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CATALINA EXPRESS, HOTEL ATWATER, PIER 24: PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CATALINA ISLAND COMPANY A NORTH COUNTY NATIVE WHO spent endless days in the water and on the sand, I shouldn't admit that I had never been to Catalina, but that was my reality — until this summer. A break in our typical mile-a- minute schedule afforded my husband, Justin, our nine-year-old daughter, Isabella, and me a window to whisk away, unwind, and adventure, and that's exactly what we did. A one-hour ferry boat ride on Catalina Express (there are departures from Dana Point, Long Beach, and San Pedro) swiftly delivered us to Avalon, located on Catalina Island's east end. A bellman greeted us to transport our luggage to Hotel Atwater so we could stroll along Crescent Avenue, Avalon's main street. We made our way to Pier 24, the town's newest waterfront restaurant, which owes its name to the historic Avalon Bay pier, once home to William Wrigley Jr.'s S.S. Catalina that carried passengers over from the Los Angeles Harbor. Pier 24 offers fresh salads and seafood, specialty pizzas, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches. We opted for the oceanfront patio seating, where Justin and I split e Works Deviled Eggs, a Double Smash Burger, and e Wedge Salad, while Isabella opted for chicken tenders, which she says are the best she's ever had. Primely located about a half block away is Hotel Atwater, which originally opened in 1920 and is named in honor of Helen Atwater Wrigley, wife of Philip Knight Wrigley (Wrigley Jr.'s son). e newly renovated hotel's fresh design and modern amenities offer an exceptional guest experience, and our junior suite featured a king bed and separate living space with a sleeper sofa, bar, and desk. All rooms are equipped with mini- refrigerators, smart TVs, digital concierge tablets, luxurious linens, and quality finishes throughout. Our first recreational activity on the island was the Undersea Sub Expedition, in which we explored Lover's Cove Marine Preserve and came face-to-face with Catalina's abundant marine life. Cruising five feet below the surface, we viewed bright orange Garibaldi, calico bass, and even a sea lion. We also learned that giant bladder kelp can grow up to two feet per day in the right conditions — who knew? Inspired by what we'd seen through glass windows, it was time for Isabella's first snorkeling experience, and Avalon Bay provided the perfect setting, offering underwater encounters with the wildlife we'd just discovered. e next morning, we fueled up at Bistro at the Atwater (Hotel Atwater includes a $20 per room/per night breakfast credit at the grab-and-go restaurant as well as 15 percent off Catalina Island Company activities and tours). We then boarded a 1933 bus for a twisty ride into Catalina's picturesque interior to view the recently renovated El Rancho Escondido, an Arabian horse ranch built by Philip Wrigley in 1930 that today serves as a home for the family's horses and is also used to grow chardonnay, pinot noir, and zinfandel grapes for Rusack Vineyards, another family venture. On the drive, we spotted We'll Be Playing and Having Fun Where to stay, dine, and play for family adventure on an island in the sun BY MIA PARK detour destinations ranchandcoast.com 88 SEPTEMBER 2024 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE