Aerial view of the seaside town of Avalon. Catalina Island, California.

Incredible Things To Do On A Catalina Island Vacation

How to Get to Catalina Island Without the Ferry from Los Angeles

By Chantae Reden | Published on December 6, 2022

When I was growing up in California, a Catalina Island vacation always felt like it was worlds away despite the island technically being part of Los Angeles County. Arriving by sea, I'd admire the rugged beauty of the island itself as the rolling hills came into view. As we got closer, tidy rows of sailing yachts and motorboats floating in the azure cove marked the entrance to Avalon, Catalina Island's main town. We'd spend the weekend searching for birds and wild foxes in the bushland on trail hikes, playing on the cookie crumb beaches and snorkeling above the kelp beds off the coastline. As an adult, Catalina Island holds the same allure it's always had, though I've swapped out the sandcastle building for seaside cocktail sipping.

California Catalina Island Harbor Sunny Day

How To Get To Catalina Island

The easiest way to get to Catalina Island would be by traveling on a vacation cruise sailing from LA. The 22-mile journey from Los Angeles to Catalina is best done by sea, though it's also possible to take a 15-minute flight as well if you want to visit Catalina before or after you cruise from California.

Pack a pair of binoculars for the trip and look out over the horizon for whale watching with a chance to see the migrating humpbacks breaching and slapping their fins on the water. Pods of dolphins, schools of flying fish, sea lions and seals also regularly swim in the waters around Catalina Island. Getting from Los Angeles to Catalina Island is part of the full experience and will give you the chance to see not only California's unique wildlife but also prime views of the California coastline.

Dolphins leap out of the water in Monterey Bay. Catalina Island, California.

In the 1920s, a film crew brought a few bison to Catalina Island as props for a Western film. Though the crew returned to California, they left the bison behind.

Soak In Catalina Island's Small Town Charm

Aerial view of Catalina Island with ships. California.

Catalina Island is the only island in the Channel Islands with a full-time civilian population, most living in the small town of Avalon. One of the best things to do in Catalina Island is just walk around and take in the small town charm. Boutique shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants, bars and tour operators line the waterfront, so feel free to stroll without a plan. The island has very few cars, making it a peaceful place to walk and cycle. Or get around like the locals do, and rent a golf cart to venture to Avalon's highest hills and view the town's colorful buildings, surrounding shrubland and sparkling bay.

The most iconic building of the bunch is undoubtedly the Catalina Casino, a stunning display of Art Deco architecture built in 1929. During the peak of Hollywood's Golden Age, stars would come from Los Angeles to gamble, shoot scenes in the casino's film sets and dance in the world's largest circular ballroom. Today, the casino has retired its slot machines and poker tables and has taken up a new identity as an old-time movie theater and festival venue. Tour the Catalina Casino to admire its interior art and learn more about its founder, William Wrigley Jr. of Wrigley's chewing gum fame. Nowadays, you can see rooms that were closed to the public for decades.

Avalon harbor and the Casino building. Catalina Island, California.

Learn About The Island's Intriguing History

William Wrigley memorial in botanic gardens. Catalina Island, California.

Catalina Island became a travel destination in 1864 after being purchased by California's wealthiest man at the time, an entrepreneur named James Lick. Lick later sold the island to the Banning brothers, who developed Avalon's Green Pleasure Pier, which is still standing today. After a financial catastrophe, the Banning brothers sold the island to William Wrigley Jr., who picked up the torch in developing Catalina Island as a haven for tourists and filmmakers. He also made Catalina Island the training hub for the Chicago Cubs. Today, the island is still owned by the Wrigley family, who have turned 88% of the island into a nature preserve.

If you're a history buff, stop in at the Catalina Island Museum. The museum has plenty of memorabilia from the island's past and hosts art exhibitions, workshops and events. Then, head on a short bus ride or walk to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Gardens to admire views of the valley spanning to Avalon Bay. The gardens around the memorial are replete with plants endemic to the Channel Islands, and it's a peaceful place to spend an afternoon.

Let Your Taste Buds Lead The Way

Foodies will be in for a treat with all the delicious dining options on Catalina Island. Start your day with a cinnamon roll drizzled in icing sugar and a hot cup of coffee from Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co. For lunch, enjoy a piping hot plate of fish and chips or a creamy bowl of clam chowder on the waterfront at Bluewater Avalon. The Lobster Trap is also worth a stop for its lobster rolls served with scrumptious tarragon sauce. For a sugar fix, grab a sweet scoop of ice cream or gelato in a crispy waffle cone from Scoops to take to the beach. If that's not enough, Eric's on the Pier has funnel cakes and banana splits.

For drinks, Luau Larry's serves perfectly mixed cocktails with good vibes. Order the Wiki Wacker cocktail made with rum, brandy, pineapple juice and grenadine — it even comes with a silly straw hat! The Marlin Club, the island's oldest bar, sticks to the nautical theme with ship-shaped architecture, ocean décor and seascape paintings. Order a cocktail and hit the jukebox while you wait for it to be mixed.

Wildlife Watch On Your Catalina Island Vacation

Island fox spotted on a wildlife tour. Catalina Island, California.

