Sunday, May 4, 2014

Check out Catalina Island, the Perfect Relaxing Getaway



By Darlene Donloe

Catalina Island is a little more than 47 miles from Los Angeles and 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, but once visitors arrive on the intimate and casual islet, that short distance feels more like it’s a million miles away.

A quick boat ride from the ports of San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point via Catalina Express, Catalina Island is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

The bright lights and chaos of city life are nowhere to be found. They are substituted for peace, quiet and a small-town atmosphere that has become the island’s brand.

Catalina is a laidback place where visitors can reboot, rejuvenate and above all, relax.  It’s the perfect setting for a meeting.



The home of the delightful town of Avalon with a population of 3,736, Catalina, which is reminiscent of a seaside village, is only one square mile in size and is surrounded by rugged hillsides and clear, blue water. While most residents live in the quaint city of Avalon, others reside in the secluded isthmus village of Two Harbors.

The weather on Catalina Island in late summer and early fall is warm and sunny, with water temperatures warm enough to enjoy boating, snorkeling and relaxing at the beach. 

It’s an attractive, welcoming island that features a number of restaurants, quaint shops and first class accommodations. 

Visitors can walk from the Catalina Express mooring dock to Descanso Beach, which is a mile away. Along the way are numerous places to eat, drink, shop, or just stroll along the waterfront. Catalina, which has minimal development, has a wealth of natural and cultural resources, as well as unique animals and plants found nowhere else on earth.

Most visitors get around the island via golf carts as there are very few cars allowed on the island.

Divers flock to Catalina as the island is recognized as one of the best dive sites in the world. 

There are several tours on the island. On a tour to the interior it’s possible to see buffalo grazing on the hillsides. In 1924, 14 American bison were brought to the island for the filming of a movie. They remained, and are like island mascots today.

HIGHLIGHTS

There is so much to do on Catalina Island that you literally don’t have time to get bored. There are escorted tours around town, adventure rides into the interior, jeep eco tours, hummer rides, zip lines, rock climbing and undersea adventures.

If you want to just do your own thing, you can camp, go hiking, snub, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, get spa treatments, do some beach lounging, play golf, motor boating, parasailing, fishing, boat rides down the coastline and more.


 THE AVALON THEATRE

Looking for something different?  Lets start with The Avalon Theatre, which has one film screen and a seating capacity of 1,154.  Current movies are screened in the Avalon Theatre, on the ground floor of the Casino Building. Lavish murals, painted on a jute-like material, adorn the walls. The theatre still has its original 4-manual, 16 rank theatre pipe organ built by the Page Pipe Organ Company of Lima, Ohio, one of only three left in the world. Visitors can hear it being played every Friday and Saturday evening.

The newly remodeled Catalina Island Museum, which is located at the Casino Building, has a collection of archaeological material excavated on the Island, as well as Native American artifacts, historic photographs, fishing tackle, and Catalina pottery. The museum is open daily.



 THE CASINO

You do not want to miss The Santa Catalina Island Company’s walking tour of the Casino Building. “Discover the Casino” is a trip down Memory Lane to the heyday of the casino, when the big bands played and the ballroom floor was a sea of dancers (6,200 dancers were on the floor as Kay Kyser played one spring night in 1940). The tour also includes a visit to Avalon Theatre for a viewing of a new video on the history of the Casino. The “Behind the Scenes” tour focuses on the cultural history of the building, and pays visits to backstage areas, green rooms (used by Errol Flynn and Cary Grant), the Ballroom stage, and an editing room where Cecil B. DeMille watched “rushes” of movies shot on Catalina.  Visitors can step back 80 years to the big band era when ‘talkie’ motion pictures were the rage.  Tours may be booked at www.visitcatalinaisland.com

The Casino Building, Avalon's world-famous landmark, is not a gambling casino at all. It was never intended to house gambling and doesn't to this day. The building, perched at the edge of Avalon Bay, is the largest circular theater in the world that was built without support beams.

The building itself is equivalent in height to a 12-story office structure and houses the Catalina Island Museum, the Catalina Art Association Art Gallery and a fitness center, a movie theater, as well as public restrooms. The Casino Ballroom, located on the top floor of the Casino Building, has been the site of major events since its grand opening in May of 1929. The ballroom gained nationwide fame in the 1930s and 40s when it hosted many of the big bands, including Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman, Harry James and more. 

THE CASINO BALLROOM

The Casino Ballroom is gorgeous and a must-see!  It is 180 ft. in diameter with no interior columns and is the largest ballroom of this type in existence, made possible by the building’s cantilever construction. The room can play host to many functions including dinners, weddings, dances, meetings and jazz festivals. It can accommodate 1,200 people for dinner only, 1,800 people in classroom style seating for meetings or concerts, 1,200 people for dances and a maximum for 1,000 people for dinner dances.

