Call the Rose parade office. They are very helpful and enthusiastic.
When we went, they supplied the tickets -- opposite the NortonSimon museum, just down from the turn.
We couldn't book a campground site for New Year's Eve, but the Rose people had arrangements with (I think) Parson's Parking Lot, so we dry camped in the company lot. This was the best arrangement for us as we were right in downtown Pasadena having arrived the previous afternoon. I wouldn't want to try to get there on the morning of the parade. I think they closed off one the freeways and made it parking.
The days before the parade you can tour the places where the floats are being assembled. Afterwards you can also see them.
There are places of architectural interest that you can tour.
The streetcar line runs to the Los Angeles railroad station and more places beyond that.