{"id":7102,"date":"2015-06-19T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-20T02:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7102"},"modified":"2015-06-19T16:31:57","modified_gmt":"2015-06-19T23:31:57","slug":"a-day-away-catalina-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7102","title":{"rendered":"A Day Away: Catalina Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living in a world-class vacation destination like Santa Barbara has a bounty of blissful benefits, but sometimes it\u2019s still nice to get out of town for a bit. Here are a few favorite spots that are less than a day away from home.<\/p>\n

Catalina Island<\/h5>\n
\"Relaxation<\/a>

Relaxation and indulgence go hand-in-hand on Catalina Island, where you can enjoy being pampered at Island Spa Catalina. Courtesy of Santa Catalina Island Company.<\/p><\/div>\n

This beautiful getaway\u2014just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California via Catalina Express (800\/481-3470, catalinaexpress.com<\/a>), with ports in San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point\u2014offers a little piece of paradise with striking clear-blue waters and a laid-back friendly vibe that Santa Barbarans will appreciate and feel right at home with.<\/p>\n

Avalon<\/a> is a great walking town, with no cars allowed in much of the waterfront district and a charming path stretching from the Catalina Express boat moorings to Descanso Beach, a mile away. Descanso Beach Club (1 Descanso Ave., 310\/510-7410, visitcatalinaisland.com<\/a>) is a terrific spot for sunset cocktails. Poke into quaint shops like the eye-popping Afishionados Gallery Store (203 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-2440, shop.afishionadosgallery.com<\/a>), which has wonderful one-of-a-kind jewelry and art, and C.C. Gallagher\u00a0(523 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-1278, ccgallagher.com<\/a>), a coffee house\/wine tasting room that also carries high-end gifts, or pop into Lloyd\u2019s of Avalon Confectionery (315 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-7266, catalinacandy.com<\/a>) for sweet treats.<\/p>\n

\"Sip

Sip your blues away with cocktails at Maggie’s Blue Rose on Catalina Island, photo by Leslie Dinaberg<\/p><\/div>\n

Explore the island further with a visit to Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden (1402 Avalon Canyon Rd., 310\/510-2897, catalinaconservancy.org<\/a>) or by renting a golf cart at Catalina Auto and Bike Rentals (635 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-1600, catalinaislandgolfcart.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Avalon\u2019s newest restaurant, Maggie\u2019s Blue Rose (417 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-3300, maggiesbluerose.com<\/a>), features innovative Mexican cuisine (try the mole braised duck taquitos, the watermelon and spiced grilled shrimp salad and the fabulous grilled street corn on the cob, which is \u201cderailed\u201d tableside) and an extensive margarita selection (think tamarindo, cucumber and jalapeno, and desert pear flavors).<\/p>\n

We also enjoyed a fantastic ocean-view dinner at another newbie to the island, Bluewater Avalon Seafood Restaurant (306 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-3474, bluewatergrill.com<\/a>). Located in the historic Avalon waterfront building that once served as the arrival and departure point for the SS Avalon and SS Catalina steamers, the restaurant offers a contemporary take on the classic New England seafood house.<\/p>\n

To truly feel pampered, check out the brand-new Island Spa Catalina (163 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-7300, visitcatalinaisland.com<\/a>), which offers 15,000 square feet of indoor bliss, as well as a variety of outdoor spaces, including luxurious lounges, a soaking pool and the stunning turquoise-tiled vista deck. The spa features nine treatment rooms, a nail studio (the blend bar mani\/pedi is a special treat for the senses), and light bites at Encanto Caf\u00e9. It\u2019s a wonderful place to spend the day with friends (girls\u2019 weekend treat or pre-wedding pampering).<\/p>\n

Many people come to Catalina for a day trip, and that\u2019s certainly do-able, but if you stay at the delightfully charming Pavilion Hotel (513 Crescent Ave., 310\/510-1788, visitcatalinaisland.com<\/a>), you may never want to leave! Renovated in 2010, this cozy hotel is a mere 14 steps from the beach. If you don\u2019t want the sand in your toes, Pavilion Hotel has a spacious garden courtyard area, complete with fire pits, where you can enjoy the ocean view along with complimentary wine and cheese pairings, as well as an excellent continental breakfast.<\/p>\n

\u2014Leslie Dinaberg<\/p>\n

For more info on this destination, or to request a free visitor\u2019s guide, visit catalinachamber.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Originally published in the Summer 2015 issue of Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

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