The Santa Catalina Island, California
The Santa Catalina Island, often called as the Catalina Island is a great vacation destination for the entire family. It is part of the eight Channel Islands and situated off the coast of Southern California just 35 kilometers southwest of Los Angeles. There are ferry services and helicopter services to Catalina Island from the mainland. Every year about one million tourists visit this island for enjoying water sports, hiking, camping and many other exciting fun activities.
The main and important town in this island is Avalon which measures only one square mile in area. There is a taxi stand in the center of the town and trolley services are available regularly on summer and weekends on off season. Shuttle bus services are running between Avalon and other places in the island.
Things to Do in Catalina Island: Some of the exciting activities in the island are outlined below.
Underwater Adventure: The children with ages 8 years and above are allowed to do underwater helmet walk. The specialized helmets provide air for breathing and the adventure does not need a diving certification. Experienced guides accompany the divers while watching hundreds of marine animals and plants.
New Rock Climbing Wall: This is a 32 foot climbing wall located at Descanso Beach Club. It offers 8 separate climbing roots according to the difficulty level from beginner to advanced. The climbers can watch the ocean view from the top of the wall.
The Zip Line Eco Tour: This adventure consists of travelling through the five consecutive zip lines 300 feet above the canyon floor at a speed of about 45 kph. The tour will begin at Hog’s Back gate and descend through Descanso Canyon pausing at several eco stations on the way. At each station the hosts will explain the history and importance of the areas passing through. The two hour tour will finish at Descanso Beach. Recently night zip line eco tour has been added from Dec 2011 onwards.
Beach Activities in the Island: The beaches are located within walking distance from the island’s hotels and restuarnts.The Descanso Beach is a beautiful private beach where all activities like snorkeling, kayaking and swimming are possible. The beach provides dressing rooms, beach umbrellas, chairs, rest rooms and outdoor showers. Other beaches like the South Beach and the Middle Beach are also very popular for relaxation and water sports activities.
Fishing: Both adults and children can enjoy fishing in the coves, beaches and reefs of the Catalina Island. The types of fishes include Tuna, Marlin, Calico, Yellowtail, Halibut and Sea Bass. Rental boats and special fishing charters are plenty in the island.
Kids Activities in Catalina Island: For kids and children the Catalina Island is both fun and an educational destination. The island museum in Avalon is devoted to the arts, culture and history of the island. It is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm and contains a museum store, digital theater and several galleries displaying the history of the island.
The miniature Golf Gardens is one of the best miniature golf courses in the world. It is located in a beautiful garden setting featuring a loop-the loop hole, a square spiral and some uphill shots.
The tour on semi submersible vessel SS Nautilus is great excitement for kids. It is a forty-five minutes tour to see the marine life very close. The torpedo buttons on the ship are fish feeding systems that allow the children to feed the underwater fishes. The glass bottom boat tour is another adventure that allows watching the underwater fishes and feeding them through food drop tubes.
A travel to the interior of the island is an opportunity to see wildlife that include bison, wild boars, island foxes, deer and turkeys. Camping facilities are available for children to experience real life situations. Some of the camp sites include Emerald Bay, Buttonshell Beach and Gallaghers Cove.
The entertainment and fun for families are endless at Catalina Island. It has the right blend of excellent opportunities and beautiful atmosphere to satisfy every visitor.
Category: Kid Friendly Vacations
