A Day on Catalina Island, Southern California
Catalina Island is a treasure waiting just off the coast of Los Angeles. 🏝️ The moment you step onto the island, it feels like summer has arrived! 👙 The entire island exudes a wonderfully relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for a day trip or even an overnight escape.
Your Day Trip Itinerary
Getting There
You can book your ferry tickets to the island conveniently through the Catalina Express website. 🚢 We traveled from Long Beach to Avalon and returned from Avalon to Long Beach. The journey across the water takes about an hour. 🏝️
If you're driving to the ferry terminal, there are parking lots available at Long Beach. 🚗
Exploring the Island
Once you arrive, consider renting a golf cart to explore some of the island's iconic photo spots. 📷 Remember, they primarily accept cash, and you'll need a valid driver's license and be at least 25 years old to rent. 🪪
Renting a bicycle is also an option and is considerably cheaper. However, I wouldn't recommend it, as the hills are quite steep. Seeing others pushing their bikes uphill looked quite strenuous! 😂
If you're up for a bit of hiking, 🚶 that's also a great way to see the island, as some of the picturesque viewpoints aren't too far to walk to.
Picture-Perfect Spots
- Catalina Casino
- Catalina Chimes Tower
- Buena Vista Point Scenic Overlook
- 3 Palms Scenic Overlook
- Avalon town
Honestly, so many places on the island are beautiful that you can capture stunning shots anywhere. I even brought my camera but ended up using my phone and the Dazz app for most of my photos, which turned out wonderfully. 👀
Delicious Dining
Bluewater Avalon is a very popular restaurant on the island with fantastic ocean views. 🌊 You can snag a seat at one of the outdoor tables right by the water. I highly recommend trying the scallops 🐚; they were truly delicious and unlike anything I've tasted elsewhere. The other dishes were generally good.
Scoops is a bustling ice cream shop. 🍧 I chose three scoops, and the portion size was enormous – it felt like I could eat ice cream forever! 😂 The flavors tend to be on the sweeter side.
If you decide to stay overnight, Catalina Island offers even more activities like kayaking 🚣, taking a jeep tour to see bison 🦬, snorkeling 🤿, exploring underwater life on a submarine 🐟, parasailing 🪂, and zip-lining. It's wise to book these in advance! 📧
