SeeCalifornia.com

Photo: Discovery Tours Zipline in Avalon, Catalina Island, Calif.

Are you looking for a zippy vacation? Catalina Island has a zip line that traverses its peaks and canyons, and ends up near Descanso Beach. It is one of the many zip lines around California (most are available in mountain resorts) and  the only ride at a beach–until now.  Venice Beach which also happens to be a part of the Los Angeles beaches & parks system like Avalon, is toying around with the idea of introducing a zip line to its summer offerings beginning next summer in 2013. Of course many residents are opposed. Their community is already a zoo filled with tourists, but they always have their mostly unfettered beach views to maintain sanity. The zipline operation would create an industrial look & feel to the beach, they say, and block their views, as well as create more noise and traffic, too!

There are some hurdles to overcome such as the California Coastal Commission approval and thumbs up. A previous attempt to create a dog beach in neighboring Santa Monica failed. The beaches there are part of the California Parks system which has a policy prohibiting dog beaches.  The zip line controversy is just heating up.  Those in favor of it think they have a good chance of getting the attraction, which they believe will be a revenue generator. The  Department of Recreation and Parks estimates a $20 per ride zip line could generate between $150,000 and $300,000 over a three month period during the summer and $900,000 during a full year of operation.