Exploring Catalina Island's Interior Secluded Beaches Coves Seeing Buffalo
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Exploring Catalina Island's Interior Secluded Beaches Coves Seeing Buffalo |
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How to explore Catalina's secluded beaches & gorgeous interior.
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Catalina Island's Scenic Interior
Beauty, in the case of Santa Catalina Island, is much more than skin deep. Here, it goes straight to the heart. And takes the soul right along with it. Most visitors to Catalina only see Avalon and either what is right in front of them (the beach and Pacific Ocean), under them (diving and snorkeling) or now below them (from the hugely popular zip lines).
And while these are certainly exceptional uses of one's time on this island some 25 miles across the Pacific from Los Angeles, there is even more to explore: Catalina's spectacular, remarkable interior. For those who think Avalon is like leaving a jungle (Los Angeles) and arriving at a remote outpost, then leaving Avalon for the interior is like, well, leaving LA for Avalon. It's that remote. And the really cool part is that one can see it and be back at the harbor in plenty of time for dinner in town.
The interior is a totally different world. It is a land of hills and valleys, some so deep they would be labeled with black diamonds and warning signs if they were on a ski slope. The views from those heights provide sweeping views of the vast Pacific Ocean on one side and, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, downtown Long Beach or even all the way to Mt. Baldy on clear days. Plus there are lakes (okay, big ponds, really), campgrounds and grazing buffalo. There are tours from Avalon that can take visitors on half-day or full-day trips. The Catalina Conservancy offers these adventures: • Jeep tours: A guided tour of the interior of the island. There are two tours, a half-day (lasting three hours) and a full day (five hours). The price is for up to 6 people, $495 for a half day and $795 for all day. Each tour includes lunch. • Hike & ride: This involves taking a Jeep tour, hiking to lunch, and then taking the Jeep back to town. The tour lasts 5 hours and costs $650 for up to 6 people. • Group two- and three-hour tours: Cost is $65 per person, three people required.
The tours visit remarkable places like the sheltered coves of Cottonwood Beach and the jaw-dropping Shark's Harbor and Little Harbor, then swings down and stops from a perch just outside of town for a look at Avalon and the harbor. This is the place of postcards ("Oh, so THAT'S where they went to get that photo" you are likely to remark, reflecting on a postcards seen earlier in a shop along Crescent Ave., or a website such as, well, SurfsideSam.com). Shark's Harbor and Little Harbor, in addition to its endless photo opportunities, is a favorite filming spot for Hollywood movies. Force yourself to take the sights off the sheer drop-off of the cliff and the beauty of the curved cove and beach to notice a cluster of palm trees behind the beach. This is where several South Pacific-theme films have been shot, including Pearl Harbor with Ben Affleck. Don't be surprised to see a buffalo, or even buffalo. The island's icon is not just a symbol, it really exists. A favorite spot for them is a beautiful pond on a flat part of the interior called Haypress Picnic Area. And, as luck would have it, the Conservancy tours go right by there.
The interior of the island also has hiking and biking trails and camping. The latter is remote, almost like being in the middle of nowhere in particular, but it's also close enough to the Catalina Express ferry to be back in the office in a suit and tie on Monday. If that suits you. Catalina Island Conservancy Information SurfsideSam.com covers beach cities and towns around the world. © 2011. All rights reserved. |
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