When planning a recent family vacation to southern California, I was super excited about adding a day trip to Catalina.  Catalina is an amazing little island just off the coast. You can get there from Long Beach in just 15-minutes—by helicopter! We didn’t do that.  While the price ($810 for the three of us) was enough to take a pass, flying in a helicopter over the Pacific Ocean was even more so for me. No way!!!  We climbed aboard the Catalina Flyer instead.  The high-speed passenger ferry gets you to the island, docking at the city of Avalon in just over an hour.  It was a fantastic ride and made the trip to Catalina so easy. Remember to bring along a sweater for the brisk ride back in the late afternoon, and cash to purchase some soup or hot chocolate too! http://www.catalinainfo.com

Once you arrive you get around by foot, bike or golf cart.  We decided to put the family golfer behind the wheel and take the winding and oh-so-picturesque ride up the hillside, stopping several times to take in the magnificent views below. One of the stops was at the steps of the Wrigley mansion– as in the gum and the Cubs– you will see many blue “W” signs flying around Avalon.  Before the “W” meant at win at the Chicago north side ballpark, it meant something else here on the island. Click here for a short history lesson on the flag, the big beautiful round building called the Casino (a ballroom, not a place to gamble)  and how Catalina was at one time a popular destination for Hollywood’s rich and famous. https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/about-the-island/history/

Add in great restaurants and cute little shops, and this day trip was just about perfect.  We could have used maybe two more hours before having to board the ferry, but I guess this just means we will have to make a return trip 😉