Adventure: Catalina Island

We recently went on a trip to Catalina Island, off the coast of California. My parents were coming for a quick visit in celebration of my father’s Birthday. They have been to California so many times that they had seen it all and done it all. Catalina Island has been on my “Go see” list for a while and I felt this was the perfect excuse to check it off my list. My dad had been there maybe 30 years ago, and my Mother, Rob nor myself had ever been there, so basically, we were set for an adventure!

We took a fast boat out of Dana Point on a Saturday morning. I read up on some of Catalina’s fascinating history in the Catalina Islander while enjoying what could be my family’s signature cocktail, the Bloody Mary. We arrived in the little town of Avalon early in the afternoon to allow for plenty of sightseeing, lunch, more beverages, and a bit of shopping. Rob even surprised me with a round of miniature golf before we all capped off the evening with an amazing dinner.

Sunday we wanted to get a real taste of the history of the island, it’s landscapes and natural inhabitants before heading back home late in the afternoon. We scheduled a 3 and a half hour Jeep Eco tour run by the Catalina Island Conservancy. It was amazing! Our knowledgeable and friendly tour guide gave us a private tour, off road, all over the back country of the island. It’s just one of the most beautiful places I have seen..and Bison on the hills… with the ocean as the back drop?! So so cool! (The Bison were brought over in the 1920′s for a Zane Gray silent film, and were left there. A heard of 150 Bison call Catalina their home.)

I packed light for the trip, so I only shot with my camera phone and some film with my classic Canon AE-1. I highly recommend you make a visit to the island if you have the opportunity. I thought it felt like a little, European port town, with fishing, boating, shops, restaurants…and of course, the wild addition of Bison!