🏝️ The complete guide
Catalina Island
Curated by Simir Shah
Getting there
No bridges, no rental cars — you reach Catalina by ferry or helicopter. Here are your options:
Catalina Express
~1 hr (longer from Dana Point)From Long Beach, San Pedro & Dana Point → Avalon (Two Harbors from San Pedro)
The workhorse — multiple daily departures year-round. Free round-trip on your birthday with a paying adult; a Commodore Lounge upgrade adds wider seats and a drink. Reserve ahead in summer.
💵 ~$80–95 round-trip adult; less for kids 2–11 & seniors
Book / details →Catalina Flyer
~1 hr 15 minFrom Newport Beach (Balboa Pavilion) → Avalon
One round-trip per day, roughly March–November (very limited or no winter service — confirm the season). Typically departs ~9am, returns ~4:30pm.
💵 ~$76–90 round-trip adult
Book / details →IEX Helicopters
~15 minFrom Long Beach & San Pedro → Avalon (Pebbly Beach, ~1 mi from town)
The fast, scenic way over — flying Catalina since 1982. Pricey but a memorable shortcut that skips the boat. Per-seat pricing varies, so check the operator.
💵 $$$$ — a splurge (see site)
Book / details →Tip: the crossings are real ocean rides, so pack motion-sickness remedies if anyone's prone — and reserve ahead on summer weekends and event dates, when ferries sell out.
Getting around the island
Forget the car. Avalon is genuinely tiny and walkable — you can cross the whole town on foot in 20 minutes, and most attractions cluster around the harbor. The classic move is to rent a golf cart (the island's beloved substitute for a car) to putter up to the scenic overlooks and the Botanic Garden, or rent bikes.The protected interior (about 88% of the island) requires a Conservancy tour or a free permit to enter — that's where the bison live. Golf-cart rentals run roughly $65–85/hour (most seat 4–6), and a self-guided ~12-mile loop of Avalon's hills takes about an hour.
🦬 The famous bison
Yes, real American bison roam Catalina. About 14 were brought over in 1924 — reportedly for a silent Western film — and simply left behind. The herd grew over the decades and is now carefully managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy at a sustainable size (roughly 80–150 animals) out in the protected interior. You'll most reliably see them on a Bison Expedition Hummer tour or a Conservancy eco-tour — they're rarely seen near Avalon itself.
Best time to go
Catalina's weather is mild all year, so the 'best' time is really about crowds, water temperature and fog. The sweet spot is late spring (late April–May) and especially fall (September–October): warm, sunny, the warmest ocean water for snorkeling, and far thinner crowds than peak summer. Summer (July–August) is peak everything — buzzing and fully open, but the most crowded and priciest, so book ferries and hotels well ahead. Winter (Nov–March) is quiet and cheap with gray-whale watching, though some restaurants and tours run reduced hours. One local quirk: 'June Gloom' (worst in May–June) grays over the mornings before usually burning off by early afternoon — so plan beach and boat time for the afternoon.
Things to do
From the glass-bottom boat and the Casino to zip lines and a bison safari — sorted by distance from you within Avalon.
31 spots across Southern California — add your zip or city to sort by what's closest to you
Lover's Cove Marine Preserve
Avalon
A protected marine area and the island's best easy snorkeling. The entry is rocky, so bring water shoes; the Wet Spot rental booth is a three-minute walk away.
🗓️ Year-round
Casino Point Dive Park
Avalon
A marine protected area off the Casino with marine-rich water right in town, better for confident swimmers. Rentals are available at Catalina Divers Supply.
🗓️ Year-round
Catalina Casino (Building & Tour)
Avalon · History & culture
The round 1929 Art Deco landmark is a theater and ballroom — not gambling. General admission includes the Avalon Theatre, Marine Bar, Wrigley Ballroom and Ocean Promenade; the one-hour VIP tour involves 90+ steps. Wear comfortable shoes.
