i have wanted to visit catalina island my entire life. this past weekend my mom, brother and i FINALLY made the trip. it is only a short drive/boat ride over so i really can’t believe none of us had ever gone. it was a weekend of firsts for us…starting with ZIPLINING!!! i am terrified of heights but it has always looked SO fun. we had the BEST TIME EVER. we were cracking up the entire time…well, except for right before we jumped off of each ramp. i love this pic.

me, my mom and my brother posing in between zip lines. we made the poor guy in the tank go first every time.

there are wild deer on the island that are so tame you can feed them from your hand (not that i did that or anything). i mean, they are like puppy dogs. so sweet.

the view from our room at hamilton cove. after staying here, i don’t know if i will ever stay anywhere else. each vacation rental unit is individually owned and comes with a golf cart (which is pretty much the only way everyone gets around town). i felt like i was on the amalfi coast in italy. the grounds are GORGEOUS.

as seen through instagram – clockwise: (first pic) the one and only time i dressed up (second pic) me ziplining (third pic) giving my new best friend a kiss (fourth pic) sock monkey is our vacation mascot

my hubby & eep stayed home for their first father/son weekend alone…they spent hours outdoors, went to the beach and even went to legoland. and grandpa (my dad) stayed home to take care of the animals.

have any of you been to catalina? i am already planning a trip back with my hubby so i’d love any recommendations you all have. oh yeah, and a big thank you to my friend sam for recommending steve’s steakhouse…seriously the best steak i have had in years!!!

categories: show & tell27 comments

27 Comments ( Reply )

  1. Mira
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 12:31 am

    Amazing that you jumped!!! IΒ΄m afraid of heights too and I would have never done that. The photos are gorgeous πŸ˜€
    xo

    glamDevils

  2. Neris
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 12:59 am

    looks like you had wonderful vacation! the nature looks gorgeous!

    xoxo,

    Fashion Fractions

  3. Penny Pincher Fashion
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 4:13 am

    I can’t believe I have never been there – it looks so beautiful and I would LOVE to do the zipline…I’m kind of an adrenaline junkie! Sounds like so much fun!!

  4. Amber ~ Real Girl Glam
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 4:45 am

    Looks absolutely beautiful there!! Adding to my bucket list…

  5. izzy
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 5:23 am

    Love the pics, it looks like so much fun, I want to go to Catalina island! Have you seen the Doris Day movie Glass bottom boat? parts of it take place there πŸ™‚

  6. Lindsay @ fashionable footprints
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 6:25 am

    wow – that really does resemble the Amalfi coast! Looks like you had a great time!!

  7. Red Tag Chic Los Angeles
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 7:15 am

    Oh yeah a weekend @ the Catalina Island is simply the best!!!

    REBECCA
    http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com

  8. Amy
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 8:44 am

    looks like a fabulous weekend! love your instagram photos!

    xo amy
    Leopard and Lillies

  9. Erin
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 8:44 am

    Looks like an amazing time!

  10. danielle spradlin
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 9:09 am

    Looks like a blast!!

  11. Kim // Six2Eleven
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 9:11 am

    How fun! I need to get in one more vaca before winter hits…Ugh!

  12. Rachel
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 9:42 am

    Cute photos! Looks like fun! I have always wanted to go zip lining!

    xoxo,
    Rachel
    Rachel’s Lookbook

  13. Ekta Sheoran
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 9:59 am

    Awesome pictures!
    Love from India
    http;//unityinfashion.com

  14. Jennifer
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 10:08 am

    It looks amazing!

    xo Jennifer

    http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com

  15. Kacie's Kloset
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 10:45 am

    I love Catalina Island! We went there for my sisters bachelorette party and had a blast. We didn’t zip line there because we had all done it a couple times in other places but we did go parasailing which was a blast. I really want to go back again πŸ™‚

    http://www.daisyraeboutique.com
    http://www.kacieskloset.blogspot.com

  16. Cathy
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 10:59 am

    So fun! Glad you had an amazing time with the family! Brings back wonderful memories. I lived in Costa Mesa back in the late 90s and we took the ride over to Catalina once for a day…such an amazing trip πŸ™‚ I also went ziplining in Cabo…thrilling!

    http://cstyledesign.blogspot.com

  17. Amy Shaughnessy
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 11:26 am

    Sounds like you had a blast. I have never done a zipline before. It sounds like so much fun!

    Amy

    Fashion and Beauty Finds

  18. She Said He Said
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 12:58 pm

    I went to Catalina too for the first time over Easter with my BF. It was a lot of fun, we only stayed the day, but i would love to stay a night or two. I grew up in RPV which is directly across from Catalina, so i can’t believe i never had been either! Looks like you have so much fun!!

    XO http://shesaidhesaid-fashion.blogspot.com

  19. Amanda chic
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 1:01 pm

    What an amazing holiday πŸ˜€

    I love every pic

    http://fashionroomlounge.blogspot.com

    A chic kiss πŸ˜‰

  20. Meredith
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 1:19 pm

    The trip looks like so much fun! And those deer could not be more precious!
    Meredith
    createthatoutfit.com

  21. Lindsay
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 1:21 pm

    I’ve been once and it’s gorgeous! That photo really does look like it was taken in Italy!

  22. Jamie
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 1:49 pm

    looks so fun! I want to try ziplining!

    Jamie
    http://www.candystilettos.com

  23. Tara
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 2:39 pm

    I love ziplining…I’ve only gone once, but would love to go again!

  24. Glam Fashionista
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 6:32 pm

    Looks like you had a great time. Beautiful photos and lovely blog. Visit my blog and let me know if you want to follow on bloglovin and GFC and I will follow back

  25. V
    Sep 25, 2012 @ 10:03 pm

    Sounds like a fun enjoyable time!! I really want to visit the island also.

    -V
    http://stylishlyme.com/

  26. Tanya
    Sep 26, 2012 @ 11:33 am

    Love Catalina! A great So Cal getaway!

  27. Alice at Happiness at Mid Life
    Sep 27, 2012 @ 9:57 pm

    I’ve been to Catalina only once for a business meeting and hoped back on the helicopter back to the office. Looks like you had a lot of fun. Did you take the Catalina Express from Dana Point? Just curious if the ride was rocky.

    My hubby’s been bugging about wanting to take our son (4 years old) there for the weekend…would you say there’s much to do a a little one?

    Alice
    http://www.happinessatmidlife.com