Catalina Island Getaway
· By GoldenPath Guide Editorial Team
There's a reason Catalina Island feels like a mini-vacation that's almost too easy to reach. An hour by ferry from the busy Los Angeles ports, it drops you into a Mediterranean-flavored harbor town with golf carts instead of cars, a domed art-deco landmark theater and ballroom (a historic landmark theater, never a gambling venue) and enough laid-back beach clubs to make you forget you're still in California. This is the practical, how-to-plan-it getaway guide.
Getting there: the ferry
The Catalina Express is the classic way in, running multiple daily crossings from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. The ride takes roughly an hour and, on a clear day, is scenic enough to be part of the fun. Book your ferry in advance — summer and weekend departures sell out. Private boats and helicopter transfers are also available if you're feeling fancy.
Choosing where to stay
Avalon has lodging to suit different styles, and an overnight stay changes the whole experience once the day-trippers leave.
- Mt Ada — perched high above Avalon Bay with sweeping views; the former Wrigley summer home.
- Hotel Atwater — in the heart of Avalon, convenient and stylish.
- Pavilion Hotel — steps from the beach and the harbor.
- Banning House Lodge & Villas — a historic Craftsman-style bed & breakfast in rustic Two Harbors.
Building the perfect day
Catalina is small enough to pack a lot in, but it rewards slowing down. Here's a balanced way to fill a day.
- Morning — Arrive, grab coffee and a pastry at the Bistro at the Atwater, then wander Avalon's waterfront.
- Midday — Pick an adventure: the Catalina Zipline Eco Tour over Descanso Beach, or a Glass Bottom Boat ride over the marine preserve.
- Afternoon — A Bison Expedition into the rugged interior, or a Journey to Island's End Hummer tour.
- Evening — Dinner at Avalon Grille, cocktails at Descanso Beach Club or the new Pier 24.
One- or two-night itinerary
To really soak it in, stay overnight.
- Day 1 — Ferry in, check in, explore Avalon, do a zipline or glass-bottom boat, enjoy the beach club, dinner.
- Day 2 — Bison expedition or Wrigley Island Tour, lunch at the beach, ferry home or stay a second night for Two Harbors.
The beach clubs
Catalina's beaches are a highlight. Descanso Beach Club offers Mediterranean-style cabanas and a relaxed beachfront bar & restaurant just past the landmark theater building (a historic movie palace and ballroom). At Two Harbors, the rustic Harbor Sands palapas are roomy and peaceful — perfect for a slow day in the sun away from the crowds.
When to visit
Catalina is a year-round destination, but the best weather and calmest seas are in spring and fall. Summer is busy (and warm), while winter can be brisk but far more peaceful. If your schedule is flexible, an early-fall or spring trip balances great conditions with lighter crowds.
Ferry Schedules, Fares and Parking
Catalina Express runs the main service from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point, with crossings roughly every one to two hours from 6:15 a.m. Round-trip fares run about $75 to $85 for adults, with each leg taking 60 to 90 minutes depending on the port — Long Beach is the fastest. Summer weekends and holiday Fridays sell out, so book two to four weeks ahead; walk-up fares on peak sailings often mean standing by for the next boat. Parking at the mainland terminals runs $15 to $20 a day in Long Beach and San Pedro, so a two-night trip adds $45 to $60 before the ferry fare. The Catalina Flyer catamaran from Newport Beach runs seasonally at similar fares. Helicopter transfers from Long Beach take 15 minutes at about $180 each way for travelers trading money for time.
Tours Worth Booking: Zip Line, Bison and Snorkeling
Three tours justify their prices and one defines the island. The Zip Line Eco Tour runs about $150 for a two-hour, five-line descent down Descanso Canyon with harbor views on every platform — book a week ahead in summer. The Bison Expedition, a two-hour open-air biofuel Hummer ride into the interior to see the herd of about 100 bison descended from 1924 film stock, runs about $90. Snorkeling trips to Lover's Cove, a protected marine reserve steps from Avalon, run $50 to $70 with gear included, and visibility often tops 60 feet on calm mornings. The 45-minute glass-bottom boat tour at about $30 suits travelers who want the underwater show without getting wet. Skip the generic island-drive vans that duplicate the bus route — the public Garibaldi bus to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden costs a few dollars and covers the same ground.
Dining and Evenings After the Day-Trippers Leave
The island's real personality shows after the last afternoon ferry departs around 4:30 p.m., when Avalon quiets by half. Dinner on the harbor runs $30 to $60 per person at the waterfront seafood rooms along Crescent Avenue; reservations for Friday and Saturday seatings go a week out in summer. Lloyd's of Avalon serves the old-school candy and caramel apples the town still makes, and the wine bars on Metropole Avenue pour island-labeled bottles. The landmark ballroom hosts big-band dances and movie nights on select weekends — check the schedule before the trip, since a ballroom night reshapes the evening. Descanso Beach Club charges a daybed or cabana fee ($50 to $200) but stays open late for sunset cocktails with the mainland glowing across the channel. Mornings belong to the harbor: coffee on the pier before 8 a.m. catches the glassy water and the fishing boats heading out.