We have only been to Santa Catalina Island on one occasion. My co-worker and friend, Dan, along with his female companion, took us on a cross country airplane flight from Tucson to the island for a long weekend. It was in the spring, in the early 90s. It was our first cross country flight in a small single engine airplane. It was quite exciting and very interesting. Especially since the airport on Santa Catalina Island is short and located near a high point on the island, with cliffs on either end of the runway. It was like landing and taking off from an aircraft carrier.

From the airport we took a shuttle bus down into the small town of Avalon, sitting back in a beautiful harbor on the east side of the island. Avalon reminded me of what a Mediterranean village might look like. There were whitewashed buildings, tall pines, no vehicles (everyone must walk or use bicycles), and hundreds of bobbing boats in the harbor. Off in the distance we could see the cruise ships dropping off or picking up their passengers, who visited the city for a few hours.

We didn't get in any hiking, other than around town. There was plenty to see and do. We spent time down on the beach, out along the docks, took a glass bottom boat ride out along the coast, walked over to the Casino Building and around the rustic buildings in town.

The weather was marvelous and, other than the expense of it all (nothing was cheap), we had a great time. We've wanted to go back ever since, with the intent of hiking some of the backcountry trails, but we just have never made it. The next time we will no doubt take one of the passenger boats across the channel from the mainland.