Things to Do in Avalon, Santa Catalina Island
This is the island’s only incorporated city! I thought it was very charming, with its Mediterranean-style architecture, colorful hillside houses, quaint shops, seafood restaurants, beachside bars, and a really stunning location right on the crescent-shaped Avalon Bay surrounded by dramatic hills. To me, it felt both laid-back and sophisticated at the same time, with a mix of beach vibes and small-town elegance!
We took the ferry about one hour from Long Beach (22 miles, $41–$47 one way on Catalina Express) to Avalon (population around 3,500), the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island. Long a resort getaway since the early 20th century, Avalon’s centerpiece is the Catalina Casino (built 1929, not a gambling hall but a theater and ballroom, $19 guided tours).
We strolled along the Mediterranean-style waterfront, visited the Catalina Island Museum ($18), and lingered in seaside cafés. We stayed at the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel for three days, a boutique historic property perched above the harbor with terraces and ocean views ($295). I’m a huge fan and here are my favorite spots I’d love to share with you.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 exploring the 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
4. 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:
5. 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
6. 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.
7. 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:
8. 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
9. 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.
Conclusion
What I love most about Avalon is how compact yet full of life it is. I can spend a morning snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, an afternoon exploring the charming shops and restaurants downtown, and an evening watching the sunset with some of the best views in Southern California. It’s the kind of place where everything feels easy, relaxing, and special all at once.
Whether I’m exploring the Catalina Casino, renting a golf cart to cruise around town, or finding an underrated hiking trail that quickly becomes one of my favorite adventures, Avalon always gives me the best mix of fun and relaxation. For me, it’s one of the most unique destinations because it combines natural beauty with that laid-back island vibe.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, buy the America the Beautiful Pass.
