Hotel at a Glance: Hotel Metropole

Hotel Metropole occupies an idyllic piece of Catalina Island beachfront. Many of the rooms offer a beautiful view of the ocean and the harbor. If water isn’t your thing, head to the spa to get pampered with a grape-seed facial or an invigorating scalp treatment infused with peppermint. The hotel is located in Avalon, the biggest town on the island.

• Recent award: The hotel earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2015.
• Endless ocean views surround the stylish VIP suites; standard rooms feature such luxurious amenities as fireplaces and hot tubs.
• Unwind with a couples massage or a reflexology treatment at the hotel’s Touch of Heaven day spa. 
• Sail away: You can get to Catalina island by ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point; the ride is included with some options.
• Make a toast: Some options include a bottle of champagne for two. 

Catalina Island, California: Desert Foliage and Secluded Coves in the Pacific Ocean

The rocky Catalina Island is only about 22 miles southwest of Los Angeles, but it’s a world away from the crowded metropolis. For starters, there are hardly any cars here; golf carts are the preferred way to get around. Much of the island’s interior is unpopulated, home to a vast array of native desert foliage and wildlife. Visitors can hit the many secluded coves that dot the landscape for sunbathing or snorkeling in temperate waters among starfish, sea urchins, and bright-orange garibaldi. Travel + Leisure called these coves “ready-made for romance,” naming Catalina one of the world’s most romantic islands in 2010.

Much of Catalina Island is accessible only by challenging dirt trails, but you can see many of its endemic plants in town at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Some of the featured vegetation can only be found here, including wild tomato and rare Catalina mahogany. The memorial itself was designed to incorporate as much local material as possible, including quarried Catalina stones, blue flagstone rock from the harbor, and hand-painted tiles from a local pottery company.

You can get to the gardens by catching a taxi or tour bus from nearby Avalon, the island’s only major city. This small village, with a surrounding backdrop of steep, amphitheater-like hills, occupies only about 3% of the island. Still, it’s where most visitors spend the majority of their time, thanks to a popular beach, a lively harbor, and a surprising variety of restaurants. The most famous landmark here is the art-deco-style Casino building. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the circular structure stands at the equivalent of 12 stories tall and houses an art gallery, a museum, and a theater.

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