For the more adventurous, there is the Catalina Adventure Tours, The Zip Line Eco Tour: Propel down 5 separate zips, dropping from 500’ to 60’ above sea level at heart pounding speeds. Depart from Descanso Beach Club. The zip line holds a certificate of excellence from Trip advisor.  Travel close to three quarters of a mile over five consecutive zip lines at heights of 300 ft. above the canyon floor at speeds pushing 45 mph.  The tour lasts approximately two hours. www.visitcatalinaisland.com

GETTING THERE

Getting to Catalina is easy. As the commercial says: ‘It’s so easy to go to Catalina, Catalina Express.’ Catalina Express offers up to 30 daily departures and year-round service to Avalon and two harbors, transporting nearly one million passengers annually. It offers comfortable airline-style seats and grouped table seating.  Catalina Express.


CATALINA EXPRESS
 

While some visitors fly by helicopter or airplane, by far the most popular mode of transportation to Catalina Island is by boat. In its 33-year history, Catalina Express has ferried more than 22 million passengers to and from Catalina.  It is the preferred mode of transportation for 95 percent of visitors to the island. The fleet of eight high-speed, high-tech vessels carries passengers over the 22 miles in about an hour, sometimes less, with up to 30 scheduled departures per day. Sleek fiberglass hulls and state-of-the-art stabilizers smooth out 90 percent of the ocean’s roll, and high-tech navigational equipment and radio communications systems provide for safe channel crossing. For boat reservations, call 800-429-4601 or book online at www.CatalinaExpress.com.

The Commodore Lounge upgrade is available on the high-speed catamarans. Lounge passengers enjoy priority boarding, comfortable seating in a more intimate environment and a complimentary beverage with packaged snacks served by cabin attendants.

WHERE TO STAY

Once you get to the island, accommodations on Catalina run the gamut - from tent site camping to beachfront hotels, from family-friendly inns to well-appointed condos, from charming cottage vacation rentals to an elegant four-star country inn. You can stay in a luxurious ocean-view suite or take the whole family to a comfortable beach bungalow close to town.


MINI SUITE
 
A stylish place to stay on the island is the Hotel Metropole. Centrally located in the heart of Avalon, just steps from the beach, the hotel is the perfect spot for romantic interludes and family getaways.

The hotel’s facilities can accommodate up to 150 people in a variety of meeting rooms and outdoor patios that can be customized for various needs. Their Group Sales Team can also assist in making arrangements for larger groups on the island. The staff will handle all the details of your event, from meeting set-ups and audio-visual support to theme party coordination. Breakout rooms are available, high speed internet access is available throughout the hotel, complete audio and visual equipment rental and support, competitive group rates and full coordination of team-building activities. There is also a day spa.

The Ocean View Superior guest rooms include a king-size bed, fireplace, DVD player, possible Jacuzzi and sofa sleeper.   There is also a Partial Ocean View Superior, a Superior and a Deluxe guest room, which has a courtyard or hillside view, king or two queen beds, possible amenities include fireplace or balcony or Jacuzzi tub or sofa sleeper. The Moderate guest room has a king or queen bed with possible courtyard view.

Accommodations also include a beach house. This 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom 1800 sq. ft. hideaway boasts a full kitchen, an entertainment deck with panoramic ocean views, fireplace, huge living room with large screen TV, DVD and CD players -- even a built-in library.

The master suite features a vaulted ceiling, king-size bed, Frette linens and robes, sofa, dressing area, TV and private deck. The master bath has a Jacuzzi bathtub and a huge walk-in shower. The guest suite provides two full-size beds, guest bath with Jacuzzi bathtub, TV, and a private deck.

There is also a VIP Wing, which has an ocean view as well as  ocean front mini suites. www.hotel-metropole.com

Other hotels on the island include: The Avalon Hotel and The Aurora Hotel. Both offer views from their rooftops, with a 360-degree vista of Avalon and its harbor.  Most rooms feature 42-inch flat screens and high-speed Internet connections are available at no extra charge.

The Hermosa Hotel is located in the heart of Avalon, just a short 10-15 minute walk from the boat landing. The Historic Hermosa has been serving guests of the island since 1896.

The Hotel Villa Portofino carries on the traditions of a European seaside resort with personalized service and a relaxed Mediterranean charm.

WHERE TO MEET

The city of Avalon has a number of meeting sites.

The Catalina Casino, which has a theatre that is suitable for large lectures and conferences, can accommodate up to 1,200 people.

Descanso Beach Club is a relaxed site for corporate retreats, meetings, and team-building seminars. The location combines the beauty of the beach with all the amenities of a club: restrooms, outdoor showers, dressing rooms, volleyball courts, and beach equipment rentals.

