Catalina from A to Z: Decadent Descanso Beach

Hello, and welcome to the Blogging A to Z Challenge! This year my theme is Catalina from A to Z, featuring posts about the Southern California island of Catalina. With a focus on the island’s romantic side, I’ll be sharing info about where to go, what to see and do, plus a few sneak peeks from my novel in progress, Wife For A Weekend, which is set on the island!

Due to various restrictions on alcohol, and particularly those in glass or non-resealable containers, Descanso Beach is one of the only beaches in California where alcohol is still permitted. “A drink in your hand and your feet in the sand” is their motto. If you’re hankering for a Buffalo Milk, this is one of the many places on the island where you can order its signature drink!

Charging a $2 entry fee, the private beach located east of the Catalina Casino offers food and drink services, as well as rentals of chaise lounges or cabanas, as well as add-ons like kayak or stand-up paddleboard rentals, and even DJs that keep the beach blanket party going daily from 11 AM to 3 PM (weekdays: Monday through Thursday) or 11 AM to 4 PM (weekends: Friday to Sunday).

You can also bring your own snorkels and explore the faux shipwreck, search for sea glass, or simply splash about in the shallow water – although be forewarned that there’s a strip of rocks between the white sand of the beach and the ocean.

Learn more about Descanso Beach Club, or make your reservations here!

The Wife for a Weekend connection

The hero of my novel, Diego Raphael, loves being able to evade his fans at Descanso Beach. A huge movie star that is regularly swamped by paparazzi, he can slip on a pair of Ray Bans, a Panama hat, and a well-groomed beard and recline on the beach without a second glance. Only his personal butler knows his true identity – and given the excellent tips he receives on a weekly basis, he’ll never reveal Diego’s secret. But when an up-and-coming starlet named Vivian Violette discovers Diego’s trick to hiding in plain sight, will his anonymity on this laid-back island be threatened?

Eager to learn more about Catalina?

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