Catalina Island, California

Photo courtesy: Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce

Catalina Island is the perfect place to escape.

Historic Avalon - From chewing gum magnate William Wrigley to author Zane Grey, Catalina Island has been home to some of history’s most interesting figures, and a favorite vacation spot for others! Explore Avalon’s rich history, famous landmarks, and fascinating architecture. Take in the Catalina Island Museum, go on a Behind the Scenes tour of the Casino Building or enjoy the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens.

Romantic Catalina Island - Catalina Island is the perfect place to escape for a romantic getaway. Where else can you enjoy moonlit walks along the shore, snorkeling in Lover’s Cove, ride a bicycle built for two, and spend a cozy night alone in an ocean view hotel with a fireplace and Jacuzzi right in the room? No wonder Catalina Island is such a popular wedding and honeymoon spot!

Discover Catalina Island’s Vast Interior - With 88% of the island protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy, the island is home to plant life you won’t find anywhere else, as well as many animals that are just as rare, including the tiny Catalina Island fox, the stately buffalo, and even bald eagles! Go camping, hiking, or biking in the more than 42,000 acres of Catalina’s vast interior. Or, explore the island on a Jeep Eco-tour or sightseeing tour bus, van or Unimog.

The Ultimate Day Trip - With so many people visiting Southern California to enjoy the new theme parks, what better place to escape for a day than Catalina Island? Take a break from long lines and expensive souvenirs to enjoy a peaceful day at the beach, go snorkeling, kayaking, or take a sightseeing tour. And with travel time of one hour or less, you can be back in your hotel in time to get a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s adventure. Day packages are available that include the boat transportation and a wide variety of tours.

Visit www.catalinachamber.com for more information.

Alamogordo, New Mexico

Autumn on Otero Mesa

September 25, 26, 27 - Otero Mesa Service Project

Enjoy autumn on Otero Mesa. If you’ve never been here, autumn is a great time to experience the wildness of America’s largest Chihuahuan desert. In the past two years the grasses have been spectacular, 2 to 3 feet high for miles and miles. We will explore these expan­sive grasslands, and climb Wind Mountain. Bring a camera because there is a good chance you will see pronghorns, prairie dogs, petroglyphs, desert flowers, raptors and stunning sunsets. During the evenings there will be a social campfire. Bring instruments if you’ve got them, Nathan always brings his. Let’s get together and have some fun in the desert!

Be prepared for any weather from hot to chilly and possible afternoon thunderstorms.

This project will be lead by Nathan Newcomer, associate director of the wilderness alliance. He has lead over 20 out­ings to the area. He will be joined by naturalist and staff scientist Steve West a published author and expert on Chihuahuan Desert grasslands, plants and wildlife species and various other stuff and who opinions are not asked for but always volunteered.

Menu:
Friday night: Columbus stew until 10:00
Saturday breakfast: Cereal bar
Saturday dinner: Dutch oven specialty Otero Mesa green chili chicken enchiladas and blackberry cobbler
Sunday breakfast: Cereal bar

Visit www.nmwild.org for more info.

Moose Pass, Alaska

The Soul of the Kenai Mountains

Along Alaska's Highway 9, and surrounded by breathtaking panorama of the Kenai Mountains in the Chugach National Forest, you will find the picturesque little town of Moose Pass. Located on the eastern side of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, Moose Pass is tucked away in the towering, rugged mountains along the shoreline of Upper Trail Lake at Mile 29 of the Seward Highway, a National Scenic Byway. The original Iditarod Trail, used for transporting gold and supplies, was blazed through this valley in 1910. The abundance of moose in the area prompted the town's name.

Moose Pass welcomes all visitors to enjoy the bounty and beauty of summer when the sun hardly rests and the days are long and glorious. Favorite pastimes include: fishing for trout, grayling or Dolly Varden; hiking the extensive and numerous hiking trails that surround our community to view birds, wildlife and flowers; cycling or skating along Trail Lake on our bike path; or taking a scenic flight-seeing trip taking off from Trail Lake waters in a float-plane and flying over the local peaks & valleys to view glaciers, waterfalls and abundant wildlife. A berry picking excursion, horseback riding or tour of the local salmon hatchery are other options. However, you may just want to stretch out on the lakeshore, kick up your feet, and marvel at the unparalleled beauty of the Moose Pass mountain landscape.

Visit www.moosepassalaska.com for more information.

Nantucket Island

Early Autumn in Nantucket is Best!

Located thirty miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the well-heeled island is not the easiest place to reach, but well worth the effort. From Hyannis, it takes one-hour on the Steamship Authority high-speed ferry to reach Nantucket.

Although known as a summer colony, perhaps the best time of the year to avoid monolithic crowds is in the early autumn. After Labor Day, the wall-to-wall packed sidewalks in the center of town, which is called Nantucketown, have, by then, thinned out. The humidity has been replaced by crisp, cool days, and seasonal shops and restaurants are still open for business. If you’re a crowd dodger, there isn’t a better time to visit. The Nantucket Arts Festival, an annual week-long event slated in late September and early October, celebrates extraordinary talent working on the island.

Also, during the month of September, a guided whale watching tour by Shearwater Excursions offers a unique voyage where you have the opportunity to spot whales, dolphins, sharks and more. Another popular outing is the 2 and ½ hour Seal Cruise to Muskeget Island, which is a brief thirty-minute boat ride away. The island is home to an estimated population of 2500 grey seals who live there year-round. www.explorenantucket.com

A three or four night stay on Nantucket is an ideal amount of time to sample the restaurants, shop, checkout the beaches, or simply relax.

Information provided by The Century House www.centuryhouse.com

For more information visit
www.nantucketchamber.org and www.explorenantucket.com