Where is Catalina Island and what does it offer?

Catalina Island, located off the coast of Southern California, is a picturesque getaway known for its stunning natural beauty and charming small-town atmosphere. The island features rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters, making it a popular destination for outdoor activities like hiking, snorkeling, and kayaking. The main town, Avalon, offers a vibrant blend of shops, restaurants, and attractions, including the iconic Casino and beautiful coastal views. With its mild climate and diverse wildlife, Catalina Island is perfect for relaxation and adventure alike.

How to Get to Catalina Island

To get to Catalina Island, you have a few main options:

  1. Ferry: The most common way is by ferry. Several companies, like Catalina Express and Catalina Flyer, offer regular ferry services from mainland ports such as Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. The ride typically takes about an hour.
  2. Helicopter: Helicopter services, such as Island Express, provide a quick way to reach the island from various locations in Southern California. The flight takes about 15-20 minutes.
  3. Private Boat: If you have access to a boat, you can also sail to Catalina. The island has several marinas where you can dock.
  4. Airplane: Small aircraft can land at the airport on the island, with services available from nearby areas.

Make sure to check schedules and availability, especially during peak seasons!

Our Experience and Itinerary

We went to Catalina Island back in February of 2023 and here are the things that we did!

We took the ferry there and arrived at 7AM. We decided to get breakfast at one of the cafes since it was early and everything was still closed. After eating breakfast, we stopped by the dock and eventually made our way to the iconic Casino. It is not a gambling stop but a place for entertainment. It was not opened, so we simply went around the casino and took photos.

Breakfast at Original Jack's Country Kitchen
Picture with the iconic Casino

Most of Catalina Island residents get around by golf carts. This is also one of the most popular things to do at Catalina Island, to rent and ride the Golf Cart around the island!  The golf cart is rented per hour. We only rented it for one hour and got around the island fairly quick and easy! We even made stops and took photos around the island.

There is also an option to stop by the Botanical Garden as well. Unfortunately, we did not stop by the garden. If I recall correctly, I believe there is an entrance fee to enter as well. One hour probably won’t be enough to stop by the botanical garden while renting the golf cart. It’ll add another additional hour to your golf cart rental. 

After returning the golf cart, we went to explore the little shops and got our souvenirs.

Picture of the golf cart route
getting off the golf cart to take photos

Also a side note, when we were in line to rent the golf cart, it was getting busy since there were people from the cruise that were stopping by. Catalina Island is one of the main stop that the cruise lines stop by for a few hours before heading to Mexico.

We eventually made our way to a taco place and enjoyed a nice cold beer and tacos. We also got a scoop or two of ice cream.

We had some more time to kill so we just relaxed after a long and tiring day. It was finally time to return back to the ferry and head back! We even saw a flock of dolphins from afar while waiting for the ferry. 

Overall, here is a little break down of our trip to Catalina Island

  1. Get breakfast at a local shop 
  2. Explore and walk around the iconic casino 
  3. Rent a golf cart and explore around the island
  4. Walk around the little shops to get souvenirs, eat lunch and relax 
  5. Head back to Long Beach through the ferry

Feel free to add anything that we missed or might need to do the next time we go there again!

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