Most people I talk to know about Catalina Island. But what you may not know is that Avalon, its only incorporated city, offers a charming seaside escape full of Mediterranean vibes, scenic boat rides, and a unique island culture all its own.
Just 22 miles off the Southern California coast, you’ll find this postcard-worthy harbor town waiting to charm you. I was instantly drawn in by the turquoise waters, the laid-back vibe, and the fact that everyone zips around in golf carts instead of cars. If you’re craving a blend of seaside elegance, outdoor adventure, and pure relaxation, I think you’ll fall in love with Avalon like I did.
Avalon, CA Highlights:
- For Adventurous Travelers: Zip line across Descanso Canyon – I still remember the rush as I soared over eucalyptus trees with the ocean glistening below. If you’re into adrenaline, you’ll want to give this a try.
- For History Buffs: Tour the iconic Catalina Casino – Don’t let the name fool you—there’s no gambling here. I took the tour and was blown away by the Art Deco details and views from the theater. You’ll get a real sense of the island’s golden-era glamour.
- For Couples: Relax at Descanso Beach Club – When I visited with my partner, we lounged in a private cabana, sipped cocktails on the sand, and watched the waves roll in. You’ll find it hard to leave.
- For Families: Explore the Catalina Island Museum – I spent an afternoon here learning about everything from the island’s native people to its Hollywood connections. If you're visiting with kids or just curious like me, you’ll enjoy the exhibits.
- For Nature Lovers: Snorkel at Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve – I brought my snorkel gear and swam through crystal-clear waters filled with vibrant fish. You should definitely add this to your list if you love marine life.
Best Time to Visit Avalon, CA
I’ve visited Avalon in both spring and fall, and I always appreciate the mild weather and fewer crowds. If you go between March and October, you’ll enjoy the island at its best. Summer’s great for beach days and lively events, but if you want a peaceful escape, I’d suggest winter too—hotels are more affordable, and you’ll have those gorgeous views all to yourself.
How to Get to Avalon, CA
- By Ferry: I usually take the Catalina Express from Long Beach—it’s about an hour, smooth and scenic. You’ll love arriving by sea with Avalon’s harbor coming into view.
- By Helicopter: I once splurged on a flight with IEX Helicopters, and it was unreal. If you want to arrive in just 15 minutes with panoramic views, you’ll want to book it at least once.
- By Private Boat: I’ve had friends sail over and anchor in Avalon Harbor—it’s a beautiful way to experience the island. If you’ve got a boat, you should definitely go that route and reserve a mooring ahead.
Where to Stay in Avalon, CA
- Recommended for Families: Hotel Atwater – I stayed here with relatives and found it modern, clean, and super close to the beach. You’ll love the extra touches like complimentary snacks and beach gear.
- For Couples: Mt Ada – This former Wrigley Mansion turned inn is one of the most romantic places I’ve ever stayed. You’ll enjoy gourmet meals, private terraces, and jaw-dropping views of Avalon Bay.
- For Budget Travelers: Hermosa Hotel – If you’re like me and want something casual and close to everything, this is a great pick. You’ll save money and still be steps from the beach and great restaurants.
Best Things to Do in Avalon, CA
Catalina Island Conservancy
The interior of Catalina felt like another world—wilder and more open than I imagined. I walked beneath soaring ridgelines, caught glimpses of bison, and stood still enough to hear hawks ride the wind. The Conservancy didn’t just protect the island’s wild spaces—it invited me into them. I remember thinking, "This island keeps its best secrets just far enough from the harbor."
What I Loved Most: Riding through backcountry trails on a quiet eco-tour and learning how native plants are slowly coming back.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: In Avalon
- Vibe: Conservation-focused, educational, scenic
- Highlights: Nature center, guided eco tours, trail access
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall for wildflowers and cooler hikes
- Don’t Miss: Eco-tour into the island’s interior
- Cost: Free (some tours $60–$90)
- Hours: Daily, 9am–5pm
Right after I enjoyed... A nature-filled lunch at Café Metropole, a fresh, eco-conscious café in Avalon. I had a grilled veggie grain bowl with lemon tahini dressing and a hibiscus iced tea. After learning about Catalina’s restoration efforts, this plant-forward meal felt like a perfect extension of the Conservancy’s mission—simple, sustainable, and satisfying.
