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Old 01-06-2009, 09:49 PM
 
Location: Proud home of the Parkview Little Leaguers
489 posts, read 1,956,933 times
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I live in San Diego and last visited Catalina Island in 1993. I was thinking of visiting again. Is it worthwhile? I heard it had gone downhill and there are actually gangs, etc. now. Anyone been there recently?
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Old 01-06-2009, 09:57 PM
 
3,681 posts, read 6,275,166 times
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I have been to Catalina quite a few times since 1995 and have always enjoyed it. But I went last summer and was really disappointed. It was really overcrowded; rowdy, drunks on the boat ride back & overall just not a very good experience for the money/time. Seemed like a lot of "low lifes." Not sure if its gone downhill in general or just a bad day, but I was very disappointed. Don't really have a desire to go back.
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Old 01-06-2009, 10:08 PM
 
Location: West Coast
1,310 posts, read 4,139,491 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by maja View Post
I have been to Catalina quite a few times since 1995 and have always enjoyed it. But I went last summer and was really disappointed. It was really overcrowded; rowdy, drunks on the boat ride back & overall just not a very good experience for the money/time. Seemed like a lot of "low lifes." Not sure if its gone downhill in general or just a bad day, but I was very disappointed. Don't really have a desire to go back.
Uggh, hopefully it was just a bad day. Summer is the high season, so it could have just been an unlucky day for you.
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Old 01-07-2009, 01:28 AM
 
Location: Southern California
12,776 posts, read 14,987,827 times
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There are TONS of better places to spend your money!

I went as a child in the 80s & it was really nice back then. My BF had never gone & I hadn't gone since then, so we went a few yrs ago. I couldn't believe that was once the same nice, booming place I had gone to back then. It's just some sleepy, dilapidated town w/ a couple of overpriced tourist shops that need to close down. There's absolutely NOTHING going on. My BF & I were going to make a day trip out of it, but were bored to tears after a couple of hrs & took an earlier boat ride back.

If you just want a different scenery to sit & read a book, that's the place for you.
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Old 01-07-2009, 10:02 AM
 
Location: RSM
5,113 posts, read 19,766,781 times
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I would only go if you plan to take advantage of the hiking and camping
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Old 01-07-2009, 10:04 AM
 
Location: South Bay
7,226 posts, read 22,199,581 times
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i don't think that there is anything wrong with avalon, it's a quaint little town with some shops and restaurants, but that's it. considering you'll probably spend close to $100 for the round trip ferry ride for the two of you, i would pass. you can see the whole town in about an hour. a friend got married there last year and we had a stop in avalon on a cruise i went on a few years ago, but i would never choose to go there of my own will.
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Old 01-07-2009, 10:59 AM
 
570 posts, read 1,583,634 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jkoz View Post
I live in San Diego and last visited Catalina Island in 1993. I was thinking of visiting again. Is it worthwhile? I heard it had gone downhill and there are actually gangs, etc. now. Anyone been there recently?
Like most everything in Los Angeles and SoCal it has gone down hill.
Don't forget Catalina is in Los Angeles country. I don't think it's worthwhile and a wast of money too visit Canalina Yes their is gangs Ect now. If you have kids with you keep a close eye on them.
But if you don't have anything any better too do what the heck...
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Old 01-07-2009, 11:28 AM
 
Location: los angeles
5,032 posts, read 12,611,786 times
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I used to visit Catalina Is. each summer when I worked for the probation dept. We would take about 20 teens but didn't get off the boat in Avalon. The next stop is Two Harbors at the isthmus which I recall being mostly beach bungalows & fishing huts [a few stores]. The dirt road to Little Harbor was on a flatbed truck & took about a half an hour to cross to the other side of the island. The terrain is typical California chaparral\ oaks for miles. In those days Little Harbor was nothing more than a campground w/ outhouses & no electricity. But the cove was magnificent w/ no one on the beach & a few small yachts out in the harbor.

These juvenile delinquents had never been in such a primitive environment & were humbled by the experience, esp at night. Around campfires these tough hoodlums would cry in total awe of nature. Wild boar & bison walked thru the campsite each night & skunks\ coyotes made their presence. But the cove was the attraction w/ non-stop swimming in totally clear & comfortable water. Jumping from a row boat into the deep w/ dolphins & other fish nearby. After a few days of near total isolation [except the ranger's daily visit] & these gang members were a different kid & easier to work with.
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Old 01-07-2009, 01:23 PM
 
Location: Living on the Coast in Oxnard CA
16,289 posts, read 32,350,015 times
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Always good to go at least once in your life. I am a fan of all of the Channel Islands. Why not come up to the Ventura County area and take a trip to the National Park.
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Old 01-07-2009, 03:58 PM
 
Location: Los Angeles
137 posts, read 602,842 times
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Anyone have any experiences with camping in the Channel Islands' National Parks? I am not an Outdoor Type of Person; but I am open to 'roughing' it for a weekend as an adventure trip. Any suggestions on where to start planning for a spring trip? I was looking online and at the various sponsored providers of transportation but would love some insider tips...
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