Santa Catalina Island

Looking for a memorable California vacation? Want to spend the day on a island that makes you feel as if you’re on a European vacation but in reality, you’re just off the coast of Southern California?!?! If you say no, we all know you’re lying through your teeth! And if you said yes then hop on the Catalina Express and head to Santa Catalina Island.

How to Get to Catalina Island

Catalina Island is part of the Channel Islands located southwest of Los Angeles. It’s 22 miles from mainland California. You can take a ferry to the island from a variety of location in Southern California including Long Beach, Newport Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point.

The ferry takes about an hour, depending on water and weather conditions. The boat can drop you off at one of the two communities on Catalina Island. Either the city to the south known as Avalon, which has less than 4,000 residents. Or the more rugged village of Twin Harbors, to the north, with a population of 400. We opted to visit Avalon, which is roughly 1 square mile of city!

What to Do on Catalina Island

Food and Activities

I started my day by visiting Catalina Coffee and Cookie Co. With a belly full of my delicious treats and coffee at Catalina Coffee and Cookie Co., I decided it was time to get some exercise in. Golf cart or bike rental were my options. I figured bike rental was the way to go. A bit more of an exercise and a great way to explore the beautiful island. I headed to Brown’s Bike to rent bikes for two hours.

Insider Tip: They have different bike options to choose from. Beach cruiser, tandem bike, mountain bike, and electric bike. I went with the beach cruiser and headed out with my map in head to explore more of Catalina Island!

The first stop I made on my adorable beach cruise was the Catalina Island Conservancy. Here I purchased my admission to the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. And selected a Hiking Catalina Map.

The Catalina Island Conservancy was founded in 1972 and their mission is to educate visitors to the island and also conserve the land. They have programs that help to protect and restore endangered species and threatened habitats. They also provide visitors with recreational activities like hiking, camping, and Jeep Eco Tours.

Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden

After the short visit it was time to head to the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. We took the bikes up the Avalon Canyon Road to start our adventure.

Insider Tip: It was roughly a 2-mile ride from the Conservancy to reach the entrance to the memorial and gardens.

Once at the front gates I decided to explore the lovely Botanical Garden for a bit. Then it was on to the short hike up to the Wrigley Memorial. The memorial was completed in 1934 and is to honor William Wrigley Jr. When constructing the memorial, a lot of Catalina’s natural resources were used from local stone in the concrete construction to the red terra cotta used in the roofing.

Then it was time for a short hike. I had heard a lot of good things about the Garden to Sky Hike and it’s starting point was very close to the Wrigley Monument. It’s a very popular hike on Catalina Island. You can access the trailhead just to the right of the memorial. It’s a short hike at 2.4 miles out and back but it boasts beautiful views with Avalon looking so small in the distance. The elevation gain is about 650 ft and the hike is ranked as moderate. There is a steady gain throughout. And I found a ton of beautiful wildflowers on the trail!

Llyod’s of Avalon

We returned our bikes, roamed the city, purchased some souvenirs, then finished the day with a final treat…ice cream! It is said that Marilyn Monroe liked to visit Llyod’s for their candies and treats. So I sat by the beach, looking out at the ocean and enjoyed my treat. What an amazing day spent on a beautiful island.

Catalina Island Tips

• Looking for deals? Off season is generally November to March. Hotels can be up to 60% during this time period.
• Thing to do on Catalina Island.
• Day Trip to Avalon brought to you by California Thru My Lens
• Camping Catalina
• More fun adventures in California

Catalina Island Fun Facts

• The Chicago Cubs held their Spring training on Catalina Island from 1921-1951.
• Catalina has been used as a film location over 500 times.
• Marilyn Monroe lived on the island for a year.
• Catalina Island is 21 miles long and 8 miles wide
• The island is home to the Catalina Island Fox, who is the smallest fox in North America and can only be found on the island.
• There are roughly 150 bison roaming the island. And you can take a tour to find them! Check it out here. 

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Enjoy your day on Catalina Island. Adventure awaits!