Is Catalina Island a fun place to go with your family

September 6, 2020

Just 30 miles south of Long Beach, Catalina Island which is short for Santa Catalina, is a popular city getaway. A 22 miles long and 8 miles wide rocky Island is excellent for a family day trip or a vacation with plenty of things to do for the whole family.

Once a popular spot for older Hollywood stars, William Wrigley chewing gum industrialist, Chicago Cubs baseball team, now is peaceful and charming vacation hub with two small towns Avalon and Two Harbors.

The best time of year for coming to Catalina Island in July and August if you want to swim, because the ocean temperatures are the highest in those months. Unfortunately, it is also when most visitors come to the island for the same reason. The weather is excellent all year long, and you might consider early fall or springtime.

If you are a foreign visitor, you should fulfil esta application usa forms. If your application gets approved, you will be granted an entry permit to visit the US. ESTA program is for visitors from countries in the Visa Waiver Program, and the process consists of an extensive online questionnaire and a small fee. The administration usually takes 72 hours to process the application, but it is recommended that you apply on time, even before you bought the plane tickets. The permit is valid for two-years upon approval.

There are several ways to get to Catalina Island, including an aero plane. Still, most common is Catalina express ferry service that has 30 trips daily and departures from San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point.

Catalina Island surfing

Catalina Island has plenty of mountains to climb, exciting valleys, wild buffalo herd left from early Hollywood western movie, and golf cart culture. There is hardly any traffic on the island, and all attractions in Avalon and Two Harbors are reachable on foot.

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However, if you are in for a little surfing, you will have to take the bus and walk or go with a private boat to the best locations.

Shark Harbor is the most accessible surfing location, close to the Little Harbor campground. There are buses from both towns on the Island, and you will need a five-minute walk to the next cove to get your surfboard in the ocean.

Ben Weston is more remote, but also popular surfing destination on Catalina Island. The starting point is again Little Harbor campground, but you will have to walk along the road close to the coastline until you reach the bottom of a canyon. Then you will find a trail named Ben Weston, and a long trail will lead you to the beach.

Catalina Island mini golf

For less adventurous visitors, Catalina Island has a real mini-golf attraction for over 40 years. Golf Gardens is near the beach in Avalon and can be an ideal break from sandy beach activities. An excellent 18-hole course is one of the world’s most attractive mini-golf courses with classic styling and layout. Golf Gardens have par 51, and the record is 41.

Catalina Island fishing spots

One of the most popular activities on Catalina Island is fishing. You can take your place at the pier and fish without the license. Some of the sites on and around the island are protected like Casino Point Dive par area and Lover’s Cove, among others. There are lots of fishing charter for big game fishing, or you can rent a boat and find the perfect fishing spot. You can find fishing spots coordinates on various blogs online, and there is an abundance of Yellowtail and the White Sea Bass that feast on schools of sardines and mackerel.

Catalina Island kid-friendly hotels

During the summer months, you could have trouble finding the rooms since most of the capacity is taken. In other seasons, you will find better rates and more accommodation options.

Catalina Canyon Resort and Spa is a family and pet-friendly place with large swimming pool, but not near the beach. Luckily, there is a shuttle to and from Avalon.

The Avalon Hotel is in the center of the town with exciting amenities like a koi pond and fire pit. A family-friendly hotel is known for cheerful staff and a great location.

Answering esta application question is the first step for coming to the southern California island retreat with pristine nature, stunning landscape and close to the LA. If your application is positive, you can visit America for up to 90 days.

Bottom line

Catalina Island has great weather throughout the year, swimming, and surfing beaches, and lots of trails for exploring the hills and valleys of the island. You could play mini-golf or go fishing. Naturally, you could also enjoy a lazy day on a sandy beach.