🗓️ Hours not published; check the booking calendar
💵 General admission from $19.50; VIP Backstage Tour ~$42 adult / ~$40 child 2–11 (2026)
Skate the Wrigley Ballroom (Casino)
Avalon · Family fun
Roller skate on the Casino's circular ballroom floor for one session of about an hour. Socks are required and not included, so pack a pair; age limits aren't published.
🗓️ Scheduled sessions; check the Casino booking calendar
💵 From $28.50 incl. Casino admission and a one-hour skate (2026)
Avalon Theatre (Casino)
Avalon · History & culture
A 1929 movie house with 1,184 seats, a 50-foot domed ceiling and Art Deco murals, one of the first theaters built for talkies. Films run from current to classic — check the rating before you go.
🗓️ Movies Fri & Sat evenings per Catalina Island Co. (check the theatre's site)
💵 Ticket price not published
Knabe Park Playground
Avalon
A pirate-ship-themed playground near the Cabrillo Mole, handy after the ferry ride.
🗓️ Daily; hours not published
Wet Spot Rentals (Snorkel & Kayak)
Avalon · Water & beach
A rental booth at the Boat Landing, a three-minute walk from Lover's Cove. All rentals include life vests and instruction; online bookings have a two-hour minimum.
🗓️ Daily March–October
💵 Single kayak $20/hr, double $30/hr, paddleboard $25/hr; snorkel gear $15 for 2 hrs or $30/day
Glass Bottom Boat Voyage
Avalon · Adventure & tours
A 45-minute cruise from the Green Pleasure Pier into Lover's Cove Marine Preserve, where kids press their faces to the glass to watch bright-orange garibaldi in the kelp. Best for kids 3 and up; reservations recommended, required for groups.
🗓️ Daily departures, about 45 min; check the schedule
💵 From $29.95 (2026); ~$34 adult / ~$31 child 3–11 all-in via catalinatours.com
Undersea Expedition (Sea Wolf Semi-Submersible)
Avalon · Adventure & tours
A climate-controlled cabin about five feet below the surface with individual seats and portholes — good for little ones who can't snorkel yet. Boarding involves stairs and ramps, and no food is allowed.
🗓️ About 45 min; check the schedule
💵 From $49.95 (2026); ~$57 adult / ~$51 child 2–11 all-in via catalinatours.com; infants free but need a ticket
Bison Expedition (Hummer)
Avalon · Animal & nature
A 12-passenger biofuel Hummer through Middle Canyon and Cape Canyon to a Black Jack Mountain overlook in bison country. Minimum age 5; it's bumpy and dusty with no restroom, and not wheelchair accessible.
🗓️ About 2 hr; check departure times
💵 From $109.95 (2026)
Parasailing (IWC Parasail)
Avalon · Adventure & tours
Tandem parasailing from the Green Pleasure Pier (ticket office at 18 Green Pleasure Pier) with a dry launch and landing. Fliers must be 6 or older, ride-alongs 5, with combined-weight limits — confirm with the operator.
🗓️ First trips 8:30–11am depending on season
💵 600 ft $69, 800 ft $79, ride-along $25 (2026)
Speed Boat & Sea Lion Tour
Avalon · Adventure & tours
A high-speed Cyclone boat ride from the Green Pleasure Pier to Seal Rocks for seals, dolphins and seasonal whales; sightings aren't guaranteed. Minimum age 4; boarding involves steep steps and it's bumpy.
🗓️ Check the booking calendar
💵 From $49.95 (2026)
Cyclone Boat: Avalon to Two Harbors
Avalon · Sightseeing & views
A quick way to spend a day in quiet Two Harbors without a long ferry from the mainland. Outside food and drink aren't allowed on Catalina Island Company tours; confirm the last return before you go.
🗓️ Seasonal, May to early October; about 40 min
💵 From $29 each way (2026)
Descanso Beach Club
Avalon · Water & beach
A private beach facility just past the Casino with a full-service bar and restaurant, cabana rentals and calm water. Outside food and drink are prohibited.
