Quick California Getaways
Looking to escape school and work for a little while, without traveling too far from home? Let FireMouse Vacations help! We have taken our own family on trips form San Diego to Sacramento and nearly everywhere in between. Want to take the family to the redwoods, or hike the beautiful trails in the Pinnacle National Forest? We can help you find the perfect trip for you and your family. Take a look at some of our featured trips!
Catalina
Catalina Island is only 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles but it seems a world away. We have been vacationing in Catalina for many years and have enjoyed seeing the many changes, as well as how it seems to remain unchanged. It is beautiful, quiet, romantic, and adventurous all in one. There is something for everyone.
Most people travel to Catalina aboard the Catalina Express boats leaving from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point. The trip takes about one hour and is a relaxing start to your Island vacation. Round trip fare is $75 unless it’s your birthday. Catalina Express offers a free round trip ticket if you depart on your birthday but you must register online for the promotion. Upgrading to the “Commodore Lounge” allows you to travel in a more spacious comfortable part of the boat and allows you to board first to get a head start on your vacation. It is an additional $15 each way to upgrade to the Commodore Lounge. Costco offers gift cards for Catalina Express at a 20% discount.
There are several types of accommodations in Avalon. The elegant Inn at Mt. Ada which is a 6 guest room mansion overlooking Avalon Bay and was once the home of William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada. Each room comes with a golf cart for transportation, access to the Descanso Beach Club and Island Spa as well as complimentary breakfast and lunch. The Pavilion hotel and Hotel Atwater are located in the heart of Avalon - easy walking distance to everything. The Catalina Canyon resort is located just outside of Avalon and offers a free shuttle into town. It is the former spring training compound for the Chicago Cubs. We often wake up to deer grazing on the hillside adjacent to the hotel. If you plan on staying longer than a few days, we recommend renting a condo at Hamilton Cove for a truly relaxing home away from home. All units have an Ocean view and include a complimentary golf cart. The complex has a private beach, BBQ’s and playgrounds for the kids.
There are plenty of activities to do on the island. We recommend the Undersea Expedition to enjoy the marine life and kelp forests of Lovers Cove. There are plenty of shoreline cruises available to see dolphins, seals, sea lions, and the local bald eagles that nest along the cliffs of Catalina. The interior of Catalina offers several adventures, too. You can explore the summit above Avalon in an H1 Hummer and see the island’s wild bison roaming the canyons. Other adventures include zip lining, Snuba, parasailing, jet skiing, and so much more.
Our friends at Afishinados Charters offer private coastal cruises aboard their beautiful 50’ “Catallac” power catamaran, fishing charters from 4, 6, or 15 anglers or see the world famous flying fish on their evening cruises. Captain John is an outstanding host and offers fun informative tours. While walking around Avalon, check out his wife, Karen’s, Afishinados Gallery with custom jewelry, art, and apparel.
We love to just stroll along Crescent Street and check out all the shops, of course sampling an ice cream cone along the way. As you work your way to the end of the street, it is just a short walk to the landmark Casino building, which was built in 1929. It is a beautiful Art Deco building that has been restored to its original condition. It houses a movie theater, ballroom dance floor, and the Catalina history museum. They offer two tours and we strongly recommend taking the behind the scenes tour to capture the true history of the Casino.
For a relaxing day we recommend a cabana at Descanso Beach Club. Beautiful beach views, wonderful service, great food and drinks, great snorkeling and kayaking, and spa services including beach side massages. It doesn’t get better than this!
There are plenty of places to eat on Catalina and we’ve tried most of them. We recommend starting your day at “Original Jacks”. They serve the best breakfast on the island. Their Eggs Benedict is in a class by itself and their omelets are amazing, but the cinnamon rolls and donuts are a must. When it comes time for dinner “Steve’s Steakhouse” is our top choice. Serving great steaks and local seafood with an amazing view of the harbor. Ristorante Villa Portofino is our next favorite dining spot, serving great Italian specialties, seafood and pasta with a romantic ambiance. When we need to get our dose of Mexican food we head over to Coyote Joe’s for their enchiladas and chili verde. The service here is very good and the Margaritas are even better.
Although Catalina is only 22 miles away, it feels so far removed from the fast-paced, crowded Southern California lifestyle that you would swear you are on an island days away from Los Angeles. With our extensive experience of Catalina, FireMouse Vacations can help you plan your island vacation. If you go for just one day or stay for a week, Catalina Island is sure to relax you and help you rediscover the peaceful inner you.
Most people travel to Catalina aboard the Catalina Express boats leaving from San Pedro, Long Beach, or Dana Point. The trip takes about one hour and is a relaxing start to your Island vacation. Round trip fare is $75 unless it’s your birthday. Catalina Express offers a free round trip ticket if you depart on your birthday but you must register online for the promotion. Upgrading to the “Commodore Lounge” allows you to travel in a more spacious comfortable part of the boat and allows you to board first to get a head start on your vacation. It is an additional $15 each way to upgrade to the Commodore Lounge. Costco offers gift cards for Catalina Express at a 20% discount.
