Day two of the trip started with a ferry ride out of Long Beach to Santa Catalina Island.  We love having visitors because it’s the only time we ever take advantage of these kinds of things.  Lea and I would probably never have taken the trip ourselves, but sounds like a fun outing for the family!  (Side note – In the 3 years we lived in San Francisco, and considering all the friends who came to visit, I some how never made it out to Alcatraz. Some day…)

 

On the way out of the port we got a pretty good view of the original Royal Mail Ship Queen Mary ocean liner, which is now permanently docked at Long Beach.

 

Just a short hour or so later we arrived in the city of Avalon.  In a word…charming.

 

The first order of business was lunch at Steve’s Steakhouse.  Again, you know you’re on vacation when you’re drinking a margarita on the rocks with salt with lunch on a Monday.  When in Avalon…!

 

After lunch we set off on a self-navigated walking tour of the town before taking a submarine tour of Lover’s Cove.

 

Interesting fact:  These bright orange fish are called Garibaldi, and they’re the State Marine Fish of California.

 

 

Our time on the island was rather limited, and before we knew it, we were on our way back to the mainland.  But the fun wasn’t over!  Not by a long shot.  We took the coastal route north of Long Beach, along the seaside cliffs of Rancho Palos Verdes, and into Redondo Beach where we had dinner at Ortega 120.  They were recently voted best margarita in LA!  “Sure, let’s just start with two pitchers and see how we go.”

 

 

To any Angelinos reading right now, you’ve got to check this place out!  Food, service, ambiance…top marks!

Tour de Tacos, left-to-right:    pollo, carne asada, carnitas, pastor, camarones.  Lea and I split, but next time I think I might take down five pastor tacos myself.  Yum-o!