Hearts on the Go Travel: January 2014

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Catalina Island Fun Day of Exploration - Things to Do on Catalina

Have you ever been to Catalina Island. Catalina is a favorite spot for many travelers. We decided to check it out being a native Californian and everyone I know said it was a great island. We boarded the Catalina Express out of Long Beach.

Easy Boarding out of Long Beach. The parking price is $15.00 for a 24 hour period and very convenient to the boarding point. The customer service from Catalina Express was exceptional. The ride was very smooth and took about 70 minutes each direction. Some people do a day trip while others prefer to spend some time at the local hotels. These hotels are quaint and easy to access from the

Catalina Express is the company that we used and we would that the ride, prices and services were fantastic. Contact Catalina Express at the following website for prices and locations where you can pick up the Ferry or Fast Speed Catamaran http://www.catalinaexpress.com/ Personally I can recommend this company based on our fantastic experience.

Check out Catalina Express for schedules and prices. You can upgrade one way to the Commodore Lounge for an additional $15.00 to make the ride home more enjoyable. You will be offered a drink and snack with the smoothest ride.

Here is a picture of the Beach and Walk Way along the marina of Santa Catalina. Winter time was the perfect time to visit as the temperature was 82 degrees in December. Weather is always a bonus to complete a fantastic Day Trip. The mode of Transportation in Catalina is via Golf Cart. The highways are very narrow and perfect for Golf Carts.

The City of Avalon has a Dive Park. We saw affordable vendors near by to assist people with diving needs. It looked so convenient to enter the Dive Park right is a designated area just for
exploring and swimming with the local Fish.

Walking beyond the Casino we found some local vendors that offered dining and drinks right down along the Marina. Very Peaceful and Tranquil this time of year.

The area is where you find the Zipline entrance. People were there to offer expert advise for people seeking to see the island from above. Looked fun and has 5 runs. Prices ranged
$103.00 - $115.00 per person.

There are so many things to do and keep yourself entertained. We got off the ship and found everything within walking distance. We Visited the Casino (which means meeting place) serves as the museum and meeting hall for movies and current events.

What a fun day to walk through the town of Avalon. The pier offers a good place to have a drink and catch a lunch before getting ready to depart on your return cruise back to Long Beach.

We were guests of Santa Catalina Island Company and they had different tours that will take you into the interior. The Guides were very well informed of the history. We were impressed with the tour guides and their knowledge. We took a trip up to the Airport in the sky and Sampled the DC3 cookies.

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The Airport in the Sky was made between two mountain tops and is a easy in and out for the pilot. You must make it up to the airport for a DC 3 cookie. They are really good and worth the trip. The Catalina Conservancy is very important on the island. Check out the Airport in the Sky at the following Website for information. http://www.catalinaconservancy.org/index.php?s=visit&p=airport_in_the_sky

When we returned to Long Beach we saw the Queen Mary and it made for a beautiful ending of a fun day. The Sun was setting as we took the 3:30 pm return trip and were back in Long Beach at Sunset. For more information on the Queen Mary check out their website for hours and prices. There are lots of events that happen on the Queen Mary. http://www.queenmary.com/our-story/Our-Story.php