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Charlie Chaplin’s children reveal their fear of the film pioneer

He was perhaps the most famous star of the silent movie era, whose on-screen buffoonery and slapstick antics sent a generation of cinema-goers into uproarious laughter. Now, a new film is set to give a voice to Charlie Chaplin’s much whispered private life, as four of his children with his final wife Oona O’Neill share their thoughts on their father’s checkered history. The Real Charlie Chaplin, released in cinemas today, tells the hidden story of the world’s first superstar comedian, who was married four times and is alleged to have slept with over 2,000 women. Intimate home videos depict an elderly gentleman laughing and at ease with his family with O’Neill who was 36 years his junior, The Mirror reports. But son Michael, 75, tells viewers: ‘I was kind of frightened of my father. He was so powerful, you couldn’t argue with him, because he couldn’t be wrong.’ Born in Lambeth, south London in 1889, Chaplin was a penniless music hall actor when he traveled to the US aged 24. Five years on, he contracted his first marriage with 16-year-old vaudeville actress Mildred Harris in Los Angeles in 1918 after a false pregnancy alarm His sister Geraldine, 77, added: ‘My father wasn’t Charlie Chaplin. I knew they were the same person but they looked nothing alike – except when he had an audience, he would become Charlie Chaplin, that other man.’ Born in Lambeth, south London in 1889, Chaplin was a penniless music hall actor when he traveled to the US aged 24. Five years on, he contracted his first marriage with 16-year-old vaudeville actress Mildred Harris in Los Angeles in 1918 after a false pregnancy alarm. The pair had a baby son called Norman the following year, but he died just three days after birth and Chaplin quickly left Harris. When they divorced in 1920, she cited his ‘mental cruelty’ among the reasons for their split. By this stage, Chaplin’s star was on the rise and he became a huge hit with audiences with films The Kid and The Gold Rush, attracting vast crowds to his public appearances. In 1920, he spotted 12-year-old Lillita Louis MacMurray on the set of The Kid and set about modeling her into an actress. He changed her name to Lita Grey and is thought to have seduced her in 1924 when she was 15 and he was 35, which could have led to a charge for statutory rape even then He met 22-year-old former child model Paulette Goddard in 1932, although she claimed to be just 17. They were married from 1936 to 1942, after which Goddard received a settlement and kept quiet about their union This quickly led to a growing reputation for young girls, which seems to have been deemed acceptable to his acquaintances. In 1920, he spotted 12-year-old Lillita Louis MacMurray on the set of The Kid and set about modeling her into an actress. He changed her name to Lita Grey and is thought to have seduced her in 1924 when she was 15 and he was 35, which could have led to a charge for statutory rape even then. The pair’s brief marriage ended with an acrimonious divorce in 1927 and a settlement of £625,000 – believed to be worth around £38million today and the most expensive split in Hollywood history at the time. Grey filed for custody of their two children and alleged cruelty and forced sex acts in her petition, while Chaplin referred to her as a ‘blackmailer, gold-digger and little whore’. Within a year of divorce, he moved on to his fourth and final wife Oona O’Neill, who bore him eight children and stayed with him until his death in 1977 In her 1966 memoir My Life with Chaplin, Grey wrote: ‘We were married in Mexico because Charlie didn’t want much said about the marriage. On the way back on the train he was quite nasty. ‘We were standing out on the platform between cars while the train was traveling and he said, ‘We could just end this whole situation if you just jump’.’ He met 22-year-old former child model Paulette Goddard in 1932, although she claimed to be just 17. They were married from 1936 to 1942, after which Goddard received a settlement and kept quiet about their union. Within a year of divorce, he moved on to his fourth and final wife Oona O’Neill, who bore him eight children and stayed with him until his death in 1977. Their daughter Jane, 64, describes her difficult relationship with him. ‘He was inaccessible. ‘Your father is working, don’t disturb him, he’ll lose his inspiration’ – our world revolved around my father’s wellbeing,’ she recalls. ‘He spoke about having huge amounts of doubt, he said he had had doubts all his life. ‘He accomplished his life’s dream but I don’t think he ever really got over his doubts. Does one ever really get over where you come from? I don’t think it ever leaves you.’ Source: DailyMail.co.uk
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What Kind of Fees Do You Have to Pay When You Sell a House?