Catalina Island Museum
Just off the main drag in Avalon, I found a space filled with memory—of island life, native roots, and Hollywood glamour. The museum held it all with care, room by room. I remember thinking, "Even a tiny island can carry centuries of stories when you take time to listen."
What I Loved Most: Seeing black-and-white photos of early Catalina and the Wrigley exhibits that made the past feel personal.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: In Avalon
- Vibe: Cultural, historical, artistic
- Highlights: Island history, local art, Wrigley family exhibits
- Best Time to Visit: Year-round
- Don’t Miss: Wrigley’s legacy and seasonal exhibitions
- Cost: $20 adults, $17 seniors, $10 students/children
- Hours: Daily, 10am–5pm
Address: P.O. Box 366, Avalon, CA 90704, Phone: 310-510-2414
My highlight? The relaxing art break at CC Gallagher, just steps from the museum. I sipped a lavender honey latte and nibbled on a slice of matcha cheesecake while flipping through art books. With gallery energy still lingering and Catalina history fresh in my mind, it was the ideal spot to pause and soak it all in.
Catalina Island Company
Catalina Island Company offered a different kind of wild—a curated one. From beachfront lounges to guided zipline tours, it was luxury folded into nature. I remember thinking, "It’s possible to explore and unwind in the same breath."
What I Loved Most: Lounging in a cabana with a cocktail after a morning of ziplining above canyons.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: In Avalon
- Vibe: Resort-style, upscale, leisure-focused
- Highlights: Hotels, tours, Descanso Beach Club access
- Best Time to Visit: Summer or early fall for full resort offerings
- Don’t Miss: Zip Line Eco Tour and beachfront cabanas
- Cost: Varies by service (tours $40–$130)
- Hours: Daily, 9am–6pm
Address: 150 Metropole Ave, Avalon, CA 90704, Phone: 310-510-2000
Airport in the Sky
High above Catalina, I arrived at the Airport in the Sky...where the landing strip touches the clouds and history lingers in the breeze. Built by William Wrigley Jr. in the 1940s, it once welcomed commercial flights and served as a WWII training base. Today, it’s quieter—home to private pilots, freight deliveries, and the kind of visitors who come not just for the views, but for the buffalo burgers. I remember thinking, "This place was built for landings, but it feels more like an escape."
What I Loved Most: Eating a bison burger at the DC-3 Grill while watching a plane touch down against a backdrop of endless sky.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: ~30 minutes inland from Avalon (via shuttle or tour)
- Vibe: Remote, panoramic, nostalgic
- Highlights: Airport café, aviation history, sky-high views
- Best Time to Visit: Midday for clear views and lunch stop
- Don’t Miss: DC-3 Grill and the Wildlands Express scenic ride
- Cost: Free to visit; shuttle $27 round trip
- Hours: Daily, 8am–4:30pm
Address: 1 Airport Rd, Avalon, CA 90704, Phone: 310-510-1445
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
Journey Catalina
Journey Catalina wasn’t just a tour—it felt like getting let in on the island’s best-kept secrets. In a six-passenger Jeep with the wind in my hair, I bumped along dirt roads to places you can’t reach without local know-how: Two Harbors, Airport in the Sky, Rancho Escondido. I learned the land’s stories from a family that’s been doing this for over 20 years. I remember thinking, "The deeper you go into the island, the more it gives you back."
