A Comprehensive Guide to Enjoying the Wonders of Catalina Island
- Wanderlust Mike
- Oct 15, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 10
Catalina Island - Southern California's island vibe!
We try to get to Santa Catalina Island, California, at least once a year. It's approximately 26 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, and a great place to see pristine underwater kelp forests or just relax. With a local population under 4,000, it's got that laid-back island vibe, and very few vehicles other than the occasional golf cart.
Catalina Island was once owned by William Wrigley Jr., and during it's heyday from the 1920's through the 1950's was the site of Hollywood films, lavish celebrity parties in the casino, and even the Chicago Cubs Spring training camp! For more about the history of the island we recommend a visit to the new Catalina Island Museum for Art & History.
TRANSPORTATION
Over one-million visitors escape to the island oasis of Catalina each year! There are multiple locations that offer ferry boats to the island via the Catalina Express. We usually embark from Long Beach since they have the most comprehensive ferry schedule, but you may also choose San Pedro or Dana Point here in Southern California.
The Catalina Flyer departs from Newport Beach. You could also book a private charter with Catalina Classic Cruises from Long Beach, located near the Queen Mary.
Once on the island you have many options for transportation. You can use Catalina's current public transit option - Circuit Transit. Circuit is similar to Uber, and Catalina's small fleet of electric vehicles has been named COAST - City of Avalon Seaside Transit.
You could also rent a golf cart for a few hours from Catalina Island Golf Cart Rentals & Tours or from Island Rentals. Another option could be renting electric bikes from Brown's Bikes or Catalina E-bike Rentals.
Catalina also has a taxi service as well. They're usually waiting in the parking lot near the ferry boat terminal when you disembark on to the island.
The seaside town of Avalon is fairly small, and we usually just walk wherever we want to go. The exception would be the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, which is a bit of a hike (see Activities below).
Note: The Catalina Island ferries don't allow vehicles onboard. You'll need to park your vehicle on the mainland in a parking lot or structure, like the one in Long Beach at the Catalina Landing.
SHOPS & RESTAURANTS
Avalon, the island's main harbor town, has dozens of shops and restaurants! A few of our favorites include Afishinados with handcrafted artwork that's everything ocean, The Steamer Trunk, Catalina Pottery & Tile Co., Catalina Bath & Body, Coyote Joe's Bar & Restaurant for some hearty Mexican food, Bluewater Grill with seating over the marina, Pier 24, Sailor's Delight Ice Cream Shop with vegan options, acai bowls at Scoops, and Descanso Beach Club (because it's all about location)!
ACTIVITIES
Along with shops and restaurants, there are many activities on the island! You can visit the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, which is 1.5 miles away from the waterfront up Avalon Canyon. We recommend using Circuit to get there and back from Avalon.
You can also enjoy ziplining down Descanso Canyon, or go parasailing just past the harbor with spectacular views of the island!
If you're there during the Summer months, you can witness the fabled flying fish at night! Another great activity for the evening is catching a movie at the nostalgic art deco Avalon Theatre inside the casino, originally opened in 1929. And if golfing's your thing, they've got that too!
UNDERWATER
You could also snorkel or scuba dive at the Casino Point Marine Sanctuary, Descanso Beach, and Lovers Cove! We normally snorkel between late August to early October, when the water temperatures (also monitored at Ben Weston beach) reach their warmest around 72° F (22° C). You can rent a wetsuit and snorkel gear at Descanso Beach Ocean Sports, or at Wet Spot Rentals in Avalon, where you can also rent kayaking and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) equipment. Most of the dive shops mentioned below also provide snorkel gear.
For scuba diving, try Catalina Divers Supply at the casino, which offers rentals, purchases, servicing, and a dive boat. You can also try Diving Catalina or Catalina Scuba as well.
Wildlife we've spotted while snorkeling includes leopard sharks, horned sharks, garibaldi (the California state fish), opaleye, calico bass, kelpfish, bat rays, rockfish and many others!
Tip: If you want to attract a large school of fish, bring a bag of fresh or frozen peas! You can purchase a bag at Vons on the island.
If you don't want to snorkel or scuba, you can still witness the abundant underwater life with a semi-submersible boat ride.
EVENTS
Special events we've attended include the Annual JazzTrax Festival in the casino ballroom. It gave us the opportunity to enjoy the views and lighting from the ballroom and was a spectacular event! We've also happily stumbled upon the Annual Festival of Art in Avalon. And Love Catalina hosts a Pride event each June, with live outdoor concerts and entertainment!
For a complete list of events, check out the Catalina Island events calendar.
You can hike up to this scenic point along Chimes Tower Road for a great photo opportunity of Avalon harbor!
LODGING
We highly recommend spending a night or two on the island! Once the day-trippers have left, you'll find the harbor town of Avalon much more peaceful and relaxing.
There are many hotel and lodging options on the island. We recommend staying at the Catalina Island Inn, which is centrally located in town. Another recommended option includes Aurora Hotel, which is halfway between the Green Pleasure Pier and Catalina Casino, yet still away from noise and crowds along the waterfront. And Catalina Canyon Inn, sequestered quietly away in Avalon Canyon, yet still within walking distance of everything in Avalon. You can also use vrbo.com to find a number of available homes to rent.
If none of these appeal to you, I recommend using Google maps to locate the perfect accommodation. Use filters for things like price, guest rating, etc.
Tip: If you can, try staying Sunday through Thursday nights. Friday and Saturday nights can cost twice as much due to demand!
TWO HARBORS
If you're looking for something a little more rustic, peaceful and natural, you may want to consider the quaint town of Two Harbors approximately 17 miles to the Northwest of the town of Avalon. You can travel there from the mainland via the Catalina Express San Pedro ferry (location).
Today, Santa Catalina Island is an escape for many Southern Californians and also a world-class destination. While times have changed, the island remains timeless. You really must experience our beloved Catalina for yourself!
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