🗓️ Restaurant daily 11am–5pm; cabanas Mon–Fri 11–4, Sat–Sun 11–5 (Sept 2026)
💵 Reported small beach-access fee (~$2/day per Love Catalina); cabanas and lounges extra
Avalon Beach & Green Pleasure Pier
Avalon
Avalon's public beaches (South, Middle and Step Beach) run free along Crescent Ave; alcohol, animals and smoking are prohibited. The pier houses ticket booths for tours, parasailing and dive rentals.
🗓️ Year-round
Descanso Beach Ocean Sports (Kayak & SUP)
Avalon · Water & beach
At 5 Saint Catherine Way, the entrance to Descanso Beach Club: rent kayaks, paddleboards and snorkel gear, or join a guided paddle listed separately.
🗓️ Seasonal, opens about 9am, weather permitting
💵 Kayak from $40/hr single, $60/hr double; SUP from $40/hr; mask/snorkel/fins $30/day (2026)
Guided Kayak Tours (Frog Rock & Willow Cove)
Avalon · Water & beach
Guided paddles from Descanso Beach Ocean Sports. Willow Cove is a half-day trip of about 2.5 miles each way with snorkel gear and lunch included — a long day for young kids; ask about age minimums when booking.
🗓️ Seasonal, weather permitting
💵 Journey to Frog Rock from $79.95; Willow Cove Expedition from $159.95 (2026)
Catalina Zipline Eco Tour
Avalon · Adventure & tours
Five zip lines at 35–40 mph over Descanso Canyon. Minimum age 10, weight 80–240 lb and height at least 55 in, weighed clothed at check-in; closed-toe shoes required. There is no refund if a child misses the limits.
🗓️ About 2 hr 15 min; check the calendar
💵 From $149.95 incl. tax/fees (2026)
Catalina Aerial Adventure
Avalon · Adventure & tours
Five self-paced ropes courses (two beginner, two intermediate, one advanced) at 1 Saint Catherine Way. Minimum age 7, height at least 55 in and weight 50–270 lb, so it is not for younger siblings. Closed-toe shoes required.
🗓️ 90-minute timed entry
💵 $69.95 incl. tax/fees (2026)
Catalina Falconry Experience
Avalon · Animal & nature
Kids learn basic falconry, wear a glove, cast a trained raptor and call it back. Minimum age 7; meets in Descanso Canyon at 1 Saint Catherine Way.
🗓️ Seasonal, April to late October
💵 From $94 (2026)
Golf Cart Rentals (Avalon)
Avalon · Sightseeing & views
Renting a golf cart is the classic Avalon adventure — putter up to the scenic overlooks and the Botanic Garden with kids riding open-air. Call ahead for rates and seating.
🗓️ Year-round
💵 Hourly; price not published — call Catalina Island Golf Carts 310-510-2550
Catalina Island Conservancy Eco Tours
Avalon · Animal & nature
Open-air tours into the protected interior departing the Trailhead Visitor Center (708 Crescent Ave), where families may spot bison, deer and the Catalina Island fox. Minimum age 3; no infants under 2; cancellations inside 72 hours are non-refundable.
🗓️ Multiple daily departures; some sell out
💵 Wildlands Discovery Tour ~$98 (about 2 hr); Hidden Catalina Expedition ~$147 (about 3 hr), incl. tax/fees (2026)
Conservancy Trailhead Visitor Center
Avalon
At 708 Crescent Ave: pick up free hiking permits, browse exhibits and the gift shop, and climb to the third-floor observation deck and native plant garden. It's also the departure point for Eco Tours and the Wildlands Express.
🗓️ Daily 8am–5pm; hours vary seasonally
Golf Gardens Miniature Golf
Avalon · Family fun
An 18-hole, par-51 course on Sumner Ave across from the library, run by Catalina Island Company for nearly 50 years. It takes about an hour, and Glow Golf uses light-up balls after dark.
🗓️ Daily 9am–9pm (last tee-off an hour before close); Glow Golf Wed–Thu 7–8pm, Fri–Sun 7–9pm
💵 From $15 (2026); Glow Golf at night from $20
Discover Avalon Motor Tour
Avalon · Sightseeing & views
A 7.5-mile narrated motor tour of the beachfront and hillsides with local history — the cheapest way to see town from a seat, which suits little ones and a hot afternoon.
