Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Weekend Getaway #3 - Catalina Island

"If you live in California there’s no shortage of weekend destinations.  You can go your whole life and not hit them all.  From large cities to small towns, deserts, snow-capped mountains and miles and miles of breathtaking coastline -- the possibilities for day trips and getaways are endless. So crank up those tunes and roll down those windows and let’s gaze upon the beautiful Golden State as it rolls by..."

Excerpt from Weekend Getaway #1
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Husband and I hopped aboard a high-speed catamaran and sailed to Catalina, an island oasis off the coast of Long Beach.

Along the way we were greeted by majestic grey whales migrating from the warm lagoons of Mexico to their Arctic feeding grounds. It was so nice of the Captain to stop the boat for a while so everyone could enjoy the spectacular view.

After about an hour we pulled into the Marina of Avalon. From there, we leisurely strolled along the seaside until we reached Armstrong Seafood Restaurant. We dined on the deck overlooking the beautiful Avalon Bay. I had crab cakes and swordfish skewer and hubby ordered oysters on a half shell and halibut skewer. Food was delicious and the turquoise crystal clear water provided a perfect backdrop for a delightful dining experience.

Catalina is an island, so to really experience its geographic context, we had to venture out in the sea. Less adventurous that we are, we boarded the SS Nautilus, a semi-submersible vessel with viewing windows, to explore what lies beneath. After the tour we walked further North to the Casino, Catalina’s most famous landmark, then headed back to downtown where a montage of fascinating stores, galleries, squares and alleys abound.


Here are some snapshots from our weekend getaway...








 

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