Catalina Visitors Country Club can accommodate small and mid-sized groups who want a private location steps from the golf course so that meetings can be moved to the green. Both casual and formal seating areas can accommodate 25-200 guests. The Boardroom is suited for private committee or board meetings. Located off the main Courtyard is the Avalon Bay Room, which will appeal to planners of conferences or group lectures utilizing a classroom-style or u-shaped configuration.  Meeting rooms can be tailored to suit a group’s needs.

Meeting At Two Harbors
From casual meetings or events along the shore to more formal and intimate events inside the stately Banning House Lodge, Two Harbors boasts inspirational settings for meetings or brainstorming sessions. Four picnic areas—three of them with bandstands—can accommodate from 100 to 500 people.

WHERE TO EAT


 PIZZA AT LUAU LARRY'S

Luau Larry’s has breathtaking views of the harbor. For more than 20 years the restaurant has offered world famous drinks, including the local favorite concoctions including Buffalo Milks and Wiki Wackers. www.luaularrys.com


 BLUEWATER AVALON SWORDFISH

Bluewater Avalon is the city’s newest restaurant. Part of the Bluewater Grill group of restaurants on the Mainland, the restaurant sources the globe for the highest quality fresh seafood. Bluewater is casual, fun, owner-operated, offers a kid’s menu, oyster bar, sushi bar, patio dining and full bar. www.bluewatergrill.com/locations/catalina_island.php


 STEVE'S STEAKHOUSE APPETIZERS

Steve’s Steakhouse was voted the #1 restaurant in Avalon. It received a four star rating on Yelp and 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor. It features choice steaks, fresh seafood and rack of lamb. Located on the second floor, it has panoramic harbor views.  www.stevessteakhouse.com


 LOBSTER TRAP DINNER

Lobster Trap, owned by commercial lobster fisherman Caleb Lins since 2008, is a local favorite that features, of course, lobster, clam chowder, a Pancake Breakfast ‘shot’ and more. www.catalinalobstertrap.com


 LLOYD'S OF AVALON CONFECTIONARY

If you have a sweet tooth, Lloyd’s of Avalon Confectionary is just the ticket.  It has been making its world-renowned saltwater taffy, fantastic caramel apples, perfect peanut brittle, creamy fudge and scrumptious chocolates in the window on Crescent Avenue in Avalon, Catalina Island since 1934. All of the confections are hand made from the company’s own recipes. www.catalinacandy.com

THE HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION
Among the movies shot on Catalina are: Treasure Island (1918), The Ten Commandments (1923), Ben Hur (1925) and Old Ironsides (1926).  The Island also doubled for Tahiti in the filming of Mutiny on the Bounty in 1935, starring Charles Laughton and Clark Gable.  Other movies from the 1930s shot on the island include: Treasure Island, Island of Lost Souls, Rain, Captain Blood and Captains Courageous. Some of the aerial shots of Hawaii in Pearl Harbor (2001) were actually Catalina.  The waters surrounding the island were used for The Thin Red Line (1998), Suicide Kings (1997) and The Hunt for Red October (1990).  Other notable movies include Apollo 13 (1995), Waterworld (1995), Jaws (1975), Chinatown (1974) and Rosemary’s Baby (1968).

Stars have always flocked to the island.  Charlie Chaplin and wife Paulette Goddard, James Cagney, John Wayne, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Joan Crawford, Betty Grable and Johnny Weissmuller, Marilyn Monroe and Ronald Reagan.

Spotted on the island in recent years is a who’s who of Hollywood including: Barbra Streisand, James Brolin, Nicolas Cage, Lisa Marie Presley, Rob Lowe, Heidi Klum, Seal, Alanis Morrisette, Jessica Biel, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry, the casts of Housewives of Orange County, Hell’s Kitchen, The Bachelor, Stepbrothers, Twilight, The Girls Next Door, Millionaire Matchmaker, LMFAO, and VH-1 and MTV shows.

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Catalina Fun Facts: There have been more than 500 filmings in Avalon over the past century, from movies, TV shows, photo shoots, music videos and commercials. Clark Gable’s favorite hotel was The Glenmore, the island’s oldest hotel; Marilyn Monroe lived on the island for one year with her first husband and pulled taffy at Lloyd’s Confectionary; Catalina Express’ Doug Bombard transported Ronald Reagan, who was doing sports radio broadcasting during the Chicago Cubs spring training, to the Mainland for a screen test.

SOCIAL MEDIA:  Facebook, Twitter: @CatalinaExpress, Pinterest, Instagram: catalinaexpress, Hashtags:#catalinaexpress, #catalina



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