Catalina Island's land is managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy, and much of the island is only accessible with a permit or as part of a tour. Many tours rumble up the island's 1,500-foot East Peak along a ridgeline revealing panoramic views of Catalina Island's craggy coastline. On an eco safari, you'll rove down dirt roads from the comforts of a Hummer powered by biofuel. Keep your eyes open for incredible wildlife like Catalina Island foxes, bald eagles and migratory seabirds.

Bison herd seen while on a wildlife tour. Catalina Island, California.

Oh, and there's also a herd of around 150 American bison. In the 1920s, a film crew brought a few bison to Catalina Island as props for a Western film. Though the crew returned to California, they left the bison behind. The descendants of the original bison herd roam and graze on Catalina Island's hills, taking to their new home quite nicely.

Take to the Skies on an Aerial Adventure

Buzz over the bushland of Catalina Island on an aerial adventure. Catalina Island Zip Line Eco Tour offers an adrenaline rush with five zip lines above Descanso Canyon. It's a sensory experience where you'll feel the mist of salty sea spray against your skin, inhale the fresh scent of eucalyptus, hear the whir of the line as it carries you 30 miles per hour down the canyon, and feel the thrill of soaring over one of the most beautiful places in California. In between flights, passionate tour guides share facts about native wildlife. Kids age 5 and older can participate, making it one of the best family-friendly things to do on the island.

If your heights thrill has yet to be satisfied on your trip to Catalina Island, there's also Catalina Aerial Adventure, an obstacle course of rope ladders, wooden bridges and balancing logs perched on the treetops. Each course varies in difficulty, so those who are overcoming their fear of heights can still have plenty of fun. There's also a 32-foot climbing wall nearby.

Take To The Seas Of Catalina Island

Man Snorkeling with Colorful Fish, Catalina Island California

With over 50 miles of coastline, Catalina Island is no stranger to scenic coves and beaches. The Avalon waterfront might be the most conveniently located, but you won't want to miss Descanso Beach Club on the shores of Descanso Bay, just a short walk along the water. Grab a lounge chair, a beach umbrella and a drink of your choice — it's one of the few places you can enjoy an alcoholic beachside beverage in California. The beach club food menu is awash with seafood delicacies, Mexican-inspired fare and options for plant-based diners. On a cruise to Catalina Island, enjoy a healthy dose of salt air. Beach hop to Lovers Cove for great snorkeling or to the tiny town of Two Harbors to relax in one of their thatched-roof beach cabanas. Rent a kayak or standup paddleboard to paddle along the scenic coastline and take in the views.

If you're a scuba diver, the giant kelp forests of Catalina Island are a mesmerizing sight to behold. Stemming from the seabed toward the ocean's surface, these kelp forests provide shelter for many fish and crustacean species — especially juvenile fish as they grow to be strong enough to survive in the deep blue. Catalina Island's dive centers run dive trips to these kelp forests, where you are nearly guaranteed to spot bright orange Garibaldi, California's state fish, also known as the Catalina goldfish. Sea lions, seals, moray eels, angel fish, scorpionfish, bat rays and reef sharks are regularly seen. For snorkelers, stunning underwater scenery is just a few kicks from the Catalina Island shoreline, with a prime snorkel spot in front of the Catalina Casino.

Tropical fish viewing while scuba diving. Catalina Island, California.

To stay dry while admiring the life aquatic, go for a glass-bottom boat tour. These tours aim to reveal the kelp forests from the comforts of a spacious boat with a plexiglass floor. There's also a semi-submarine tour that plunges 5 feet below sea level. Every guest has their own porthole to peek out of. The semi-submarine cruises along Catalina Island's coastline while informative guides share facts about the Garibaldi, reef sharks and bat rays you might spot.

Get Active In Catalina

Soaking up all of the outdoor activities in the best part of any California vacation getaway. Lace up your hiking boots to traverse Catalina Island's spectacular terrain. The Trans-Catalina Trail spans nearly 40 miles along the length of the island. There are plenty of trails worth a day trip, like the trail to East Summit for panoramic views of the island. If you have a full day, trek along the Garden to Sky Loop Trail that begins near the Wrigley Memorial and takes hikers along a trail with views of both sides of the island and dozens of plant species.

With golf carts as Catalina Island's de facto form of transportation, you might be inspired to check out the island's greens. You'll find them at the Catalina Island Country Club and Golf Course, a nine-hole golf course originally established in 1892. The course is one of the most beautiful in California, leading through a natural canyon with views of Avalon and the ocean.

If the little ones want to come along, visit the Catalina Island Mini Golf Gardens. This miniature golf course has been around for four decades and is one that'll excite novice and experienced putters alike. Leafy trees and the sea breeze make it an ideal activity on sunny days.

Hang Out In Two Harbors

View of Two Harbors with Bison and boats in the background. Catalina Island, California.

During the summertime, a boat connects the town of Avalon to Catalina Island's only other settlement, Two Harbors. With a population hovering just under 300 people, it's a quiet retreat where outdoor enthusiasts can swim, paddle and fish in the town's two harbors, hike along quiet trails to the top of the hills and relax on the sandy shoreline before taking the 40-minute boat ride back to Avalon. Is it island time?

Written By
CHANTAE REDEN

Chantae Reden is an adventure writer and photographer who rarely strays far from the coastline. She is a freediver, surfer, scuba diver, and has a mild obsession with sharks. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, Escape, ScubaDiving.com and she's a guidebook author for Moon Travel Guides. Discover more of her stories on her travel website, TheSaltSirens.com. 

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