a day on catalina island

If you've gotten the impression from my blog that my husband and I have been going on all these wonderful little day trips this past month...then you'd be correct! We have been SO busy every single weekend in September so far. But it's a fun kind of busy, so I don't really mind. First we went to Santa Barbara, then Zion National Park in Utah, and last weekend we spent a day on Catalina Island off the coast of southern California.

The first time I visited Catalina Island was very traumatic. I went on a class field trip in the third grade where we "roughed" it for a few days. I am not outdoorsy at all and I usually appreciate nature from a distance. Even at the tender age of 8 or 9, I was not a fan of sleeping in tents (where there were crickets underneath our sleeping bags!), hiking in the rain, and having our campsite raided by a pack of wild pigs (true story!). But I got over my disastrous introduction to Catalina Island just in time to have a relaxing girls weekend getaway with some friends a few years ago. We had so much fun that I definitely wanted to go back, but this time with my husband who had never been before!

If you live in Southern California, Catalina Island is the perfect day trip. There's just enough to do to pack into one day but you won't feel overwhelmed or exhausted at the end. There's so much natural beauty mixed in with the quaint charm of Catalina Island's little town of Avalon.

When we departed on our boat from Newport Beach, the weather was absolutely miserable. I was worried that the weather on Catalina was going to be gross as well. Thankfully I was wrong and it was an absolutely perfect day as we pulled into Avalon Harbor. 

The main activity we did while on the Island was snorkeling in Lover's Cove! It was SO much fun! My husband got an amazing deal online for two hours of snorkeling with a group and a guide, all the rentals, plus two underwater cameras for such a steal! We were surrounded by so many fish right from the start, including the orange garibaldi which is the state fish of California! We had a great time swimming around in the ocean and just marveling in the beauty of creation. And of course I was even more happy that I was able to document it on our nifty underwater cameras! 

After a full morning of snorkeling, we were definitely ready for a yummy meal. Everything is in walking distance, so we strolled over to CC Gallagher for lunch. With excellent views of the harbor and a really unique vibe, it was a great place to relax, drink wine and eat the most amazing gelato of my life!

We were practically in a food coma after the deliciousness of that gelato, but we mustered up the strength to take a walk around all the cute local shops and just take in some more beautiful views. 

If you live in Southern California and want a fun-filled yet relaxing day trip, Catalina Island really is a great place. You can find a lot of deals online for travel and activities, and it feels like a getaway without actually having to go too far away. After last weekend, my husband and I are definitely ready to be homebodies for the rest of the month. We have the travel bug out of our system...at least for now.