Most people in the Southwest have probably heard of Cornado Island just off the coast of San Diego. But what about the Channel Islands? You'll have to go a few hours north to the Los Angeles coastline (Ventura) to see these beauties. Just an hour's ferry ride away, these eight islands boast bold and rugged coastlines with tons of hiking and vegetation, sometimes reminding you of a Jurassic Park movie. Here are some pictures of Santa Cruz island, the biggest of the eight islands and part of Channel Islands National Park:
A $60 ferry ride will get you to a remote part of the world and out of the hustle and bustle of LA. It's a nice escape that you can turn into a day of kayaking, hiking, or even some cliff diving and an ocean swim on one of the secluded beach areas.