It has been 6 years in California with numerous short multi day trips to SoCal but Catalina Island never made into our "places visited" list. This time around, it was time to stamp our feet on to the beautiful blue island.
The beautiful, cozy, cute little island is anything but sleepy. It is as bustling as any coastal city with spectacular beaches and as vibrant as any of your typical touristy destination. The coconut and palm trees of the promenade, the magnetic mermaids and conches on display of the souvenir shops, the outdoor patios of restaurants and cafes, the art decor and apparel boutiques, and last but not the least, the smell of the ocean, transport you to a true beach town. Multiple catamarans, jet skis and yachts dot the harbors. Cabanas, beach lounge chairs, umbrellas and beach towels speck the smaller-than-usual beaches. Headphones and speakers, books, snorkel masks, noodles and beer cans were galore.
Catalina Island can make every traveler wish to return. Adrenaline junkies can get a high with water sports. A hike on the island's many trails would rejuvenate a nature lover. A "checkpoint" traveler can hire a golf cart and take a scenic drive across the island to marvel the vistas that the island has to offer from different vantage points. A foodie can experiment with different delicacies being offered in the variety of restaurants. Whatever you chose, you are bound to get unparalleled views of the vastness of the blue Pacific.
We chose to take it easy since we had about 6 hrs to spend on the island. We spent our first half by ambling around the promenade, exploring the "downtown" and then having a sumptuous lunch at waterfront Descanso Beach Club. The vegetarian options were great; including burgers, nachos, french fries, etc.
In the later half, we rode the golf cart, took multiple stops and seeped in the vistas. I was surprised how tiny little houses dotted the roadway. I didn't get a chance to talk to a local; I would have liked to talk about the life on such an island.
While leaving, I took a mental note to be adventurous next time around: a through hike on this island and camping... away from the civilization!
You can ferry either from Newport Beach or Long Beach. There are multiple catamarans from the latter but only one from the former. We chose to leave from Newport Beach because it turned out to be cheaper. That also meant we were tied with their schedule since only one departure/arrival from Newport Beach.
Tips:
+ Give at least 15/20 mins to find good parking spot. Parking is sparse and the harbor is busy area with entertainment and dining options galore.
+ It takes a good 2 hrs to reach the island. Waters can be choppy. So be prepared if you are sensitive to sea sickness. A good breakfast usually does the trick, but medications can become handy, so always good to keep them.
The beautiful, cozy, cute little island is anything but sleepy. It is as bustling as any coastal city with spectacular beaches and as vibrant as any of your typical touristy destination. The coconut and palm trees of the promenade, the magnetic mermaids and conches on display of the souvenir shops, the outdoor patios of restaurants and cafes, the art decor and apparel boutiques, and last but not the least, the smell of the ocean, transport you to a true beach town. Multiple catamarans, jet skis and yachts dot the harbors. Cabanas, beach lounge chairs, umbrellas and beach towels speck the smaller-than-usual beaches. Headphones and speakers, books, snorkel masks, noodles and beer cans were galore.
Catalina Island can make every traveler wish to return. Adrenaline junkies can get a high with water sports. A hike on the island's many trails would rejuvenate a nature lover. A "checkpoint" traveler can hire a golf cart and take a scenic drive across the island to marvel the vistas that the island has to offer from different vantage points. A foodie can experiment with different delicacies being offered in the variety of restaurants. Whatever you chose, you are bound to get unparalleled views of the vastness of the blue Pacific.
We chose to take it easy since we had about 6 hrs to spend on the island. We spent our first half by ambling around the promenade, exploring the "downtown" and then having a sumptuous lunch at waterfront Descanso Beach Club. The vegetarian options were great; including burgers, nachos, french fries, etc.
In the later half, we rode the golf cart, took multiple stops and seeped in the vistas. I was surprised how tiny little houses dotted the roadway. I didn't get a chance to talk to a local; I would have liked to talk about the life on such an island.
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| One view from the golf cart ride |
While leaving, I took a mental note to be adventurous next time around: a through hike on this island and camping... away from the civilization!
How to get there?
You can ferry either from Newport Beach or Long Beach. There are multiple catamarans from the latter but only one from the former. We chose to leave from Newport Beach because it turned out to be cheaper. That also meant we were tied with their schedule since only one departure/arrival from Newport Beach.
Tips:
+ Give at least 15/20 mins to find good parking spot. Parking is sparse and the harbor is busy area with entertainment and dining options galore.
+ It takes a good 2 hrs to reach the island. Waters can be choppy. So be prepared if you are sensitive to sea sickness. A good breakfast usually does the trick, but medications can become handy, so always good to keep them.
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