San Diego to Catalina Island

[vegasandre]

HI Everyone
first post . Would like some help with this question. We have a newer Catalina 350 and would like some helpful tips in going to Catalina Island From Harbor Island in San Diego. I have looked over several threads and some seem to like the straight hop to Catalina -motor sailing leaving at night and some like hopping up the coast and going to Catalina via long beach or newport. Here are our considerations :
-I have three small children 5,8 and 10
-somewhat limited offshore experiance in sailboat(have bareboated and taken all us sailing courses years ago) but have motor boat experiance offshore-mainly east coast(nj)where its generally rougher anyway.
-Not the type to over prepare and worry for a short voyage- more like enough food and water and and just go.
- boat is loaded with inverter, radar(installing this month) and everything and has zero issues.
- looking for a trial run before Catalina boats rendevous in July to Catalina island

thanks for all your help!

Andre