Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, is one of the few places to cruise to on the Southern California coast. The trip could take from 1 hour to 8 hours depending on wether you take the Express boat or a sailboat and whether you depart from San Pedro or Marina de Rey. The trip is often pleasant with sighting of schools of dolphins that happily swim along with the boat. A tall water spray signals whales to starboard and we slow down to enjoy the show. Upon arriving at Avalon (the hub of the island) you can’t help but notice the intense orange, glowing fish (garibaldi) that hang around the rocks near the shore welcoming with their spectacular display. In the summer the island buzzes with boats, divers, tourists, kayakers, etc. A young local serves us coffee as she confides how she finds the winters unbearably desolate. They say there is one of everything there; one grocery store, one photographer, etc. but you will definitely find may tourist shops and restaurants. Divers suit up to explore the underwater treasures among the kelp that carpets the bottom near the shore at the “Dive Park” while others go snorkling on a different side of the island. The visibility is 10-15 feet. The atmosphere is cozy and relax but not to the extend that you will find in the Caribbean. The strangeness of a Mariachi band playing while you sit at a shoreline restaurant with the view of the moored boats reminds you that your are definitely not in steel drums country, bringing you back to reality. Finding a store owned by a “Parrot Head” and hearing the Jimmy Buffet music being played in the background allows you a moment to pretend you may be on a little shop in Key West. You can watch a movie at the theaters located in the “Casino”, but don’t bring your lucky charms as there is no real Casino in the island and no gambling.
If you want to get away from it all you can visit Two Harbors, take a bus tour, glass bottom boat tours, etc. You can rent golf carts to discover the island and there is plenty of hiking to be done.