Selling a house is a long and complicated process that requires investing a lot of work, time, and money. While the time investment is too relative and dependent on various factors, it is possible to list some necessary financial costs of selling a house. You’re probably thinking of making the biggest sale of your life, so it’s very important to make a good strategy for optimizing your profit. In order to do that, you have to educate yourself on various aspects of a real estate sale, and one of the most important questions is how much does it cost to sell a house. Inspection Before you put your house on the market, you should estimate its value precisely. You can hire a professional to do it for you, or you can simply look up the average square foot price in your area and make your own estimation. However, you can’t know the real value of your house before inspecting it. If the house inspection shows some damage requiring repairs, the price will certainly go down. The buyer will most likely ask to inspect the house before closing, so it’s better to do it sooner than later. Repairs & Upgrades If the house appears to require some necessary repairs, it’s in your best interest to make them before the buyer shows up with their own inspectors. If they find out about some damage that you didn’t report, they will ask for a price reduction or possibly lose their trust and bail. Even if your house doesn’t have any major problems that need to be fixed soon, you still might consider making some upgrades in order to boost the value of your home. We don’t recommend investing too much money in this, but making a few upgrades can definitely pay off. Agency Selling a house on your own is probably more work than you can handle. The average seller lacks the time and skills needed to close the sale at their preferred price. Of course, you can close the sale in a matter of days if you reach out to companies like SleeveUp homes, but if you want to make this the capital sale of your life, it’s best that you hire a realtor. Real estate agents are people who are specialized in selling real estate as quickly as possible and at the best price possible. They almost exclusively work on commission, which is a good thing because you know it’s in their interest to make the best sale possible for you. This commission varies from area to area, and it can even go up to 15%. In Southern California, the average realtor commission comes to about 5%. Staging Nobody knows your house better than you, and you probably feel like you can point out its perks better than anyone else. Throughout the years you’ve tried out multiple combinations of interior setup, and you’ve most likely found the right one for you. However, it’s very unlikely that you can set up the place in such a manner that it objectively appeals to the majority of visitors. Setting up the interior for living and for showing is two completely different things. There is a certain science to it, and a professional stager knows it. They will take a quick look at your home and know exactly what to do with it in order to attract visitors. Of course, everyone likes to think that they won’t fall in love with the first impression, but that’s simply the way we are. If the first impression gets us, we will easily get over some other flaws that we find later. Closing Costs Closing costs are a sum of costs paid by both buyer and seller when closing the deal. This includes the closing agent’s fees, attorney’s fees, recording fees, the transfer tax, any costs associated with your mortgage, etc. These costs cannot be avoided unless you make a different deal with the buyer. On the bright side, the costs are usually lower for the seller who pays 1% to 3% of the sale price. Capital Gains Tax Any profit that you make by selling a successful and valuable investment such as precious metals, jewelry, bonds, or, in your case, a house, is taxed as a capital gain. Long-term capital gains (i.e. the gains you make from selling a house that you’ve held for longer than a year) are unrelated to the taxation of your regular yearly income, which means that there is no risk of moving to a higher tax bracket. Capital gains are taxed at more favorable rates than ordinary tax. However, the rates vary depending on several factors: is it a short-term or a long-term capital gain (the rates are more favorable on long-term), was the house your primary residence, are you single or married and filing with your spouse, did you make any improvements to the house, etc. Depending on these factors, capital gains tax can vary from 0% to 37% of the sale. In California, the sellers averagely pay 15% of the sale. It’s important that you educate yourself on the capital gains tax in order to improve your position, lower the tax rates, or even cut them to 0%. To Sum It Up In this article, we have only listed several of the most common costs of selling a house. We have skipped some obvious costs, such as moving costs, costs of waiting for the buyer (all the bills that you still have to pay while your house is on the market), the costs of reorganizing your and your family’s life while the house is staged and receiving visitors. Not all of the costs mentioned in this article are obligatory. As you now know, you can go without inspecting and repairing, you don’t have to hire an agency, and you don’t have to stage your house. However, experience shows us that these costs often come back in another form if avoided initially. If all of this looks like a lot >>Read more
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Serial killer Charles Sobhraj is ‘trying to bag a Hollywood movie deal’

