Island Reverie: MClub’s Glamorous Getaway to Avalon

By Maria McCall

“Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me!” sang The Four Preps in their classic 1958 hit. Though the song says 26, it’s really just 22 miles from the mainland. Traveling in style in the Commodore Lounge aboard the Catalina Express, Montecito Bank & Trust’s MClub adventurersenjoyed ocean views, refreshments, and lively conversation on the one-hour crossing.

Highlights of the voyage included Gary Simpson’snostalgic recollections of cruising to Catalina with his father – an inventive pioneer whose designs helped shape modern marine and dive equipment – and Toni Amorteguy’sheartfelt stories of her family’s Avalon roots. Upon arrival, the travelers posed for a group photo against the sparkling bay, then wound their way along Avalon’s scenic hillsides in an open-air tour bus before savoring a delicious dinner at Bluewater Grill (with plenty of that irresistible sourdough bread).

The days that followed were filled with historic charm and adventure: a VIP behind-the-scenes tour of the historic Catalina Casino, lunch at Descanso Beach, an epic evening cheering the Dodgers to an 18-inning World Series victory, a private visit to the storied Tuna Club, a walk through the Catalina Island Museum’s pretty Catalina Clay exhibit, and a thrilling open-air Bison Expedition through the island’s rugged interior – complete with sweeping ocean views, island fox sightings, and a couple of majestic bison grazing under the autumn sun.