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Sometimes you just need to get away from the stress of life and just relax. Catalina Island is the perfect place to go. Grab your squad and hop on Catalina Express to escape to another world. The Island offers a variety of activities for whatever mood you are in. Relax on the beach, enjoy a hike or visit a museum, it can all happen on Catalina Island.

TAKE IT EASY

Stay: Avalon offers the perfect place to relax and enjoy the cool island breezes. When visiting overnight, stay at Hotel Metropole. Located right on Front St, you and the gals will be close to all Avalon has to offer. All the rooms at Hotel Metropole are special, but there is something extra about their Beach House. The luxurious 1800 square foot 2-bedroom beach house sets the tone for your relaxing getaway.

Play: Conveniently, A Touch of Heaven Day Spa is located right next to the hotel offering a variety of spa treatments to help your group unwind. If wanting to relax in the outdoors, Descanso Beach Club is the place to be. A short stroll along the waterfront past the iconic Casino, Descanso Beach Club is home to Catalina’s only beachside restaurant and bar. It’s also one of the last private beaches in California open to the public, where you can legally have a drink in your hand and your feet in the sand at the same time. Serene morning hours on the Club’s soft imported sand give way to afternoons of sun-drenched fun on the beach, where you can enjoy signature food and drinks delivered to your private cabana, chaise lounge, beach towel or ocean-view table.

Dine: After a day in the sand relax with a delicious dinner at Bluewater Grill. Its waterfront location makes it the perfect spot to enjoy and lovely meal with your girls. The Bluewater is a seafood lover’s dream restaurant.

NATURE TIME

Stay: In Avalon, one can be one with nature and still be close to all the activities the town has to offer. Hermit Gulch Campground is great for first-timers and experienced campers alike. The campground offers a nice view of the surrounding hills that are home to a wide variety of endemic plant and animal species. For those that don’t like to rough it too much, Hermit Gulch offers tent cabins.

Play: To continue your love affair with nature the Island has over 165 miles of hiking trails and roads available that you can tackle to really experience the Island’s spectacular views. The campgrounds are located near the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens, which is a great place to start any hike.

Need more of a thrill ride try the Zip Line Eco Tour. The first zip line in Los Angeles County is also the most scenic in California. The zip line on Catalina Island features five consecutive zips high above Descanso Canyon, all featuring inspiring views of the Pacific Ocean far below. Catalina zip line adventurers will also learn more about Catalina’s unique ecosystems and the efforts to protect them.

Dine: After all that hiking sustenance is definitely needed. Café Metropole is an island-style, fast and casual restaurant located in the heart of Avalon. They consider their menu as Coastal California inspired and serve an array of healthy and organic salads and sandwiches including a fresh press juice bar!

A CULTURAL AFFAIR

Stay: Experience the finest in style, sophistication, and service at Mt. Ada, the former island escape of William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada. You’ll be treated like royalty in this Forbes Travel Guide 4-star property, which offers six en suite guest rooms, each beautifully appointed to reflect a bygone era.

Play: Want a bit of an educational twist to your getaway? Catalina Island has plenty of cultural experiences to offer. The Island is famous for the tile work that is seen all over town. The Silver Canyon Pottery’s Catalina Tile Experience gives you a hands-on demonstration of what it takes to make Catalina tile. Pound your stress away and get your creative juices flowing by creating your own Catalina Tile. You will also leave knowing how the tile came to the Island as well as all the history surrounding many of the famous tile pieces on the Island.

Dine: After working up an appetite making your tile try the Avalon Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour to sate your hunger and dine like a local. Experience Catalina’s history, culture and foodie fun with their knowledgeable guides on this delicious food tour. It is really great learning about the history of the Island with a foodie twist.

Whatever your reason to getaway is, Catalina Island is sure to have an adventure just right for you. Start planning that girls’ getaway today!

by Guadalupe Rodriguez