Serial killer Charles Sobhraj who inspired real-life drama The Serpent after murdering at least a dozen tourists on 1970s hippie trail in Asia is ‘trying to bag a Hollywood movie deal’ Charles Sobhraj drugged and killed at least a dozen people on the 70s Hippie Trail. Currently serving life imprisonment in Nepal for the murder of a backpacker in 1975. His crimes were the inspiration behind the recent real-life BBC drama The Serpent. The serial killer whose horrific crimes inspired real-life BBC drama The Serpent has revealed he’s trying to bag a Hollywood movie deal when speaking about being released from prison. Charles Sobhraj drugged and killed at least a dozen people on the Hippie Trail in Asia in the 1970s, with the help of his besotted lover and accomplice Marie-Andrée Leclerc. Now, it seems the criminal, known as The Serpent, is looking to capitalize off his notoriety by suggesting Sir Richard Branson and Mackenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, bankroll a film based on his life. Sobhraj, who continues to protest his innocence, told the Sunday Mirror from his prison cell in Nepal that he would speak out if he is ever released in exchange for the contact details of Branson and Scott. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of an American backpacker in 1975, and despite his outlandish claims he’ll be released in two weeks, it is thought he will remain in jail until at least 2024. Charles Sobhraj, pictured being escorted to court by Nepalese police in 2014, is trying to bag a Hollywood movie deal after leaving prison The criminal drugged and killed at least a dozen people on the Hippie Trail in Asia in the 1970s with the help of his besotted lover and accomplice Marie-Andrée Leclerc. The pair are pictured in 1986 ‘I want to propose a movie deal’, he said, ‘My book is going to be published in about one month.’ There is no suggestion either Scott or Branson want to be involved with the criminal, or that Sobhraj will be released in the coming weeks. He claimed in the bizarre interview that he would be free in two weeks because his 2004 trial in Nepal was illegal and that members of the United Nations Human Rights Committee have called for his release. However, the publication reports that the human rights agency has said it neither acquitted him nor called for his release. Sobhraj is known as the Serpent because his ability to evade capture inspired the eight-part drama which starred Tahar Rahim as the killer and Jenna Coleman as his besotted lover. The criminal financed his lifestyle by posing as either a salesman or drug dealer to impress tourists, who he then drugged, robbed and often murdered. By 1975 the killer was joined by Ajay Chowdhury, a young Indian man who would help him, scam tourists, by helping them out of situations he had caused, for example providing shelter to victims he had poisoned. While he claimed that murders were often accidental drug overdoses, it was later alleged by investigators that his motive for the murder was silencing victims who threatened to expose him. According to Serpentine by Jennie Bolivar, the first murder took place in 1975, when he drowned a 21-year-old woman from Seattle called Teresa Knowlton. Her body was found in a tidal pool in the Gulf of Thailand a flowered bikini, inspiring the killers’ nickname ‘the bikini killer’. Before her death was discovered, Marie willingly posed as Knowlton to cash in the travellers’ cheques she was carrying worth thousands of dollars. His next victim was Vitali Hakim, whose burnt body was found on the road to the Pattaya resort, followed by Henk Bintanja and his fiancée Cornelia Hemker, who had been poisoned by Sobhraj and then nursed back to health. While they were staying with him, a visit from Hakim’s French girlfriend, Charmayne Carrou threatened to expose him, and so he strangled the pair and burned their bodies. He murdered at least two others in Thailand before fleeing to Kolkata, where he killed student Avoni Jacob simply to obtain his passport. He later murdered Jean-Luc Solomon by poisoning him. In 1976, Sobhraj attempted to drug a group of 60 French students on holiday in New Delhi in an attempt to rob them of passports and cash by giving them sleeping pills disguised as antibiotics. But this time it backfired when the poison began working a lot faster than he expected. When the first few students began falling where they stood, the others became alarmed and called the police. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison. But before his sentence was due to end in 1986, he threw a party for the guards and drugged them with sleeping pills to escape, only to be arrested in Goa following a nationwide manhunt by police in India. He knew that there was a warrant for his arrest in Thailand, where he could face the death penalty and banked on being locked up in India for another decade. His plan worked and when he was released in 1997, with no country to extradite him to, the Indian authorities allowed him to return to Paris where he lived in luxury promoting his infamy. A sighting of Sobhraj in Kathmandu in 2003 led to his arrest for the murders of two Canadians there in 1975. A Nepali court sentenced the notorious criminal to life imprisonment in connection with the killing of an American backpacker in 1975. WHO IS CHARLES SOBRAJ? Born to an Indian father, Hatchand Sobhraj and Vietnamese mother Tran Loan Phung, Sobhraj grew up in Saigon before his parents divorced and his father cut off all contact with the family. He was later adopted by his mother’s new boyfriend, a French Army lieutenant stationed in French Indochina, who is thought to have neglected him in favour of his own children with Sobhraj’s mother. As a teenager he spits his time between Indochina and >>Read more
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How to rent a boat in Lefkada, Greece