🗓️ Check the booking calendar
💵 From $29.95 (2026)
Catalina Museum for Art & History
Avalon · History & culture
A small museum at 217 Metropole Ave with rotating exhibits on island history — an air-conditioned break, and kids are free with a paid adult ticket.
🗓️ 10am–5pm; closed Mondays Sept–May, open daily June–Labor Day; closed major holidays
💵 $14 adult; $12 seniors/students/military; kids 15 & under free with a paid adult
Catalina's Adventure HQ
Avalon · Adventure & tours
A locally owned hub at 1202 Avalon Canyon Rd (the old Nature Center building) with guided backcountry tours including a family-friendly Picnic Tour, snorkel rental and shuttle service. The former Nature Center no longer operates here.
🗓️ Opened spring 2026; hours not published
💵 See site (prices not verified)
Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden
Avalon · Animal & nature
A garden of cactus and rare island plants leading up to a grand memorial monument, 1.7 miles up Avalon Canyon Rd from the ferry terminal. It's uphill: walk, bike, taxi or golf cart, or take the free round-trip shuttle from the Trailhead Visitor Center with a ticket.
🗓️ Daily 8am–5pm
💵 $13.58 adult; $8.15 child 5–12; under 5 free (2026 — re-confirm)
Airport in the Sky
Avalon
A mountaintop airfield about 10 miles from Avalon with a restaurant known for buffalo burgers and cookies. Reach it on the Conservancy's Wildlands Express (advance reservations required), or by bike or hike. Plan a full half day.
🗓️ Airfield 8am–5pm; restaurant 8–5 in winter, 8–7 in summer
Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center
Two Harbors · Water & beach
Rents kayaks, SUPs, snorkel gear and mountain bikes (with helmet, map and permit) and hands out disc-golf discs; visibility is often 40–100 feet. Cashless.
🗓️ Wed–Sun 8am–4:30pm as of Sept 2026 (check seasonal hours)
💵 Snorkel package $40/24 hr; single kayak/SUP $27/hr; double kayak $39/hr; plus tax and eco fee (2026)
Two Harbors Village
Two Harbors
A tiny, quiet cove village on the island's far end — a mellow, crowd-free alternative for families wanting nature over bustle. Harbor Sands beach club offers palapa and lounge rentals; the Cyclone from Avalon runs May to early October.
🗓️ Visitor Services at the foot of Isthmus Pier open 8am–5pm daily
A perfect day-trip plan
A realistic one-day Avalon itinerary built around the ferry. The golden rule: pick one big-ticket activity, not three.
- 7–8 amCatch an early ferry to maximize the day — watch for dolphins on the crossing.
- 8:30 amArrive in Avalon; grab coffee and a pastry on Crescent Avenue and stroll the waterfront.
- 9 amDo your ONE big pre-booked activity: a glass-bottom boat / semi-sub at Lover's Cove (easy, all ages), the Zip Line Eco Tour or Aerial Adventure (teens), or a Bison Expedition into the interior (wildlife).
- 11 amTour the iconic Catalina Casino — the circular Art Deco ballroom and the 1929 Avalon Theatre.
- 12:30 pmLunch on the bay — Bluewater Avalon or The Lobster Trap, or a quick Eric's buffalo burger / Antonio's pizza slice.
- 1:30 pmBeach and water time at Descanso Beach Club (swim, kayak, SUP) or snorkel the fish-packed Lover's Cove.
- 3 pmEasy add-on: Golf Gardens mini-golf, the Catalina Museum, or the trolley up to the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden.
- 4:30 pmSaltwater taffy and fudge at Lloyd's of Avalon; a Buffalo Milk for the grown-ups on the waterfront.
- 5:30 pmBe at the Mole ~30 min before the last ferry home.
