2012 - October 6th - Mary Anne's Catalina Island Birthday

For Mary Anne's Birthday we took the Catalina Express over to Avalon on Catalina Island for the day. It had been several years since we visited and the Birthday special was a great opportunity for us to go once again. We caught the 8:30 AM sailing for the hour and a quarter trip over to the island. It was a beautiful day in all regards including the perfect 74 degree or so weather.


Mary Anne overlooking the Avalon, Catalina Island harbor

Welcome to Avalon on Catalina Island

A great ceramic map of the town of Avalon:

We rented one of the island golf carts that are the main transportation for the island, either visitor or resident, and took our hour and a half drive around the island roads. The views are captivating of the bay, town, and hillsides. We always enjoy the golf cart drive while on the island. There are more pictures in our photo album when you finish the blog.

Our little cart for our drive:












We stopped at a few pull-outs for the spectacular views and picture taking. One of the folks we met took this picture of Mary Anne and me with the bay in the background from high up the hills of Avalon.

Those golf carts may be smaller than most cars, but follow the signs posted throughout the island!

In a very small side park we ran across a couple of deer that really like the neighbors in that remote area. They were so friendly and not a bit scared. They were so tame, they probably would have climbed in the cart for a ride if we would have let them!


After the ride, we walked the shops and enjoyed the beautiful day just wandering. We had a terrific seafood lunch at Armstrong's Seafood Market and Restaurant right on the water overlooking the beautiful boats on the bay and out to the ocean.


Mary Anne with her Birthday lunch of shrimp, scallop, and fish skewers at Armstrong's:



Crescent Avenue fronts most of the shops right in front the ocean beach shore. You pass Luau Larry's (which I wish I owned just for the fun of ownership on Catalina), the ice cream store, gift and clothing shops galore, and the Eric's on the Pier is still there serving Buffalo Burgers daily!

Crescent Street, Avalon
 





After a marvelous day, we headed back to Long Beach saying our last farewell to Catalina Island from our boat: Good-Bye Catalina ... until the next time ...


See a few additional pictures in our photo album ...