A new excuse to escape this weekend to Catalina Island: blown-glass sculptures

Think “Catalina,� and you picture blue sea, beaches and rugged backcountry. Now there’s a new reason to hop on the Catalina Express to what William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum tycoon who bought Santa Catalina in 1919, dubbed “the island of romance.� The dazzling blown-glass sculptures of acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly are on exhibit at the new Catalina Island Museum (217 Metropole Ave., Avalon; [310] 510-2414) through mid-December. My husband, Paul, and I were thrilled to experience Chihuly’s nature-inspired installations shimmering in the sunlight on the museum terrace, and later, magically aglow under the star-filled sky. During our stay on Catalina, we also discovered more colorful history and unspoiled nature than we could have imagined.

The tab for one night: $240 for hotel; $133 for boat passage; $185 for meals; and $260 for tours and museum, plus taxes.

The bed

Avalon, the lively hub of this 22 mile-long island, offers an array of hotels, many dating to the Golden Age of Hollywood when Catalina was a playground for Charlie Chaplin, Judy Garland and other stars. We stopped by the stately six-room Mt. Ada bed and breakfast to enjoy the spectacular view from what was once Wrigley’s hilltop home. The 72-room Pavilion Hotel (513 Crescent Ave., Avalon; [877] 778-8322) was less expensive and ideally located on the harbor promenade. We joined guests in the courtyard for complimentary afternoon wine and cheese and, the next morning, for a generous complimentary breakfast.

The meal

Avalon has few cars but plenty of restaurants. We savored fresh local sand dabs at the Bluewater Grill (306 Crescent Ave., Avalon; [310] 510-3474), overlooking Avalon Bay, and tuna tartare at the upscale Avalon Grille (423 Crescent Ave., Avalon; [310] 510-7494). The next day we strolled along the waterfront to the Descanso Beach Club. We felt as if we were on Maui — not a mere 20-odd miles across the sea from Los Angeles — as we had lunch under the palm trees and gazed at the glittering water.

The find

We marveled at the Art Deco murals during a tour of the Catalina Casino, where as many as 6,000 dancers once swayed to a big-band beat in the ballroom. The ornate 1,184-seat theater still shows movies nightly. Later, jouncing along in a bio-fueled Humvee, we explored the wild 88% of the island the Wrigley family deeded to the Catalina Conservancy for preservation. Besides the occasional backpacker and trail biker, we spotted a woolly bison and a Catalina Island fox that was smaller than our cat.

The lesson learned

With so much to do on Catalina — scenic tours, zip-lining, scuba, parasailing and massages in the chic Island Spa Catalina — trip expenses can easily add up. I realized, too late, that I could have saved by pre-purchasing hotel and activity packages at Visit Catalina. Catalina Express offers another irresistible deal: Two-for-one boat tickets if you travel on your birthday.

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