The next time Californians feel the urge to visit a faraway and exotic destination, save lots of time and money by visiting Catalina Island instead.

Just 26 miles from the mainland, Catalina may as well be in Spain or the Greek Isles because the allure is evident from the moment her boat glides into Avalon Bay, a scene of luxury yachts often populated by young people. and beautiful, surrounded by the spectacular hills of the port where houses and villas rise almost one on top of the other, almost all with a spectacular view of the bay.

This is a postcard scene that never has a bad day. It is always full of the colors of a tropical paradise, an inspiring combination of land, sea and architecture that will instantly lift your spirits and help you forget your everyday life at home.

On our most recent trip to the island, we boarded the Catalina Express at Dana Point, the easiest way to get to Catalina for San Diego County residents. They also offer convenient connections from Los Angeles-area piers in Long Beach and San Pedro. Catalina Express operates several different types of boats to the island, but our 97-foot monohull proved to be a comfortable ride even in larger-than-average waves. It’s not uncommon on these trips to see porpoises and seals, as we did, and the fresh, salty air is exhilarating if you venture outside the main cabin.

Before leaving Dana Point, the Catalina Express office informed us that there was a possibility that the trip home in two days could be delayed due to the expected high winds. If the winds were to blow, our choice would be to go home a day early or a day late. We chose to go anyway – worst case scenario was a quick overnight jump to Catalina, which we didn’t think was a huge inconvenience.

One of the reasons we wanted to go was to try out the newly remodeled Pavilion Hotel, a long-time island favorite (formerly known as the Pavilion Lodge) that has been transformed into an upscale hideaway smack in the center of Crescent Avenue. , the “main street” of Avalon. The first thing we noticed was the lush tropical greenery throughout the interior courtyard with both indoor and outdoor seating for a wine and cheese bar that doubles as a breakfast bar in the morning. Pathways lead through the courtyard to the individual units which have a bungalow feel even though they are part of the same building. Each unit has its own lanai.

Opening the French doors to our room, we immediately noticed the attention to detail and what must have been a complete upgrade from the previous decor. New wicker chairs, premium bed decorations, widescreen HDTV, signature bathroom fixtures, and overall comfort made our room at the Pavilion feel as special as our own island getaway. The attentive and cheerful staff added to the general impression that the owners definitely want this accommodation to stand out for its quality.

This was a couples getaway for us, our daughter was staying with friends back home so we asked for recommendations on a good place to have dinner. Locals suggested Steve’s Steakhouse so we took a short walk down Crescent Avenue to this popular restaurant.

If you go to Steve’s Steakhouse, we suggest you eat there when it’s not as crowded. Our Friday night visit at the height of the dinner hour coincided with a large wedding party also taking place in the restaurant in essentially the same room, albeit a bit away from the diners who were located near the windows with views. We didn’t have reservations, so they put us at a table that probably shouldn’t even be there – it’s located next to the kitchen, right next to the path all the servers take when placing or delivering orders, and also next to the party area . While we had no complaints about the food, the decibel level was as high as anything we’ve ever experienced in a restaurant and was probably the only negative experience we’ve had on Catalina Island.

The positive experiences on Catalina Island are many, indeed. The Santa Catalina Company, which owns and operates a number of businesses on the island, has put together an impressive list of adventures and excursions, all designed to showcase the island’s scenery, history and water sports.

The latest and greatest addition to the tours is the Zip Line Eco Tour, one of the few zip lines in California and, in this case, one of the most scenic. If you’ve watched reality shows like Amazing Race, it seems like a zip line is launched somewhere along the route every season. This is because ziplining is very exciting, but is considered safe due to the extensive safety measures built in.

A zip line is essentially an inclined cable strung between two points, with the hooked rider attaching to the cable with a pulley-like device that allows him to ride the line down with the force of gravity. At Catalina, riders reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on a series of five zip lines that take them through Descanso Canyon more than 300 feet above the canyon floor. Passengers also learn about the island’s unique flora, fauna, and history by reading interpretive signs along the way. By all accounts, the Catalina Zipline, which opened in the spring of 2010, is a smash hit.

Also on the list of possible Catalina activities are experiences like Snuba diving, where you can dive and breathe underwater without heavy scuba gear and no prior diving experience. If you prefer to stay out of the water, the underwater tour takes you in a semi-submersible where the windows are below the surface of the ocean and you can see marine life as you would if you were scuba diving.

There are several tours of the interior of the island and you can travel in four-wheel drive ATVs or vintage buses.

However, we didn’t see much of the island on our most recent trip. That warning we received at Dana Point turned out to be prophetic and the high winds meant that we probably couldn’t cross back to the mainland on our scheduled day. Because we had plane tickets booked for departure almost immediately upon our return, we had to leave Catalina early to make sure we were home on time.

Yes, it was disappointing. But the good thing about Catalina is that we don’t have to go around the world to come back and visit her again.

TAKE A LOOK

WHERE: Catalina Island is about 26 miles west of the Los Angeles area. There are several boat companies serving Catalina from seven ports in Orange and Los Angeles counties, as well as helicopter service from the Los Angeles waterfront.

WHAT: Catalina Island offers many recreational activities ranging from deep-sea fishing to horseback riding, hiking, and snorkeling.

WHEN: Catalina is a great destination year-round, although the lowest prices are in the shoulder season, April-May and September-October. Most hotels offer lower prices at that time, but combo packages help lower the total cost of lodging and transportation at any time of year. Various events are offered throughout the year, so check with the Chamber of Commerce for a list.

WHY: Catalina is close, easily accessible, incredibly scenic, and the perfect day trip or weekend getaway for anyone living in or visiting Southern California.

HOW: Call Catalina Chamber at 310-510-1520 for a complete list of transportation and lodging options.