open every day from 10 am. 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 (which is nice, because they really come in handy, but you don't have to wander around afterwards managing the thing.)  Hollywood Boulevard.

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.

To dine with the stars, listen to the pros

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, go to www.starlinetours.com, call toll free 800-959-3131 or direct, 323-463-3333.

About Starline Tours

Located in the heart of Hollywood, Starline Tours is the largest and most respected tour company in Los Angeles, offering a full range of tours to meet the growing demand of the destination of Los Angeles, and celebrating its 50th anniversary operating the original Movie Stars' Homes Tour.  In 1935, Sid Grauman, the creator of the famous Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, old his chauffer, Bud Delp, that he thought people would pay to see the homes of celebrities.  Bud knew the addresses of all of the movie stars he brought to the premiers.   What began as a chauffeured tour expanded to what is today, the premier celebrity and people-moving tour operator in Los Angeles. Starline Tours has been featured in American television shows such as Ellen, American Idol, The Tonight Show, the Late Late Show with James Corden, NBC's Today Show, the Travel Channel, Australia's Getaway Travel Show and in the movie Iron Man 3 and The Muppet Movies, plus features in USA Today, Los Angeles Times and other highly reputable travel publications around the world.

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Press: Susan Wilson, susan.wilson@susanwilsonmarketing,com; 480-824-3015

Trade: Monna Sanner, monna.sanner@starlinetours.com; 323-785-6707