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Father and Son Camping and Fishing at Two Harbors, Catalina
by Brad Maxwell
 Each year, my son and I get together with a couple of other father and son teams for a trip to Two Harbors, Catalina -- 26 miles off the coast of sunny Southern California. I have done a lot of camping over the years and this campground is, without a doubt, one of the best! Although you can't pull your car up next to your campsite, the tent cabins and breathtaking ocean views make up for the inconvenience
We all meet at the Long Beach Harbor to load up our gear and launch the boat. Just getting over to the island is an adventure in itself. Although you can take a Catalina cruise boat across the channel, we enjoy the ride in our small boat, it's only about an hour with smooth water. On our way, we usually spot seals, fish, and the sea gulls that like to hitch a ride on the wind above our boat.
Once in the harbor, we purchase a mooring, tie up the boat and we jump into a Shore Boat to make make it over to the main dock. We unload all of our gear at the end of the dock where the ranger's truck will make it's daily pickup and drop-off for all the campers at this campground. Since we are staying in the tent cabins, all we have to bring are ice chests,  food box, sleeping bags and duffel bags for our clothes. We also take the time to order enough firewood for the weekend so we don't have to worry about running out.
We decide to take a few minutes to eat a hamburger at the West End Galley snack bar next to the dock. In fact, the campground and the snack bar aren't the only popular spots here. There is a large sunny beach, a store, outdoor patio bar with a giant deck, full-size sit-down Harbor Reef Restaurant, and a bed and breakfast up the hill called the Banning House Lodge. There is also a bus that can take you to Avalon Harbor, on the other side of the island, scuba trips, kayaking and Humvee tours that take your to  the island interior to see wild boar and buffalo. Yes, buffalo. That's why the signature drink on the island is called a Buffalo Milk.
To get to the campground, you have to hike up a quarter mile long trail on the side of a hill overlooking the ocean. It is a bit of a climb, but it only takes 10 minutes or so. We meet the truck, gather all of our gear and settle into our new furnished tent cabin complete with six cots, two chairs on a balcony, fire pit, picnic table and, of course, the dreaded portable toilet. Regular toilets, showers and laundry are back at the harbor.
As the dads get settled-in, the kids take off to the beach and explore the coastline. Our kids are older, but to keep in touch we have found that using a set of walkie-talkies allow us to communicate with them while they are on their afternoon adventure. For the dads, it's time to sit back, have a cool drink and supervise the view. We may not have a ball game to watch, but with this view, father talk and the smell of the sea, life just doesn't get any better than this.
As the evening approaches we all get ready for dinner.  I know that you might expect us to light a fire and grill some steaks; but not us dads - nope! We all hike down to the fancy Harbor Reef Restaurant for chicken wings and barbecue ribs. We know how to relax on our vacation. We may be the "campers" in a restaurant full of "sailors", but that's fine with us. After dinner, it's time for the hike back up the hill to the tent cabin. We want to put that firewood to good use and cook up some smores, light up a stogie and relax.
First thing in the morning we all head back to the boat for a day of fishing and ocean water sports.  We pick up some frozen squid at the store and head to our favorite fishing spots. Since we are not eating what we catch, we practice catch and release, but not until after we get a picture of the fisherman and their catch. Once we've had our fill of fishing and the sun begins to roast us pink, its time to get wet. So, we throw out the water-tube and take turns riding the wake behind our boat. There are also some places along the coast that you can drop anchor and swim or float to the coast.
Well, I am not really sure what the wives did while we were away, but I am sure they enjoyed their time alone. Probably went to a spa. Us dad's? Well, we enjoyed our weekend in paradise with our sons. Life just doesn't get any better than this.
For more information visit: www.visitcatalinaisland.com
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