If you're like many Southern California residents, you probably haven't been to Catalina recently. Combining comfort and conservation, Catalina provides the best of both worlds, with many fine dining options, shops, quaint boutique hotels, and for outdoor enthusiasts, miles of pristine landscape to enjoy.

Catalina is an easy one-hour boat ride from Marina del Rey, Long Beach, San Pedro and other ports, but Catalina Express is the only one that provides year-round boat service to the island. Board their streamlined catamaran, sit back and enjoy the coastline as you watch for dolphin and whales. Soon you'll be in Avalon, where several taxis await to assist you to your destination.

Catalina is best explored on foot, but many visitors also opt to rent golf carts, since the more remote attractions are outside of Avalon. Discovery Tours offers an Inland Motor Tour which will take you through the interior of the island where the sprawling chaparral hosts buffalo, bald eagles, foxes and many other types of wildlife.

Thanks to the William Wrigley Jr. (yes, the gum guy) and the Catalina Island Conservancy, 88% of the island is protected from development. In addition to the interior of the island, there is fishing, golf, camping, snorkeling, scuba, and a myriad of other activities afforded by Discovery Tours as well as other operators.

For pampering, there are several hotels, B&B's and small motels available, but one that combines comfort, and culinary expertise is the Villa Portofino, right on the boardwalk. Enjoy the fireplace in your suite along with an in-room massage before you embark below for dinner. At the Ristorante Villa Portofino, you can savor such delectable items as Lumache con Burra, Aglio e Porto, which is escargot saut'ed with garlic butter and port wine. Or how about Lasagna con Gamberi ed Aragosta, a free form shrimp and lobster lasagna with vegetables in a saffron cream sauce. No wonder this restaurant is rumored to be one of the best on the island.

Whether it's romance, adventure or some simple R&R, Catalina has something for everyone. How often is paradise only an hour away?
For more information:
http://www.hotelvillaportofino.com/attractions.php


Mary McGrath is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in such publications as Newsweek.com, MSNBC.com, Good Housekeeping, Rangefinder Magazine, Copley Newspapers, Takegreatpictures.com and several other publications. She can be reached through her web site at: www.marymcgrathphotography.com