Suriani,
The boat will no doubt take you to Anacapa Island. There is a ranger station there, a lighthouse and foghorn. Not much else from what I remember. There is a really nice arched rock there to take a picture of and some trails to hike on. One rule, everything you take to the island has to leave with you. So you will have to carry your trash out. When I was there there were minimal facilities.
Santa Cruz Island has some very interesting rocky beaches, but I am not sure that you are allowed to actually visit the island. It has been a long time since I have been there.
San Nicolas Island is restriced to military people only as it is part of the Pacific Missle Test Range. Lots of interesting stuff to see there but if I tell you I would have to shoot you.
Santa Rosa Island is just a little thing way out there. Nice beaches but not much else.
Not sure if it is considered a channel island but Santa Catalina is a major tourist attraction, the city of Avalon is at the East end and has all of the nice restaurants, museums, nice beaches and other tourist stuff. At the other end of the island is the Isthmus which splits the island almost in two. There is a nice restaurant there, harbour, and bar with some places to stay. Lots of buffalo and wild boar on the island. They were brought over way back in the early 20s for the filming of a movie and let loose afterwards, now they are all over the place.
Beyond Catalina Island is San Clemente Island. This is a restricted island that the US Navy uses for shelling practice. There is also a cattle ranch at the other end.
Most of the beaches on the Channel Islands were restricted when I was there to protect the seal population. It took special permission and you had to be accompanied by a ranger to see some of the places.
Now it has been many years since I have been out there so all of this may have changed. There is a National Park office at the Channel Islands marina where you will catch your boat out. They have loads of information.
I am sure you will enjoy it, the water is a deep blue deep and clear. Lots of giant kelp forests, blue bass, sheepshead, and probably a fair amount of blue and thresher sharks. I am sure you will have a good time, take loads of photos and post them here so we can see what it is like there now.
Phil
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