Lefkada is a beautiful island in Greece that’s perfect for a summer getaway. If you’re planning on spending some time there, you might want to consider renting a boat so that you can explore the coastline at your own pace. What to do in Lefkada? There are plenty of things to do in Lefkada, Greece. Renting a boat is a great way to see the island and experience all it has to offer. There are many companies that offer boat rentals, so be sure to do your research before you book. Once you have your boat, there are plenty of places to explore. Visit the beaches, go for a swim, or just relax and take in the scenery. Lefkada is a beautiful place and renting a boat is a great way to see it all. In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to go about renting a boat in Lefkada. Selecting the right boat There are a few things to consider when renting a boat in Lefkada, Greece. First, decide what size boat you need. If you’re planning on fishing or doing watersports, you’ll need a larger boat than if you’re just going to cruise around the island. Next, think about what activities you want to do on the boat. If you’re just looking to relax and sunbathe, you won’t need a boat with a lot of amenities. However, if you’re planning on fishing or waterskiing, you’ll need a boat that’s equipped for those activities. Finally, consider your budget. Boat rental prices can vary greatly depending on the size and type of boat you rent. Be sure to get an estimate from the rental company before booking your boat. Where to rent a boat in Lefkada? Choosing a boat rental agency or person you can trust is important! On the other hand, you don’t want the price tag to be inflated by grubby middlemen. So, what to choose and where to rent in this case? Sailo is the solution! Sailo is a boat rental and yacht charters database of verified boat representatives with over 30,000 boats to choose from! You can think of them as the Airbnb of boats. Each boat rental has detailed information about it, as well as honest customer reviews. Ask your questions directly to the representative to ensure the boat you choose is perfectly suited to your adventures. Just got easier to plan your bespoke honeymoon, family day on the water, or even your sinfully epic bachelor(ette) party! You can browse hundreds of options in your desired location online, find one you like, and message the owner! Online registration is possible. As soon as you arrive at the dock, you’re ready to set sail. How to captain a boat? Are you looking to charter a yacht or rent a boat this summer in Greece? If you’re considering Lefkada as your destination, you’ll want to know how to captain a boat. Here are a few tips to help you get started. Before you set sail, be sure to check the weather forecast and plan your route accordingly. Choose a safe harbor to start and end your journey, and be aware of any currents or shoals in the area. When you’re ready to depart, cast off the lines and raise the anchor. Once you’re underway, keep a lookout for other vessels and obstacles in the water. Be sure to stay on course and within your depth limits. When you’re ready to dock, lower the sails and approach the pier slowly. Once you’re securely moored, tie up the lines and enjoy your time on the water! Tips for a fun and safe boating experience Assuming you would like tips for renting a boat in Lefkada, Greece: Do your research – it is important to know what kind of boat you would like to rent as well as the company you want to rent from. There are many reputable companies that offer boat rentals, so be sure to read reviews and compare prices before making a decision. Make sure you are familiar with boating safety – this is especially important if you are not an experienced boater. Be sure to review basic safety procedures and know how to operate the boat before setting out on your trip. Plan your itinerary in advance – while it can be tempting to just set sail and explore, it is always a good idea to have a plan in place. It will help you make you avoid getting lost or ending up in areas that are not safe for swimming or anchoring. Bring along everything you need – from snacks and drinks to sunscreen and swimsuits, and be sure to pack everything you need for a day on the water. This will help you stay comfortable and safe while enjoying your time on the boat. Conclusion If you’re looking for a breathtaking way to explore the Greek islands, renting a boat in Lefkada is a great option. With its clear turquoise waters and dramatic cliffs, Lefkada is one of the most beautiful places in Greece. And what better way to see it than from your own private boat? Whether you’re an experienced sailor or you’ve never set foot on a boat before, there are plenty of options available to suit your needs. You can rent a small boat for just a few hours, or charter a larger yacht for an extended stay. Whichever option you choose, you’re sure to have an unforgettable experience exploring the stunning island of Lefkada by boat.
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Why It’s Worth Going With A Stocks And Shares ISA

