Location: Avalon, Catalina Island, CA
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Hey AV explorers, Thomas here – if you’ve been telling yourself for years that you need to finally get to Catalina Island, this is your month. Just 22 miles off the coast but feeling like a completely different world, Catalina is one of the most unique day trips in all of Southern California – no traffic, no freeways, clear blue water, a charming harbor town, and more activities than you can fit into a single day. From the Antelope Valley, you’re about 1.5 hours to the terminal, one hour on the boat, and then you step off onto an island that makes you forget the mainland exists.
The Catalina Express runs year-round with up to 30 daily departures from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point. Round-trip fares run approximately $90 per person from San Pedro or Long Beach, with terminal parking at $20 per day. Book at catalinaexpress.com well in advance – summer weekend departures fill up fast.
Avalon is clean, safe, and quintessential beach town – laid back but packed with places to eat, drink, shop, and explore with very few cars on the streets. The centerpiece is the Catalina Casino, a stunning 1929 Art Deco landmark with a grand ballroom and beautifully restored movie theater – tours run daily and are worth every minute. For adventure, the Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour drops you 600 feet over Descanso Canyon across five lines with Pacific views – the island’s most popular tour, so book ahead at visitcatalinaisland.com.
For something more relaxed, Lover’s Cove is a protected marine preserve where snorkeling among garibaldi, kelp, and sea bass in crystal-clear water is as easy as wading in from the beach. And don’t miss the island’s most surreal claim to fame: in the 1920s, 14 bison were brought to Catalina for a film shoot and never removed – their descendants still roam the interior today, and open-air Hummer bison expeditions run daily from Avalon.
Making it a Full Day:
Plan an early morning departure – the first ferry from San Pedro typically leaves around 6–7 AM, getting you to Avalon by mid-morning with a full day ahead. Walk five minutes from the dock into downtown Avalon and start with the harbor promenade along Crescent Avenue – the views of the bay with the Casino in the background are best in the morning light. Rent a golf cart from Island Rentals or Cartopia near the ferry terminal to explore Avalon’s hillside streets, overlooks, and the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden at your own pace.
Mid-morning is the perfect time for your zip line, snorkel tour, or Hummer bison expedition – have your activity reservations locked in before you arrive so you’re not scrambling. Grab lunch at one of Avalon’s waterfront restaurants along Crescent Avenue – Steve’s Steakhouse for fresh seafood and harbor views, or Avalon Grille for a classic island meal on the patio. Before you leave, pick up some of Catalina’s famous hand-pulled saltwater taffy and locally made fudge from the shops along the waterfront. Last ferries back to the mainland typically depart Avalon around 5:30–6 PM, so keep an eye on your return sailing time.
Thomas’s Local Tips:
- 🎟️ Book everything before you leave the AV – Ferry tickets sell out days in advance in summer, and the zip line is the single most sold-out activity on the island. Lock in your ferry, return sailing, and any tours at least a week ahead.
- 🚗 San Pedro is your closest terminal – Take the 14 South to the 5 South and follow Harbor Blvd to the Catalina Sea and Air Terminal. Plan to arrive 45 minutes before departure.
- 🐬 Sit on the upper deck for the crossing – On a clear day you’ll get coastline views and, if you’re lucky, dolphins alongside the boat. The first view of Avalon from the water is one you’ll want to photograph.
- 🎬The bison are the island’s best-kept secret – Catalina’s American bison are descendants of animals left behind by a movie crew in the 1920s, found nowhere else on Earth. If you only have time for one tour, make it the open-air Hummer bison expedition – it covers terrain no golf cart or hiker can reach.
Nature’s calling, it’s time to pick up… See you out there!
