I finally decided to make a bucket list of all travel destinations that I would like to see in my lifetime (preferably sooner, rather than later). Whether I can cover as much territory as my heart desires is yet to be determined, but "a dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true." So I am going to start with a dream by writing it down and then come up with a date. Small steps...
Catalina Island wasn't really a dream or a goal or even a desirable destination to visit until someone mentioned it to me. What sold it to me is the boat ride! About an hour away by a ferry, the island is a getaway destination for exhausted Orange County and LA residents. It offers a somewhat tropical atmosphere with Caribbean features and Hawaiian hiking. Am I exaggerating? Probably. I guess it's been a while since I explored the tropics.
The logistics of the trip was uncomplicated although I was a bit concerned about parking. Street parking is hard to come by, and the day use parking lot is $24. We were pretty lucky to find something just a few blocks away from the ferry. The ferry departed Newport Beach promptly at 9 AM as the boat slowly sailed away from the harbor. When in the open ocean, the boat sped up and we could finally feel the breeze. I could not resist to go up on the top deck to see the full view of the ocean, and after taking a few videos and successfully getting nauseous headed back down to sit in misery staring at the horizon. It helped a bit, but I was happy to feel the solid ground under my feet upon arrival. Small things that make you happy.
In addition to AllTrails app, I researched Catalina Island hiking trails on several websites, but my favorite was this one. The trail head to Hermit Gulch Trail was 35 minutes away from the harbor, so we got to walk through the town observing lives of local residents unfolding right before us. It did not seem like California for some reason.
It was getting hot. As we hiked uphill (a decent 2 mile steady climb to over 1,300 ft), I felt like I was cheated by the weather people who promised a high of 68 degrees. I could see heat emanating from the ground, my shirt was soaked with sweat. I felt like I needed a shower, but knew it was a dream that is to be delayed in coming to fruition at least till the evening.
The breeze was slightly noticeable as we reached the top, and the views of the island really opened up in every direction I looked. Ocean on one side, ocean on the other side - an unforgettable moment.
After a short break on the top, we started the descent. It's always good to hike with a companion. Somehow even a tough hike seems less of a challenge. The hike downhill is even more pleasant, just put one foot in front of the other, and there you are at the foothills already.
We also stumbled across Wrigley Memorial on the way out, and I took a few pictures of the tile, bronze front door and the view. It looked pretty...
Finally, back in town, we stopped by a casino, but decided against taking a tour. After a hot day, who the heck wants to be stuck inside admiring art and history?
Catalina Island wasn't really a dream or a goal or even a desirable destination to visit until someone mentioned it to me. What sold it to me is the boat ride! About an hour away by a ferry, the island is a getaway destination for exhausted Orange County and LA residents. It offers a somewhat tropical atmosphere with Caribbean features and Hawaiian hiking. Am I exaggerating? Probably. I guess it's been a while since I explored the tropics.
The logistics of the trip was uncomplicated although I was a bit concerned about parking. Street parking is hard to come by, and the day use parking lot is $24. We were pretty lucky to find something just a few blocks away from the ferry. The ferry departed Newport Beach promptly at 9 AM as the boat slowly sailed away from the harbor. When in the open ocean, the boat sped up and we could finally feel the breeze. I could not resist to go up on the top deck to see the full view of the ocean, and after taking a few videos and successfully getting nauseous headed back down to sit in misery staring at the horizon. It helped a bit, but I was happy to feel the solid ground under my feet upon arrival. Small things that make you happy.
In addition to AllTrails app, I researched Catalina Island hiking trails on several websites, but my favorite was this one. The trail head to Hermit Gulch Trail was 35 minutes away from the harbor, so we got to walk through the town observing lives of local residents unfolding right before us. It did not seem like California for some reason.
It was getting hot. As we hiked uphill (a decent 2 mile steady climb to over 1,300 ft), I felt like I was cheated by the weather people who promised a high of 68 degrees. I could see heat emanating from the ground, my shirt was soaked with sweat. I felt like I needed a shower, but knew it was a dream that is to be delayed in coming to fruition at least till the evening.
The breeze was slightly noticeable as we reached the top, and the views of the island really opened up in every direction I looked. Ocean on one side, ocean on the other side - an unforgettable moment.
After a short break on the top, we started the descent. It's always good to hike with a companion. Somehow even a tough hike seems less of a challenge. The hike downhill is even more pleasant, just put one foot in front of the other, and there you are at the foothills already.
We also stumbled across Wrigley Memorial on the way out, and I took a few pictures of the tile, bronze front door and the view. It looked pretty...
Finally, back in town, we stopped by a casino, but decided against taking a tour. After a hot day, who the heck wants to be stuck inside admiring art and history?
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