Money is an essential commodity, so the more you have of it, the easier life tends to be. This stuff doesn’t grow on trees, though, so what can you do when you want to increase your finances significantly? One solution is to put your money into a stocks and shares ISA, rather than a cash one. It can be a risky move, given there’s a chance you might end up losing money. However, it’s also a smart decision for three excellent reasons. It Offers Investment Practice If you’ve never done it before, investing can be overwhelming, especially given the potential loss of money. However, as with most things, it gets easier the more experienced you are, and a stock and shares ISA can be ideal for giving you your start. This isn’t actually an investment but rather a vehicle for them, so you have plenty of freedom to choose where your money goes. As you play around with this, you can start to get a feel for how various investments behave and what ones are right for you. What you learn from here, you can then apply to investments outside of an ISA, which may come with a greater risk. It Doesn’t Charge Capital Gains Tax Tax is often the bane of people’s existence, which is why ISAs make for such great accounts. When you put money in here, you don’t have to worry about paying income tax, which is a sweet relief for many people. What’s great about stocks and shares ISAs is that you also don’t have to deal with capital gains tax on the profits you make from your investments. So, if you’re smart with where you put your money, you can end up boosting your finances quite a bit. It helps if you choose a stocks and shares ISA that provides the right investment opportunities and benefits that suit you best. Luckily, Good Money Guide showcases the best ISAs that are currently available, so you can see which one is most tailored to your needs. It Has Greater Potential For Growth If you’re going to put your money into an ISA, a stocks and shares one is definitely preferable over a cash one. That’s because the potential for growth is larger due to the investment opportunities in stocks and shares, as well as the setbacks of cash ISAs. The amount of interest you earn in a cash ISA is predetermined, and this generally doesn’t amount to much when the Bank of England base rate is low. If this means your interest doesn’t rise above inflation, then all you’ll actually do is lose money as time goes on. Although a stocks and shares ISA also has the potential of losing money – more so than a cash ISA – you shouldn’t overlook the chances for growth. Anyone who’s afraid of taking risks probably won’t cope well with a stocks and shares ISA. However, if you want a chance to grow your finances and get into the investment game, this is an excellent place to put your money.
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Is Catalina Island a fun place to go with your family

Catalina Island surfing

Catalina Island mini golf

Catalina Island fishing spots

Catalina Island kid-friendly hotels

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