Must-Do's in Catalina Island - by Christopher

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June 22nd, 2020 written by Christopher

Must-Do #1 Book Catalina Flyer Express

Last weekend was EPIC in Half Moon Bay.

When the following Friday came around, June 19^th, and after working hard all week both Ashley and I needed some well-deserved R&R! I wanted to know – where could we go for a day trip? I had only moved to California in January of 2020, so I consulted Google for some ideas. There were so many options but after looking through all the pictures and watching the movie Stepbrothers, Santa Catalina Island looked perfect. Without hesitation I made a secret call to the Catalina Flyer Express and booked our round-trip tickets. If you want the best deal, ask for the AAA discount (it will save you roughly $20 on two tickets).

Must-Do #2 Explore End-to-End

The trip to Catalina was about 65 minutes by boat and the ride out was smooth. The boat had a bar, seating areas up top and below deck, and a private lounge (bathrooms in all areas). Heading out to the ocean from LA was an incredible view because the usual smog of Los Angeles virtually disappears once you get to the island. The boat left at 11am and we got to the island around 12 noon. Upon arrival we were greeted with sunshine and frankly, I felt like it was the same as being in a European country (i.e. Amalfi coast, Italy). Homes were perched on the hills and restaurants & shops were painted in bright colors. Make sure you do a full catwalk down the main drag and back to take it all in before you officially start exploring the shops and restaurants.

We hadn’t eaten yet and found a quaint breakfast spot, Original Jacks. I ordered the French Toast combo with eggs & bacon and Ashley ordered the Crab Cakes Benedict. In all candor, it reminded me of New Jersey diner food, which being from Jersey, I loved. But Ashley wasn’t as big of a fan (ha). The inside of the restaurant had a Hawaiian style decor with Kona Coffee logos pasted around the walls. Out of 5 stars, I would give this restaurant a 3.5. Fast service and decent diner food.

After we had breakfast, we went for a walk. Each narrow, European-style street was lined with bikes and golf carts with few cars to be seen. For the most part, walking is the popular mode of transportation so I’d highly suggest wearing comfortable shoes. We hit a few local shops where we decided it was time for a wardrobe change. Ashley bought a tie-dye style maxi-dress at Sunkissed and I found a T-shirt at Island Threadz. Both great deals and very friendly staff.

Must-Do #3 Happy Hour at Descanso Beach Club

To round out the trip, we shared drinks at the Descanso Beach Club, a beach side bar and restaurant overlooking sailboats and swimmers alike. I HIGHLY recommend the strawberry daiquiri! The mix was perfect and the cold, juicy fresh pineapple slice on top was a major plus. Ashley tried a margarita and a pina colada. I could tell by her facial expression that she enjoyed the margarita more, the pina colada was too sweet for her.

Our server Fabi was accommodating when we asked for a table with a better view. She re-sat us at a table on the edge of the railing on the sand which was exactly what we hoped for.

As the sun started going down, we headed back towards the boat for our scheduled 7pm departure. After spending the day on the island shopping, eating, drinking, and sight seeing, I recommend it to any friends looking for a day trip.

On our way out, Ashley mentioned she wished we had more time on the island to do dinner so unless you have to head back to the mainland early, I would suggest scheduling a later departure. However, sailing out enjoying the sunset on the boat ride home wasn’t a bad way to leave.