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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Stretch limousines are a common sight in Los Angeles, but a recent limo ride was anything but common for a group of people from Fort Providence.

To celebrate her birthday, Mel Thom-Gargan was treated to a seven-hour ride in a black stretch limo through downtown Los Angeles, Calif. The sightseeing tour, which Thom-Gargan took with six family members, included locations such as Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard, the Kodak Theater and the Hollywood sign.

Aiden Baptiste celebrates his fifth birthday with Mickey Mouse in Disneyland. Three people from Fort Providence turned a year older during a group vacation to California. - photo courtesy of Christopher Carson

"It was just totally amazing," she said.

"I will remember 2009 for the rest of my life."

This memory is just one of many that was made when a group of 42 people from Fort Providence vacationed in California. The group left Edmonton on March 17 and flew to the Los Angeles International Airport. From there they took a coach to Anaheim and their hotel, which was strategically located right beside Disneyland.

For the families, taking their children to Disneyland was just "priceless," said Thom-Gargan, who travelled with her husband Darrel Gargan and their two children, Destiny and Dallas. Just experiencing the rides that you normally only see on TV was amazing for the children, she said. Dallas' favourite ride, which he tried three times, was the haunted mansion.

The group trip, which has been in the works for a year, was timed for the school's spring break so families could come, said Margaret Thom, Mel's mother.

"Families got to holiday together and create good memories," said Thom, who had eight members of her family on the trip.

For Thom, the best part of the trip was seeing the children's reactions to Disneyland and all the rides.

"They were so excited," she said.

Two people on the trip celebrated their birthdays at Disneyland. Destiny Thom turned 19 on March 18, and Aiden Baptiste celebrated his fifth birthday on March 23 with Disney characters including Mickey Mouse.

In addition to Disneyland, some members of the group went to other sites including Sea World, Legoland and Knotts Berry Farm. Thom's husband Jim got to see Jordin Tootoo play when he took in a game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Nashville Predators at the Honda Centre on March 24. The next night, Jim and five other hockey fans from the community saw Wayne Gretzky coach as the Ducks played the Phoenix Coyotes.

Another highlight of the trip was Jessica Field's appearance on The Price is Right.

Fifteen people on the trip got front-row tickets to the popular game show. The show had just started when Field was called to come on down and be a contestant.

"She was just nervous," said Violet Landry, who was also at the show.

All of the Fort Providence audience members were really excited for her, said Landry.

"At least one of us got to go up," she said.

Field got a chance to play in the second game of the episode, where she had to guess the price of a car. She got the first four numbers right but on the fifth and final number she guessed eight instead of one, Landry said.

The episode aired on TV on April 1.