Nearly every child goes looking for buried treasure, ancient relics or prehistoric remains. But 7-year-old John wanted to go one step further. He wanted to live the life of an explorer, free of the rules and restraints of modern life – John wanted to be a pirate.

John is not your every day pirate, though. In fact, he is probably the first and only pirate to be picked up from his house in a stretch limousine.

During the first few days of the trip, John and his family spent time enjoying Catalina Island, where intense preparations for the wish were underway – unbeknownst to the family. The beginning of the trip was marked by a helicopter flight over the remote Catalina beaches and towering mountains, a country jeep tour and picnic, and a glass-bottom submarine ride.

After a few days of the traditional sightseeing activities, John and his father were spending a "guys night out" on the town. While standing outside a video arcade, they were accosted by a nasty pirate, who pushed his way through – but not before dropping a canvas cloth bound in twine. To John's delight, it was a treasure map! Upon examining it, John learned that a group of pirates was gathering the next morning to hunt for lost treasure.

John and his family arrived at the pier indicated on the map the following morning and were approached by pirates on an 86-foot wooden schooner that had been built in the 20s. Coincidentally, the pirates had perfectly-sized pirate outfits for every family member – including sashes, head bands, scars, eye patches, cut-off pants and pirate shirts.

Throughout the day, the pirate crew sailed along the coast searching for clues leading to the treasure. John, being the consummate explorer, was especially adept at sniffing out the clues and fired off the traditional cannon blast to announce the discovery of the treasure chest. Inside the chest, John found crystals and rare rocks, a petrified shark's tooth and an incredible fossilized fish. Also inside were fossil and rock hunting kits, a brass ship's bell and several other treasures.His storytelling about his adventures lead many to believe that he truly is a pirate.