As this book went to press, the Ocean Institute was beginning a major upgrade and expansion of its buildings and facilities, due to be completed in 2002. A rich variety of exhibits and displays will be fully accessible, along with an area restored with native plants and a rustic picnic area.

The Pilgrim is a full-size replica of the square-rigged brig Richard Henry Dana, Jr., wrote about in Two Years Before the Mast. The original ship was built in 1825, and the replica in 1945. The public is welcome aboard on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. when the ship is in port (call to check). About half of the ship’s deck is accessible via a ramp. Next to the Pilgrim, there is a small wheelchair-accessible fishing pier.

South of Island Drive there is a shopping center with restaurants, a small public fishing pier, and commercial boat docks. Dana Point Sportfishing offers fishing and whale-watching trips. There is a step at the end of the loading ramp, but the crew is available to assist. If you’re going on a fishing trip, we suggest that you arrive early so that you can board first and stake out a fishing station that works well for you.

Catalina Express launches its ferries to Catalina Island from the docks behind the shopping center. The reservation agent can schedule you on a ferry that has an accessible bathroom. All the boats are boarded from a ramp that may have a step at the bottom at low tide. The crew is ready to help.

Restrooms

The Ocean Institute restrooms have narrow stalls with grab bars suitable for a front transfer. Sinks have twist faucets. The situation should be improved when renovations are completed. The public restrooms at the shopping center have wide accessible stalls with grab bars and raised toilets, but the tight turns at the entrance may be impassable for large wheelchairs.