Escape to a Slice of Heaven in Catalina Island, California

Story, photos by Cassie Hepler (unless otherwise noted),

I’ve officially dubbed Santa Catalina Island California’s mini Hawaii, minus the natives and hefty price tag. It has that same laid back, relaxing yet magical vibe. Situated 22 miles southwest from Los Angeles, CA, it feels like another world away as it is only accessible by boat. Our transportation choice was the Catalina Express, which offers three ports to choose from: San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point. Long Beach was closest for me driving in the day before from Phoenix but others are just as well. With up to 30 departures a day, it’s a no brainer to take this vessel built for comfort and speed. We upgraded to Commodore Lounge for an extra $20 which gives you priority boarding, special access, snacks and a beverage on board.

We arrived to the area hella early that morning, buzzing with excitement to explore with island and scratch it off the bucket list so we swung by Starbucks and enjoyed some much needed extra caffeine first. Then parked in the parking deck which charges $20 a day, leaving my car behind at the gracious Marriott I used by Bonvoy points to book and stay the night before. I bounced around the waiting area, snapping pics and videos of everything and found it hard to sit down. But soon we were boarding and getting settled in.

Catalina Island’s crystal clear blue waters and Mediterranean climate are breathtaking. This chill island town has a plethora of natural and cultural resources with unique wildlife found nowhere else on earth. Sightseeing opportunities abound with jeep eco tours, hummer rides, zip lines, rock climbing and underwater adventures. Adventure seekers would love all the camping, hiking, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, golf, motor boating, parasailing, fishing, boat rides and more. And let’s not forget the self care spa treatments and beach lounging that the soul also needs to relax!

Our accommodations and part of the inspiration for this trip was the beautiful boutique Bellanca Hotel. The hotel re-opened in July 2020 after undergoing a nearly $4 million transformation. Meaning “beautiful” and “hip,” the 19,800 square foot property has 40 guest rooms including four cabanas and seven suites. We were blessed to be upgraded to a suite upon arrival so that we had room to stretch, play and shoot modeling photography. One of Catalina Island’s premier luxury ocean view hotels, it also offers exclusive rooftop lounge ocean views, comfy lounges, light bites and beach chic cocktails at The Naughty Fox.

Soon we were checking into our suite at Bellanca Hotel that was located to the right, up the hill a bit and up the red steps to the second floor.

Once we got as much views as we thought our eyes can absorb, it was getting ready and then off to shoot before dinner. The Naughty Fox, a modern beach bar serving coastal cuisine, is the place to be for unique eats and drinks on the island. Overlooking Avalon Bay, it’s Catalina’s newest hotspot for dining and lounging in barefoot luxury.

Catalina Island has been the background set for over 500 movies because of the largely undeveloped (thanks to William Wrigley Jr. – yes, the chewing gum – and his family who vowed to protect nearly 90 percent of the island), the island was particularly popular in the early years of Hollywood movie-making. Production companies could ferry their equipment over on barges and use the unspoiled mountain backdrops and beaches for just about any setting that the filmmaker desired. Among the movies shot on Catalina were Treasure Island (1918), The Ten Commandments (1923), Ben Hur (1925) and Old Ironsides (1926). So often was Catalina Island used as a stand-in for the South Seas that palm trees were planted at the Isthmus – and they still remain. Hollywood was also responsible for the bison that roam the interior today. Fourteen American bison were brought to the island in 1924 for the filming of The Vanishing American, based on a novel by famed American Western author Zane Grey.

 

That night filled with liquid energy, we created some amazing artwork with that electric fireplace and its French style crown moulding. You’ll have to follow my Instagram to see them come to life! After a good night’s sleep, we were able to get our energy back from the sleep deficit of traveling and were ready to rock & roll.

That night was cold like turn on the fireplace and snuggle under the covers cold. We got sucked into a Tyler Perry movie and drifted off the sleep shortly thereafter…

When boarding the Catalina Express to leave, I pondered things to do for my next visit. Certainly take a tour of the casino, visit the buffalo in the north part of the island, get a golf cart for a day to zip around the area easily, zipline, swim, snorkel and dive in the summer months as well as learn more about the haunted history. Apparently the footprints we saw on the steps leading to our room that were always wet were from Samantha, a lady in all white. We were quite perplexed as to who was swimming in late December however we did see a few swimmers but not staying at our hotel… not much more interference than that though maybe electronically but otherwise smooth sailing. Put this magical, mysterious place on your bucket list, it’s well worth it!