Catalina is absolutely doable as a long day trip — catch an early ferry, pack snorkeling and a tour or two, and head back at dusk. But the early-morning boat and late return make for a big day with little kids, and Avalon gets noticeably calmer and more magical after the day-trippers leave. If your budget allows, one overnight turns a rushed checklist into a relaxed weekend across two unhurried days. Best time: late spring (May–June) and September–October — warm water, sunny skies and thinner crowds than peak summer.
Where to stay (multi-day)
Most Avalon hotels are small, historic, family-run buildings — quaint, but often no elevators, so ask about stairs. Book early for summer and festival weekends.
⛺ Camping & glamping
The only campground inside Avalon city limits (in Avalon Canyon near the Botanic Garden), with tent and gear rentals — the most convenient for first-timers.
A quarter-mile from the village, with sites plus tent cabins sleeping up to 6, BBQs and picnic tables — the best family camping base.
Sunset-praised beachfront sites mid-island — great for beach and water play (cold-water showers).
Remote and primitive (no running water), reached only by a 7-mile hike or a boat from Two Harbors — for experienced backpackers.
Cozy camping cabins with heaters in the village (seasonal), plus private-beach glamping with full-board dining at Camp Catalina.
Tip: Catalina Express and the Catalina Island Company sell hotel + ferry packages that simplify logistics and often save money. Camping needs both a campsite reservation and a ferry/shore-boat booking.
Where to eat
Catalina's signature frothy cocktail (a creamy, banana-and-cacao White Russian), invented at Doug's Harbor Reef in Two Harbors and served all over Avalon. Adults only — many spots do a kid-friendly virgin version.
A beloved, lively local seafood spot with fresh catch — family-friendly.
A bayfront sustainable-seafood restaurant with a patio and harbor views — a good sit-down family lunch.
A ~75-year Avalon institution on the Green Pleasure Pier famous for its buffalo burger — a cheap, easy, kid-friendly bite.
A bayfront pizzeria and deli slinging slices since 1977 — classic family casual.
An old-school confectionery famous for saltwater taffy, fudge and ice cream on homemade waffle cones — a must for kids.
Festivals & annual events
Catalina packs a full calendar into its tiny harbor town. Dates shift yearly — confirm with the organizer.
Traveling with kids? Our Catalina with Kids guide has the family-specific picks. Prices, schedules and dates change — always confirm on official sites before you book.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Catalina Island?
By ferry or helicopter — there are no bridges or rental cars. Catalina Express sails to Avalon from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point (about an hour) and to Two Harbors from San Pedro; the Catalina Flyer runs from Newport Beach (roughly March–November). IEX Helicopters makes the hop from Long Beach or San Pedro in about 15 minutes for a splurge. Book ferries well ahead in summer.
Can you do Catalina as a day trip?
Yes — catch an early ferry, pick one marquee activity plus the Casino, add beach time, and head back at dusk. It's a big day with little kids, though, and Avalon gets calmer and more magical after the day-trippers leave, so one overnight turns a rushed checklist into a relaxed weekend. See our suggested day-trip itinerary above.
When is the best time to visit Catalina?
Late spring (late April–May) and especially fall (September–October) are the sweet spot: warm, sunny, the warmest water for snorkeling, and far fewer crowds than peak summer. Summer is busiest and priciest; winter is quiet and cheap with whale watching but reduced hours. Note 'June Gloom' grays over May–June mornings before clearing by afternoon.
What is the Catalina Wine Mixer — is it real?
Yes! Made famous as a fictional event in the movie Step Brothers, it became a real festival in 2015 and now runs each year (around late May) at Descanso Beach Club — a two-day wine-and-music party, with a Step Brothers screening at the Avalon Theatre. There is no separate 'Catalina Wine Festival' — the Wine Mixer is it.
Are there really bison on Catalina?
Yes — about 14 American bison were brought over in 1924 for a film and left behind; the herd is now managed at a sustainable size (roughly 80–150 animals) in the protected interior. You'll most reliably see them on a Bison Expedition Hummer tour or a Conservancy eco-tour, rarely near Avalon itself.