What I Loved Most: Taking in the ridge views above Rusack Vineyard and hearing how the land has been cared for by generations of locals.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: Operates from Avalon
- Vibe: Active, guided, immersive
- Highlights: Private hikes, jeep eco tours, stargazing, Two Harbors, Airport in the Sky
- Best Time to Visit: Morning for hiking or evening for stars
- Don’t Miss: Custom Jeep tour with vineyard overlook
- Cost: $60–$120 per person depending on activity
- Hours: Tours by appointment (typically 8am–6pm)
- More Info: Journey Catalina
Address: 228 Metropole Ave, P.O. Box 2141, Avalon, CA 90704, Phone: 310-510-0342
Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden
Stone steps rose toward the sky, flanked by cacti and desert blooms. The memorial stood proud and quiet, surrounded by native plants that whispered old stories. I remember thinking, "Beauty doesn’t always bloom where it’s easy—it often waits at the top."
What I Loved Most: The moment I turned around halfway up and saw Avalon framed in soft coastal haze.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: ~30-minute walk or 10-minute shuttle from Avalon
- Vibe: Botanical, architectural, peaceful
- Highlights: Native plant garden, Art Deco memorial, ocean views
- Best Time to Visit: Spring for blooming desert flora
- Don’t Miss: Climbing to the top of the memorial tower
- Cost: $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, children free
- Hours: Daily, 8am–5pm
Address: Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, 1402 Avalon Cyn Rd, Avalon, CA 90704, Phone: 310-510-2897
My highlight? The peaceful snack break after the garden walk. I picked up a locally made lemon bar and chilled prickly pear soda at the nearby café. Sitting on a shaded bench surrounded by succulents, with views of the stone memorial rising above, I felt completely in tune with the natural beauty around me.
Bluewater Avalon Seafood Restaurant
I sat just above the tide, the air salted with sea and citrus. Each bite felt at Bluewater Avalon Seafood Restaurant like part of the harbor—fresh, lively, unhurried. I remember thinking, "This is what dining with a view is supposed to feel like—unfiltered, flavorful, real."
What I Loved Most: The cioppino, the breeze, and watching boats bob as twilight crept in.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: On the waterfront in Avalon
- Vibe: Coastal, fresh, relaxing
- Highlights: Sea-to-table seafood, harbor views
- Best Time to Visit: Lunch or sunset dinner
- Don’t Miss: Cioppino and outdoor harbor seating
- Cost: $25–$45 per entrée
- Hours: Daily, 11am–9pm
Address: 306 Crescent Ave, P.O. Box 1890, Avalon, CA 90704, Phone: 310-510-3474
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
Hermit Gulch Trail Loop
The climb tested me, switchback after switchback, but the reward was silence and sky. Hermit Gulch offered solitude in wide-angle. The island fell away behind me like a painting. I remember thinking, "Sometimes the best views make you earn them—step by step."
What I Loved Most: That feeling at the summit: legs burning, heart light, eyes wide.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: Hermit Gulch Trail Loop Trailhead near Avalon campground
- Vibe: Challenging, panoramic, natural
- Highlights: Scenic ridge trail, native plants, island views
- Best Time to Visit: Morning or late afternoon for cooler temps
- Don’t Miss: The loop’s peak view over Avalon and the ocean
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset
Address: 125 Claressa Avenue, Avalon, CA 90704
The Green Pleasure Pier
The pier was a patchwork of color and motion—kids licking ice cream, boats bobbing, fishers casting lines. It pulsed with life but never felt rushed. I remember thinking, "This might be the only place where doing nothing feels this good."
What I Loved Most: Watching glass-bottom boats glide out as the sun turned the water gold.
Plan your day trip:
- Drive Time: Central Avalon harbor
- Vibe: Historic, lively, colorful
- Highlights: Boat rentals, tours, ice cream, people-watching
- Best Time to Visit: Midday to evening
- Don’t Miss: Glass-bottom boat tour and sunset from the dock
- Cost: Free to walk; tours $20–$40
- Hours: Shops/tours 9am–8pm; open access all day
Address: 1 Green Pleasure Pier, Avalon, CA 90704
My highlight? The classic island lunch at Eric’s On The Pier. I had the fish and chips with tartar sauce and a fountain soda in a paper cup. Seagulls called, waves lapped gently, and kids laughed while fishing nearby. It was nostalgic, no-frills, and everything a pier-side meal should be.
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