Catalina: Your Island Paradise
Avalon is located on Santa Catalina Island, just 24 miles off the coast of Los Angeles; yet it seems like you're a million miles away. Avalon is 1 square mile and is the only town on the island. Year round population is about 3500, but it can swell to nearly 20,000 on a busy summer weekend. The interior of the island is unspoiled and closed to any new development. Tours can take you into the interior, or you can hike the interior.
Here are some useful websites & phone numbers:
Chamber: www.catalinachamber.com 310-510-1520
Discovery Tours: www.visitcatalinaisland.com 310-510-8687
Adventure Tours: www.catalinaadventuretours.com
Boat Transportation: www.catalinaexpress.com 310-519-1212
Helicopter Service: www.islandexpress.com 310-510-2525
Things To Do In Catalina
(NOTE: Some of these things are seasonal and may be closed or have limited hours during the off-season)
- Rent a golf cart. It's the number one attraction and you
get a good overview of the city with some great views
of the harbor
- Play a round of golf (We have clubs downstairs)
- Go on one of the many Catalina Island tours:
The 4 hr. Inland Motor Tour, where you might see buffalo;
the Glass Bottom boats; the Skyline City tour; Seal Rock
tour, etc
- Go parasailing (Ticket booth next door)
- Lounge in the sun on our great deck
- Go on an ocean rafting tour with snorkeling and
dolphins (Located downstairs)
www.catalinaoceanrafting.com 310-510-0211
- Go scuba diving. Catalina's waters are crystal clear!
- Go to the movies at the famous Casino; it's worth it.
- Go on a behind the scenes tour of the Casino and ballroom
- Walk, walk, walk. Everything's within walking distance. You
can check out all the houses on the hills, or walk main
(Crescent) for all your shopping needs. If the walking
wears you out, a good option is the Catalina Trolley,
which will bus you around town for $1.50 per destination;
or about $6 for an all day pass
- Visit the Catalina Museum located below the Casino
- Rent a paddle board or kayak and ease thru the harbor
admiring all the boats
- Grab a cold drink, sit down on our deck, and relax -
you're in paradise
- Rent a motor boat on the pier and go fishing or head a
few miles up the coast (Seasonal)
- Rent jet ski's; located downstairs (Seasonal)
- BBQ on the deck while watching the sun set over Avalon
- Go snorkeling or swimming at Lover's Cove (250 yds from
where the boats come in). Bring a loaf of bread and have
dozens of fish eat right out of your hand!
- Go up the canyon to the Wrigley Memorial and the Botanical
Gardens (Take the trolley up & walk back down into town)
- Play a round of miniature golf
- Get your fortune told by a psychic (Located downstairs)
- Play basketball or volleyball right across from our place
- Visit the 3 art galleries
- Get a massage on the beach
- Play bingo on the beach (Seasonal)
- Go swimming in the clear, calm waters
- Go to the arcade for video games and skeeball bowling
- Go jogging along the ocean
Hiking & Great Walks
- For a brisk workout or a hearty walk, leave our place and
take a left at Gallagher's (100 ft from us) and then left
again at the next street and then a quick right on
Clemente. Halfway up the street turn left on the road
going up and follow it to the top where the Inn at Mount
Ada is (Wrigley's former estate). You'll be rewarded with
some fantastic views of Avalon. (@50-55 min)
- The walk to the Chimes Tower. Walk main street (Crescent)
to the end and veer left up the hill (rather than heading out
to the Casino). You'll see a series of stairs. Take them to
the top, pausing to look down on the Yacht Club and
Avalon harbor. At the end, take the sidewalk up and
around to the right, passing the Zane Grey Pueblo (Former
home of famous western novelist). Just past that is the
Chimes Tower, which play every 15 minutes 8 AM -8 PM.
Try to catch it when it strikes on the hour. Continue 200
yards past that and you'll have a great view for miles up
the coastline and onto Descanso Beach below.
Retrace your steps back home, or for a good workout,
continue up around the hill on the paved
road, and eventually you'll walk back down into town. (Walk
up to Chimes: 20-25 minutes. Walk around mountain: 40
minutes additional).
- Walk (or take the Catalina Trolley for $1.50) about 1.5 miles
up from the center of town, past the horse stables, to the
Wrigley Memorial. Enjoy the Botanical Gardens and the
impressive mausoleum (Entrance fee required) and then at
the base of the memorial, go thru the gate on the right and
walk up the dirt road to the top of the mountain for a rare
view of the other side of the island. (Walk to Memorial
@35-40 minutes. Dirt road from Memorial to the top; about
35 minutes). Serious walkers can then walk along the
mountain ridgeline for miles before returning back to town.
(Get a permit first).
Fun & Casual Eating
- Casino Dock Cafe, at the base of the Casino offers burgers,
fish tacos and cocktails with a great waterfront setting,
often with live music on summer weekends.
- Descanso Beach, a 5 minute walk past the Casino, has
something for everyone: paddleboard and kayak rentals,
a fine pebble beach, a huge grass area with volleyball
court, thatched palapas and a lively bar. Good burgers,
salads and nachos. Live music on many summer weekends.
- Antonio's Pizza. Good pizza and atmosphere.
- The Sand Trap. located below the golf course, offers
outdoor patio dining of breakfast, burgers and tacos, plus
a full bar.
- Eric's on the Pier is perfect for a burger and a beer while
you sit on barstools and have a front row seat for people
watching.
- The Busy Bee on front street offers both waterfront and
street front views for family breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Dinner
- Armtrong's. Great for fish. Right on the water overlooking
the harbor.
- Villa Portofino. At the end of front street. Upscale dining.
- Steve's Steak House. Great choice for dinner. On main
street, upstairs with views.
- El Galleon. Try your hand at karaoke with your good meal.
- For a different treat, walk up to the Country Club and have
a great lunch on the patio or a fine dinner in their elegant
dining room. Pop into the bar for a drink and look at the
old sports and celebrity pictures.
- Eat where the locals do at the Buffalo Nickel. It's a
wonderful 20 minute walk outside of town along the
ocean (Or if you prefer, call them and their shuttle will
pick you up and drive you back to our house!). Good
sized portions and good prices.
- The Cottage Restaurant. Cozy and attractive restaurant
serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Located just 50 yards
from our place.
- Mr Ming's Chinese for a change of pace. Located in the
middle of town 1/2 block up from front street. Great for
take out to enjoy on our deck.
- Mi Casita for Mexican food and margaritas.
