From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip
View from the Avalon Hotel
I arrived early in Long Beach, California for my 5:45 p.m. ferry crossing aboard the Catalina Express. It was a sunny Monday afternoon in February and the Pacific ocean was as smooth as glass. I bought my ticket and boarded the 150 passenger, high speed 97′ vessel bound for Santa Catalina Island. Portside, the Queen Mary looked majestic basking in a perfect Southern California sunset as we left the harbor on our hour-long journey, bound for the island.
After docking at Catalina Island a friendly cab driver took my bag as I joined a local couple in the van. They were returning home from a weekend of big city shopping. Seventy-six square miles of paradise, the Island doesn’t offer strip malls or chain stores found in Los Angeles. I arrived at the Avalon and the driver picked up a voucher for my free cab ride compliments of the hotel. I dropped my bag in one of the 15 rooms in the Craftsman-style boutique hotel, checked out the roof-top deck with a stunning ocean view of the Avalon harbor and walked a block to downtown.
One thing you’ll notice right away in Catalina is the abundance of golf carts. I rented a cart for two hours and put putted my way up to the Wrigley Memorial Garden. For those on a budget, the nearby Hermit Gultch campground offers affordable tent cabins and campsites. Make sure to stop at the Nature Center to watch a quick and informative video of the island. You’ll learn about the Catalina Island Fox and the bison that roam the island as a result of the 1924 Hollywood film crew that brought over 14 bison for the making of Zane Grey’s “The Vanishing American.” Finally, head over to Descanso Beach Club to watch the kayaks and stop at the Casino Building where you’ll learn that Casino in Italian means “place of gathering.” The locals are quick to point out that the Avalon Casino Building is not a gambling Casino.
Avalon Ocean View Room
After a tasty surf and turf dinner at Steve’s Steakhouse I returned to my luxurious bed at the Avalon Hotel. I didn’t turn on the flat screen television, but I did plug into the ethernet with my laptop. The next morning I grabbed a muffin and coffee from the complimentary buffet and walked my way back to the boat landing for an 8 a.m. departure. There was no need for a cab now that I was familiar with the Island. I was given a voucher for the $10 upgrade to the Commodore Lounge giving me priority boarding, a complimentary beverage and snack and more intimate seating.
I look forward to experiencing Catalina Island in the summer time for ocean swimming and snorkeling. Get your hands on the February 2009 issue of the National Geographic Adventure magazine for great articles on the Botanical Gardens and Catalina Island Conservancy.
The Avalon Hotel is a Unique Inn member and children are welcome.
124 Whittley Avenue, Avalon, CA 90704
(310) 510-7070
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[...] the view of Avalon Bay is great, and if you’re eating there, you’re probably enjoying a Catalina Island vacation. I recommend staying with the ethos of the place, and ordering seafood. It’s what [...]
[...] I landed in the Laguna Suite with a king bed and view of the blue Pacific ocean across the highway. Traveling mid-week has its benefits for potential room upgrades. The Innkeeper pointed out the year-round heated pool with its ocean-view deck and the Bell Tower, the best place to watch stunning sunsets over Catalina Island. [...]
[...] is home to plenty of hotels ranging from cruddy and thin-walled to luxurious, but like everything else the hotels are on island [...]
[...] is home to plenty of hotels ranging from cruddy and thin-walled to luxurious, but like everything else the hotels are on island [...]
[...] Brown, who mans the ship of the UpTake’s lodging blog, visited Aurora while she stayed at Avalon, a sister property. She was also taken by Aurora’s [...]