What a spectacular Hotels.com deal!!!
We’ve always wanted to stay at the Banning House Lodge at Two Harbors on Catalina. Accommodates outside of Avalon are pretty scarce, limited to camping . . . So when we saw Banning House on Hotels.com, we jumped!
The complication in the off-season is the Catalina Express boat visits Two Harbors sparsely and not at all on Tuesday and Thursday. A little research lead us to a night at Banning, a gorgeous 5 mile hike to Little Harbor to catch the Wildlands Shuttle to Avalon where we stayed Tuesday and went home via San Pedro on Wednesday. Now, the hike is no amateur-hour . . . and begins with a steep but picturesque road climb outta the Isthmus (Two Harbors). Passing windswept peaks, oceanviews of leeward and windward sides of this spectacular Island and the impressive mainland peaks of Palos Verdes, the San Gabriel’s and Saddleback Mountain above Mission Viejo across the channel on our way to the shuttle stop at Little Harbor and Shark Harbor.
At nearly 65, my wife and I made the trek in just over 3 hours with a few lingering aches and pains. But, in my Boy Scout days outta Cherry Cove, I seem to recall making this hike is just over 2-1/2 hours. Gone are the days of my boundless energy, instant recuperation and body made of rubber. But we both enjoyed the scenic aspect that nearly no one ever sees of this legendary Island across the channel. We’re now resting comfortably in Avalon, treated to a memorable full moon and river!