In 2016, my family went to Catalina Island to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. On a clear day, you can see Catalina from the beaches in the Los Angeles area and ever since I saw the island out on the horizon I had wanted to go. We left port from Long Beach early one morning and took the hour-long ride over to the island. Pulling into the port at Catalina felt like we had left the world behind us.
The real name of the island is Santa Catalina Island, named after St. Catherine. It was discovered by Spanish explorers in the 1500s and it was named by Sebastian
PLACE TO STAY
There are places to stay on the island in the form of hotels, but nothing is a chain there, which I love. The hotels are all located right in the heart of the town and many of them look very unique and special. However, what I would recommend is getting a condo through Hamilton Cove Vacation Rentals. We stayed in a fantastic condo that had a priceless view. There is a pool that vacationers can use and other amenities. We stayed for a week and it was so nice to have a comfy, two-bedroom condo to come back to after a day out exploring.
An added bonus to staying here is that most condos have a golf-cart for your use. Golf-carts are how you get around the island. There are very few cars, so most people just walk or cruise in their golf-carts. It’s a fun way to get around and if you bring your kids they will love it the open air ride.
THINGS TO DO
GO HIKING
At the back of the town is the Wrigley Botanical Gardens. That’s right, Wrigley, like Wrigley gum and Wrigley Field. Mr. Wrigley used to own the island back in the day. He built a huge monument that is in the garden and it provides for great views when you explore around on it. The plants in the garden are not your typical botanical fare. There more of the desert variety, but still pretty just the same. In the gardens, you can also gain access to some good hiking trails. The trails take you up on the ridgeline of the island. At the top of the trail, you can see the west and the east side. On the west side, is the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. On the east side, you can see California in the far distance. The hikes are a great way to get acquainted with the island.
Island Scavenger Hunt
In my tourism magazine, there was a list of things to do while visiting and a scavenger hunt was mentioned. We’d never done anything like it before and it was a ton of fun for us all. My kids loved it. Basically, you use your smartphone and find certain hidden things or landmarks on the island. You try to beat other people’s times. We zoomed around in our golf cart trying to beat the winning time. All the things to find are very unique. One thing we had to find was a pet cemetery, which was a little bizarre, but it gave us tons to talk about. If you have very little kids they won’t find this much fun, but four and up will love it.
Hang at the beach
There are several beaches to chill at on Catalina. Pacific Ocean water is always just a tad too freezing for me, but I do love relaxing on the beach and looking for shells. My kids and husband braved the water, though, and our two older kids had fun snorkeling. None of the beaches are huge, so be prepared to not have a ton of space.
WHERE TO EAT
So, remember how I told you to stay in the condos? A big benefit is that you have a nice kitchen and can make a lot of meals there. It was so nice to get up at our pace in the morning and make an easy breakfast in our condo. We didn’t have to get dressed and rush off anywhere. Most nights we cooked dinner at the condo. We grilled out and enjoyed simple, delicious meals out on our balcony. We got to watch all the boats streaming by and it was magical to watch the sunset. Where to get your food? Well, there is a teeny, tiny grocery store in town. It’s a bit pricey, but that’s because they have to ship everything in from California. However, we did find it cheaper than eating out for every meal for a straight week.
There are some good restaurants in town to try. Remember, nothing is a chain. There is an ice cream shop that you’ll want to stop by at some point for a yummy treat. For our actual anniversary date, my husband and I got sushi to go and had a picnic up on a high hill that overlooked the sea. It was perfect. Our kids stayed back at the condo and watched a movie while we went out. Another bonus to the condo.
WHERE TO WORSHIP
As you might have guessed the only Catholic Church in town is called St. Catherine’s. We weren’t there for a Sunday Mass, but we did stop by to check out the church and the grounds. It’s a quaint little church tucked back away from any hustle or bustle. It has a very peaceful, calm air about it. Hopefully, if you visit, you’ll be there for a Sunday Mass.
The day we pulled away from the port on Catalina Island, my whole family was quiet. Not one of us wanted to leave. It was a perfect, relaxing, fun family vacation and I think each one of us fell in love with the island. It was sort of weird coming back to civilization after being gone for a week. Catalina is unlike any American city I’ve ever been to. There are very few cars, no chains, and you feel removed from the rest of the world. It’s a great place to connect as a family or a couple. There is no rush on the island and I highly recommend just taking your time. I promise, if you decide to vacation here, you’ll miss it the moment you leave.
Until next time, travel well, Catholic Pilgrims!
