Today was our first full day aboard National Geographic Quest, and it has truly been a spectacular start to our voyage. As guests awoke, we arrived into the Little Harbor cove alongside common dolphins bow-riding below and brown pelicans soaring above. Morning activities were a variety of hikes on the backside of Catalina Island, while in the afternoon we were able to explore the Mediterranean-feeling town of Avalon. Paired with scoops of delectable ice cream, botanical garden sights, and many more exciting stops in town, we were able to see the true local lifestyle of island living.
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 28 Apr 2024
Catalina Island, 4/28/2024, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- California Coast
Andy Putnam, Naturalist
An East Coast native, but a Californian by choice; Andy has spent a lot of his life moving around from place to place. Whether it was moving homes, spending free time growing up exploring state and national parks, or having spent a large amount of hi...
Read MoreShare Report
Discovering Channel Islands National Park: A 5-Day Voyage
VIEW ITINERARYRelated Reports
4/30/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Anacapa Island/ Santa Cruz Island
We had an incredible day out in Channel Islands National Park. We settled into the remote unworldliness of these volcanically formed islands as the fog lifted and our perfect day began. We set out in our Zodiacs and headed to famous Arch Rock, watching some playful sea lions and red-footed pigeon guillemots along the way. This afternoon we transited to Santa Cruz Island where we explored by both land and sea. Our Zodiac cruises saw harbor seals and a gray whale while our hikers saw the endemic island fox and endemic island scrub jay.
4/29/2025
Read
National Geographic Quest
Santa Rosa Island, Channel Islands
The sunrise reflected yellow off the steep cliffs of Santa Rosa Island, and we knew we had a great day in store. The entire group headed ashore on the second largest of the Channel Islands for hikes. We were greeted by an extravaganza of wildflowers. Giant coreopsis painted the hills yellow and towered over meadow hikers. Purple lupine, Indian paintbrush, and California poppies created a kaleidoscope of color along our paths. Some of our group headed for a longer hike to one of the two groves of Torrey Pines that exist on the planet. Some of us took part in casual walks around the historical Vail and Vickers cattle ranch and along the coastal bluffs. And all of us searched for the elusive and adorable endemic Santa Rosa Island fox… and some of us found them! After lunch we headed back to the island for specialized walks to focus on photography, search for foxes, and learn more about wildflowers.