Catalina Island, Los Angeles

Move from the crowed freeways and hour long waits to a visit just an hour away on Catalina Island. Enjoy a day of just wandering, bicycling, walking and taking in the wold famous Casino. SCUBA tours are excellent and for those that don't swim there is always a "submarine" ride (not fully under water) or glass bottom boat.

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Catalina Island is a beautiful rocky island off the coast of California. When you’re in the mood for escaping the hectic streets of Los Angeles, just board a ferry to seek solitude in this little paradise. Just don’t fight with your significant other on the island because you might do something regrettable --- like when Lisa Marie Presley threw a $500,000 ring into the waters after a fight with then boyfriend Nicolas Cage. Hmmmm…

We chose to board the one-hour ferry from Long Beach (I think it was less than $70). Other ferries depart from San Pedro and Marina del Rey. Newport Beach and Dana Point in Orange County also have ferry rides going to Catalina.

Once there, just choose from a selection of activities which include a bus tour, glass bottom boat rides to reefs and shipwrecks, scuba diving and snorkeling. Flying fish is known to surround the island as well. Bison herds have also been nurtured on this island - see if you can spot them!

Have Fun in Avalon, Catalina Island!

It's been a few years since I've been to Catalina Island but I remember it being a very pleasant day trip from Los Angeles. Transportation to the island can be picked up in Long Beach, either by ferry or helicopter. The ferry takes about an hour to get over to Catalina Island, the helicopter is much quicker and much more expensive.

Take a day snorkel trip to Catalina. This particular trip was to the sea lion rookery near catalina! Many people say sea lions can be aggressive and perhaps that is true. We swam and frolicked with them though even around their young.