Catalina Island

I know so many people who have been to Catalina, because all the cruise ships stop there. I've always wanted to go, and a few months ago I heard about a deal that the Catalina Express Ferry does - you can ride for free on your birthday! I knew right away that I was going to have to take advantage! It's normally $45 each way for an adult, so it's quite a good deal. The girls and I left at 4:30 AM and drove to Long Beach where we caught the ferry to Avalon. There are so so many fun things to do there, like snorkeling, bus tours, parasailing, scuba diving, but with me and the girls in their double stroller, all we could really do was walk around and take in the sights. We spent eight hours walking and exploring in that little harbor. It was a cool breezy day and all three of us were in heaven. I was glad to have spent the day there so I could scope it out and start plans for a trip with Jack. We missed him so much! There were so many fun moments during the day when I wished he was with us.

We only saw Avalon, which is the only city on the island. Less than 4,000 people live there. There is one other tiny village called Two Harbors which I would love to check out, and some campsites and a tiny airport, but not much other than that! The residents are not allowed to have regular sized cars, so there are just teeny little golf carts and other assortments of strange vehicles. It's crazy to me that people actually live there, a one-hour boat ride away from the world. We took the earliest ferry and I'm so glad we did, because it was nice to walk around while the town was still quiet, before all the cruise people crowded the place.

The cruise ship would send off a boatful of tourists every now and then, and the streets would all of the sudden get really crowded. It seemed like half of the people on that cruise were old couples celebrating anniversaries. We were stopped at least a dozen times by adoring grandmas and grandpas who gushed over Molly and Cora and told me all about their grandkids. So cute.

Molly had the time of her life. It makes me sad that she won't remember days like these, because she loved it so much! There was a tiny little playground where we spent a lot of time, and she made friends with all kinds of foreigners from the cruise. She took a two hour nap in her stroller and was an angel all day. Even Cora seemed to know it was a fun day. While Molly napped, Cora and I walked a few steps to the edge of the water and she laughed her head off at the waves.

It was a truly perfect day and yet another reason to love LA! 

Watching the sun rise from the ferry.

The LDS branch meets at the US Bank! I would love to attend that funny little gathering!

Golf carts everywhere! That house on the top right is the same one in this drawing of Avalon around 1910 - how cool is that?

This girl. I will never get enough of her.

The Casino, which is not actually a casino. It has a theater where they show one movie each night - how cute! And a giant circular ballroom on top.

This butterfly knew it was my birthday and sat by me.

Molly was so confused about what these were and kept trying to lick them.

I'm crazy for the curls.

Her shirt is hecka accurate.

This guy let us get so close to him!

I didn't want to spend the money for this but I already regret it - a glass bottom boat tour so you can see all the fish! Molly would have lost her mind.

Waiting for the boat to go back. Two tired ladies.

Such a trooper. I love this little adventurer.