By Chantae Reden | Published on December 6, 2022
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.
Soak In Catalina Island's Small Town Charm
Learn About The Island's Intriguing History
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
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
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.
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