How to Plan a Vacation to Catalina Island

Avalon Bay, Catalina Island

Catalina Island, California’s only island resort, is a popular vacation spot, offering golf, kayaking, shopping, camping, boating, beaches, fishing and sightseeing. Located just 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, the island can be reached by ferry, helicopter or private plane. Its Mediterranean climate and clear waters make it a favorite of snorkelers and scuba divers. Catalina Island offers a variety of accommodation choices to satisfy visitors looking for quick overnight trips and vacationers planning a leisurely stay on the island.

Instructions

1. Decide when you will visit. Summers are a little warmer than winters, with temperatures reaching up to 75 degrees F in summer and up to 65 degrees F in winter. Nights are slightly cooler no matter what the season.

2. Select a transportation option. Ferries to Catalina Island depart from Dana Point, Newport Beach, Long Beach, San Pedro and Marina Del Rey and take between 60 to 90 minutes to reach the island, depending on the speed of the ferry. The island can also be reached in about fifteen minutes by helicopter or private plane. A complete listing of transportation options is included in the Catalina Island website mentioned in the Resources section of this article.

3. Choose your accommodations in Avalon, Catalina Island’s only city. The city offers a variety of bed and breakfasts, hotels and condo rentals to fit any budget. Packages are available featuring boat transportation, hotel accommodations and tours of the island. A listing of accommodations is included in the Catalina Island website.

4. Try tent camping at Blackjack, Little Harbor, Parson’s Landing, Two Harbors or Hermit Gulch campgrounds. Two Harbors and Hermit Gulch offer tent cabins for rent. The tent cabins are furnished with cots, propane lanterns and propane stoves. You can also rent tents and propane lanterns and stove at most campgrounds. Toilets at the campgrounds are either flush or chemical types. There are showers at every campground except Parson's Landing, a primitive campground that does not have a water supply.

5. Pick a water activity. A number of dive shops on the island can outfit you for scuba diving or snorkeling and most also offer lessons and instructor-led dives. Island Enterprises, Inc. offers glass bottom boat tours and underwater tours in its semi-submersible submarine. Boat and kayak rentals are also available.

6. See the island sights. Go golfing at Catalina Island Visitors Golf Course or explore the hills of Avalon on a rental bicycle. Visit Carolina Stables and take a guided horseback ride through the island’s mountains. Enjoy the many shopping and dining opportunities on the island, then tour the Catalina museum.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don’t relish the idea of climbing Catalina Island’s hills, rent a golf cart in Avalon. Due to island restrictions, only residents can drive cars, but visitors can get around just fine with a golf cart.

• Don’t wait until the last minute to make hotel reservations, particularly during the busy summer season, or you may find yourself without a place to stay.

Resources

• Catalina Island
• Catalina Chamber of Commerce