There are several types of accommodations in Avalon. The elegant Inn at Mt. Ada which is a 6 guest room mansion overlooking Avalon Bay and was once the home of William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada. Each room comes with a golf cart for transportation, access to the Descanso Beach Club and Island Spa as well as complimentary breakfast and lunch. The Pavilion hotel and Hotel Atwater are located in the heart of Avalon - easy walking distance to everything. The Catalina Canyon resort is located just outside of Avalon and offers a free shuttle into town. It is the former spring training compound for the Chicago Cubs. We often wake up to deer grazing on the hillside adjacent to the hotel. If you plan on staying longer than a few days, we recommend renting a condo at Hamilton Cove for a truly relaxing home away from home. All units have an Ocean view and include a complimentary golf cart. The complex has a private beach, BBQ’s and playgrounds for the kids.
There are plenty of activities to do on the island. We recommend the Undersea Expedition to enjoy the marine life and kelp forests of Lovers Cove. There are plenty of shoreline cruises available to see dolphins, seals, sea lions, and the local bald eagles that nest along the cliffs of Catalina. The interior of Catalina offers several adventures, too. You can explore the summit above Avalon in an H1 Hummer and see the island’s wild bison roaming the canyons. Other adventures include zip lining, Snuba, parasailing, jet skiing, and so much more.
Our friends at Afishinados Charters offer private coastal cruises aboard their beautiful 50’ “Catallac” power catamaran, fishing charters from 4, 6, or 15 anglers or see the world famous flying fish on their evening cruises. Captain John is an outstanding host and offers fun informative tours. While walking around Avalon, check out his wife, Karen’s, Afishinados Gallery with custom jewelry, art, and apparel.
We love to just stroll along Crescent Street and check out all the shops, of course sampling an ice cream cone along the way. As you work your way to the end of the street, it is just a short walk to the landmark Casino building, which was built in 1929. It is a beautiful Art Deco building that has been restored to its original condition. It houses a movie theater, ballroom dance floor, and the Catalina history museum. They offer two tours and we strongly recommend taking the behind the scenes tour to capture the true history of the Casino.
For a relaxing day we recommend a cabana at Descanso Beach Club. Beautiful beach views, wonderful service, great food and drinks, great snorkeling and kayaking, and spa services including beach side massages. It doesn’t get better than this!
There are plenty of places to eat on Catalina and we’ve tried most of them. We recommend starting your day at “Original Jacks”. They serve the best breakfast on the island. Their Eggs Benedict is in a class by itself and their omelets are amazing, but the cinnamon rolls and donuts are a must. When it comes time for dinner “Steve’s Steakhouse” is our top choice. Serving great steaks and local seafood with an amazing view of the harbor. Ristorante Villa Portofino is our next favorite dining spot, serving great Italian specialties, seafood and pasta with a romantic ambiance. When we need to get our dose of Mexican food we head over to Coyote Joe’s for their enchiladas and chili verde. The service here is very good and the Margaritas are even better.
Although Catalina is only 22 miles away, it feels so far removed from the fast-paced, crowded Southern California lifestyle that you would swear you are on an island days away from Los Angeles. With our extensive experience of Catalina, FireMouse Vacations can help you plan your island vacation. If you go for just one day or stay for a week, Catalina Island is sure to relax you and help you rediscover the peaceful inner you.
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San Diego
San Diego has many beaches and hotels that allow dogs, so even Sparky can join on on this family fun time! There are also many fun resorts in the San Diego area such as Legoland, SeaWorld, The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, and many more museums and historic centers to see. San Diego is also a beautiful, yet close to home luxury for a romantic weekend away for couples. 
Anaheim
Great Wolf Lodge in southern California provides indoor waterpark fun and dry land adventures for your entire family. Enjoy kid-friendly indoor activities, dining, shopping, and more all under one roof. Choose from over 600 suites, each featuring free access to all the waterpark's 14 slides, four pools, and more. Near Los Angeles in Garden Grove, the waterpark is exclusive to our guests, and at a warm 84 degrees all-year round, is the perfect family getaway. |
Morro Bay
From Hearst Castle to the beauty of Monterey, Morro Bay is just a short drive from some of Central California's beautiful monuments. Spend a day horseback riding on the beautiful beaches of Morro Bay, explore the historic Cannery Row at Monterey Bay, or visit lush wineries in Paso Robles. Pismo Beach and the gorgeous 17 mile drive is also just south of Morro Bay, making it the perfect home base for your family's trip. |
Sacramento
Even the journey to our wonderful capital can be an adventure! Enjoy a scenic and beautiful drive up California's coast, or take a quick hour-long flight and enjoy Sacramento's beauty all day. Visit historic museums and learn about our state's history, or explore the 28 acres of preserved Old Sacramento, as well as Sutter's Home. There is no better place to learn about California's history than our capital city, and we can help!