Catalina Dreamin’ – On Such a Winter’s Day Part 1 by Genie Davis
Any time is the right season to visit Catalina, Southern California’s own special island getaway. But while summer’s joys are approaching, bringing bathing suit weather and gentle waves, the quieter months that stretch between November and March are beautiful times to visit.
We had the pleasure of experiencing new and revamped favorite dining spots, our first ever golf-cart-ride into the hills, just-beginning to bloom gardens, a terrific kombucha and beer garden, and fine art exhibitions, still on-going at the Catalina Museum of Art and History. We also enjoyed a spooky, EMF enhanced ghost tour and of course, no visit is complete without exploring the hauntingly lovely Casino.
Traveling to Catalina is a literal breeze – windswept outdoors or comfortably seated in the Commodore lounge indoors, an experience we enjoyed, Catalina Express is the way go from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Newport Beach to the island.
Founded in 1981 as a commuter service, Catalina Express operates eight vessels today, carying more than one million passengers annually. Four high speed catamarans offer the smooth gliding ride we took, crossing from Long Beach to Avalon in an hour and offering both comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. The Commodore Lounge is on the upper deck, with plush leather-trim airline-like seating, relaxing priority boarding and check-in, and beverage and snack service included. We had the top-of-the-line lounge experience, enjoying delightfully sparkling champagne with our crackers and cookies snacks, watching as our vessel sailed from past the fog shrouded Queen Mary. As much as we enjoyed the romantically foggy views, when the fog cleared away, bright and sunny was perfect, too.
Once on the island, we checked in to the quiet, comfortable Catalina Island Inn. From our large 3rd floor room, we enjoyed a clear harbor view from our balcony. The step-in rain shower was also a delight, and staff was friendly and accommodating.
The boutique hotel’s mix of nautical and historical decor added to the relaxing ambiance. Also relaxing – the bed, with a terrific mattress, soft linens, and the sound of distant fog horns and gentle waves to lull us, we had a great night’s sleep in our spacious and peaceful room. Well-located just down the street from the Catalina Museum of Art and History, the hotel is convenient and easy to reach while being away from the sounds of nightlife directly along the waterfront. Having a balcony with a view was a special treat, and a fantastic first for us when visiting the island.
For lunch, we visited Descanso Beach Club, with its blissful beachside restaurant and bar – the only beachside restaurant in Avalon. The ocean view patio gave us a stellar view of gulls and pelicans in flight, boats bobbing picturesquely on the water, and of course, the ocean itself. We were seated on the deck, where we enjoyed the California Sushi Bowl with fresh-from-the-sea spicy poke, edamame, and avocado; and the Cilantro Grilled Swordfish sandwich, which came with a crisp but creamy slaw topping featuring red cabbage and pineapple. Fresh fish, a deliciously relaxing vibe, and two of the Descanso Beach Club specialty cocktail, the potent and tasty Descanso Destroyer featuring Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Don Q 151, Amaretto, Grenadine, plus orange and pineapple.
While we could’ve lingered all day, it was time for the afternoon Catalina Casino VIP tour. High recommends for those visiting to enjoy the VIP experience. Not only do visitors get to see far more of the casino, including backstage green rooms, dressing rooms, and the Wrigley screening room, you’ll learn the inside story on the casino, which held many firsts over the years, including being constructed to show the then-innovative new film technique – movies with sound. And in the gorgeous upstairs ballroom, replete with cork flooring to insulate sound, you can see the stage where the King of Swing himself, Benny Goodman, once played. Outside the ballroom, the view was superb, even as the fog crept softly in again, and the ornate construction is a true jewel of architecture and California history.
After strolling around town enjoying both window shopping and the purchase of some Catalina-made soaps and candles as souvenirs, we had dinner at another Catalina tradition– The Lobster Trap.
This lively locals-favorite recently expanded its lively dining room, bright with a neon sign or two, and sporting fish-centric decor. Everything’s fresh here: commercial fisherman Caleb Lins is the owner, and he brings in local fish caught form his own 40-foot boat. Our appetizer was from the land, not sea, however – a perfectly prepared steamed artichoke served with, of course, clarified butter for delightfully decadent dipping. But our main dishes were decidedly fresh from the sea: while I had a special, savory and tender sand dabs paired with asparagus and a baked potato; my dining partner opted for locally caught sea bass, one of his favorite fish, recommended by the venue’s friendly waitstaff.
Decamping to our room, the foggy night had cleared, making our balcony at the Catalina Island Inn the perfect spot for some stargazing.
All of this in one day — but we had a second full day on the island, and an additional half day – and we enjoyed even more adventures. If you’d like to read more, all our second day and night fun will post right here, later this week.
We had a truly beautiful mix of sunshine and fog on our visit – and the end result of our beautiful stay was a refrence to yet another classic mellow rock song “Winter spring summer or fall, all you have to do is…” go visit Catalina, where you’ll always feel like “you’ve got a friend” in nature, fun adventures, and fine dining.
- Genie Davis; photos: Genie Davis and Jack Burke
