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Catalina Island Welcomes Summer

Catalina Island is always a great place to visit during a Los Angeles summer. Now through December 31, 2014Catalina Express gives you a free round trip ride on your birthday (up to $76.50 round trip) plus hundreds of dollars of savings with its Birthday Island specials.

If you are going for a day or spending a weekend, there are events galore, a new restaurant and a new spa to check out. Below is just a sampling of the openings, events and activities that you can partake in this summer.

Maggie’s Blue Rose
Award winning restaurateur Steve Bray and his wife Margaret have just opened Avalon’s newest restaurant. Overlooking the Bay and Crescent Avenue, Maggie’s Blue Rose features authentic Mexican cuisine paired with an extensive margarita selection and wine menu.

Island Spa Catalina
Opening in July, the Island’s first-ever resort spa will feature nine treatment rooms with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, an Island Spa Café, a spa marketplace, a salon, an ocean view relaxation deck, a spa courtyard complete with a uniquely designed soaking pool and luxurious chaise lounges for guests to relax before and after treatments. The spa will have relaxing, healing and therapeutic treatments and rejuvenating body therapies.

Exploring Catalina Island on Foot
This is a great way to experience nature. The Catalina Conservancy established and maintain the trails through the wild lands as part of its mission to restore and protect the invaluable natural, cultural and recreational assets of Catalina. Hiking maps can be downloaded from here or purchased in the Explore Store in Avalon. Ypu can also explore Catalina with the Conservancy’s new iPhone and Android apps, which offer a GPS-driven map of some of the most popular trails. One of the more popular trails out of Avalon is the Garden to Sky Hike. The entire round trip hike is 2.5 miles and can take up to two hours or so to complete. A sign at the top reads, “You Made It,” but the spectacular view is the real reward. You can see both sides of the Island. For more info about hiking, call 310.510.2595, ext. 108 and get a permit online.

Catalina Island also has events always going on:

June

Chaplin and Goddard: A Secret Love Affair Exhibit
She was an aspiring actress. He was an acknowledged genius. They shared a secret love. They had to escape to Catalina, 26 miles off the coast of Los Angeles. Through 9/28; Catalina Island Museum310.510.2414

Family Friendly Concert on Wrigley Plaza Stage
Join in the Xceptional Tribute to ABBA! A Beer & Wine Garden will be available at all concerts. Free; June 14, 8-10 pm

Summer Beach Bingo
Bring your beach chair to the South Beach Lifeguard stand for Bingo. Bingo cards are $1 each and participants can win fun local prizes. Every Tuesday & Thursday, 6-7 pm, through August 28; 310.510.1987

July

Scavenger Hunt, Urban Adventure Quest Challenge
Part game, part tour! You’ll solve clues and challenges around Avalon, and be entered into a team competition for a free Quest awarded each month. You must use promo code: CATCHALLENGE to be entered into the competition and to receive 15% off. Good for the Catalina walking tour only. Must have a smart phone to play. Through September 1; Sign up here

4th of July Parade, Dinner at the Casino Ballroom, Fireworks Display
The golf cart parade down Crescent Avenue begins at 1 pm. Enjoy a BBQ buffet dinner and music of the USC Marching Band in the Casino Ballroom with premium balcony viewing for the fireworks display over Avalon. July 4; 310.510.1520,                      

4th of July Music Festival on Casino Point
Join the Catalina Island Museum for its annual celebration of the 4th of July on Casino Point. This year’s event will feature a special appearance by Pattie Boyd, best-selling author. The fun continues in the evening with a concert and watching the fireworks over Avalon Harbor. July 4, 3-10 pm; 310.510.2414

4th of July Mardi Gras Party at El Galleon
Visit El Galleon Restaurant before and after the 4th of July Parade. Enjoy music from the Hyperion Dixieland Band and folk singer Trevor Jones on guitar. Live Karaoke from 9 pm-1 am. July 4; El Galleon Restaurant; 310.510.1188

A Hard Day’s Night with Special Guest Pattie Boyd
The year 1964 was one of the busiest and most creative in the history of the Beatles. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the London premiere of A Hard Day’s Night, the Catalina Island Museum will have a screening of the film in the Avalon Theatre. Pattie Boyd has agreed to a live interview just after the film, in which she will discuss her memories of the Beatles, including meeting her husband on the set. $8/members, $10/general; July 6, 7 pm; 310.510.2414

Concert on Wrigley Plaza Stage: Xceptional
Enjoy Blues featuring Billy Thompson. A Beer & Wine Garden will be available at all concerts. Free; July 19, 8-10 pm

1st Annual Gold Star Dive
Scuba divers search for gold stars in Casino Point Underwater Park. This event is a fundraiser for the LA County Sheriff’s Community Programs and the Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber. July 19; 310.510.0174

August 

Concerts on Wrigley Plaza Stage
August 2: Tribute to Eric Clapton; August 16: Roadhouse Rock; August 23: Video Generation; August 31: Sirens Top 40 and More. Concerts are free and from 8-10 pm. A Beer & Wine Garden will be available at all concerts.

Catalina Film Society
An opportunity for film enthusiasts to enjoy, discuss and celebrate brand new unreleased independent films on a monthly basis. Suggested donation of $10/non-members; August 13; 818-787-1946

September

Catalina Island Women’s Forum Wine Festival
This 19th annual fundraiser features over 80 wineries, delectable hors d’oeuvres and Jazz. Net proceeds help support mentoring and scholarship programs. September 13; 310.510.1520

Catalina Film Festival
Annual celebration of Catalina’s film history features approximately 100 films screened at multiple venues around the island plus nightly events and entertainment. The festival is competitive with awards in up to 10 categories, including our festival partners’ prestigious awards; the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation’s “Great Communicator” Award, the Chaplin Family’s Charlie Chaplin ICON Award, and the ISLA Earth Award – an honor presented by the Festival’s beneficiary, the Catalina Island Conservancy. September 24-28; 818.787.1946

56th Annual Catalina Festival of Art
Longest running annual event on Catalina Island. Artists from all over the country exhibit along Crescent Avenue and sell their works of fine art, sculpture, fine crafts and photography. September 19-21; 310.510.2788

National Museum Day
Discover Avalon’s sole institution dedicated to art, culture and the history of Santa Catalina Island. Free; September 27, 10 am-5pm; 310.510.2414,

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