Finally. Santa Catalina Island had been on my bucket list for a couple of years. Probably because compared to what we're used to seeing on the beaches around Los Angeles, Catalina seems blessed with the same water quality you find on Mediterranean islands. Maybe not quite as warm, but still crystal clear.

The island—first an indigenous settlement, then a retreat for the rich and famous—became a tourist spot in the postwar era and still is today. I don't know why, but it reminded me of La Maddalena in Sardinia; it gave off the same kind of vibes.

We caught the 8:15 ferry from Long Beach and after about 70 minutes, we docked in Avalon, the island's main town. We walked a good half hour to reach the Wrigley Botanical Gardens and its memorial at the top of the hill across the way.

On the way back, we grabbed lunch at The Lobster Trap, which I recommend if you're into fish—or at least that's what Noemi says, since seafood's still a hard no for me 🙂.

After that, we headed to Descanso Beach, where we not only spotted two deer but also squeezed in the last swim of the season before hopping the 6:30 ferry back to the mainland.

The island's pretty big, and to really see it all, you're generally better off renting a golf cart—they're basically the official mode of transport there too. Next time, we'll do that, maybe even staying over for a night or two.