Anacapa Island

On the last Saturday in March, we went with some friends on a day-trip to Anacapa Island, in Channel Islands National Park.  (It had been rescheduled twice already due to weather problems.)  Visiting the island requires a ticket on a charter boat, which left around 8am.

We had start our drive really early.

  

 

  

  

The island itself is entirely surrounded by drop-offs, so there isn't any beach access, and it's a bit nerve-racking with toddlers, but it was absolutely beautiful!
   

Stairs from the Dock to the Island

    

This is supposed to be one of the greatest views in California.

  

    
The island originally had a ton of unique native plants, but most of them were taken over by invasive ice plant years ago.  The Park Service is in the middle of a huge restoration project, and has been slowly killing off the ice plant and planting natives again.  Since it's such a small island, it's doable, but still a huge job.  The island is famous for its Giant Coreopsis, which look dead most of the year, but burst into bloom in early spring (we were there at the prettiest time of year!)  There were also thousands of seagulls, standing around the island.  Their nesting season was about a month off, but they were getting good spots, I guess.
    

  

Giant Coreopsis

  

    
Connor and Elise did Junior Ranger badges while we were there.  We had to take all our own water and food, since there were no services other than restrooms, and the boat didn't return until 3:00.  On the way home, we got a more scenic tour of the rocks and sea lions.