Catalina?
 

Hi, everyone - we're thinking of taking a trip to Catalina. If you've been, did you enjoy it? What are some of your favorite activities there? Favorite restaurants? Any good tours to do? Thinking maybe September for our visit. Also what's the best way to get there? Thanks for any guidance you can give me.

>> If you've been, did you enjoy it? <<

Very very much. September is a great time.

>>Also what's the best way to get there? Thanks for any guidance you can give me.<<

I like to take the helicopter one way (15 mins) and the Catalina Express ferry the other (about an hour).

A tour of the Casino (not a casino) is fun, and the flying fish boat trip . . . More later. Heading out for a while . . .

Explore the Wrigley Garden

Walk around the point to the Descano Beach Club for lunch on the beach. https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/...nso-beach-club

Rent a kayak

Just kick bac and enjoy :)

Thanks, janis! I'm curious about both the casino not a casino and the flying fish boat trip - sounds fun!

Here is info:

https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/...atalina-casino

And re the flying fish - I think they may stop around Labor day so your trip may be too late. But not sure about that.

That's so cool. Yes, we would probably go mid September, so I'll have to check on that. The restaurant looks great too. Love anything on the beach. Those fish tacos and cocktails are calling my name. The garden reminds me a little bit of the one in Balboa Park.

About how many days would you recommend spending there? Any favorite hotels? Thanks for all the suggestions!

I live in Southern California and I LOVE Catalina!
If you’re able rent a wet suit and snorkel. The visibility and sea life are world class, but the water is damn cold so a short wetsuit is nice.
Rent a golf cart for a few hours and explore the town and surrounding hills. There are views reminiscent of The Amalfi Coast.
Take the Casino tour and see the gorgeous theatre and huge wooden dance floor where all the big names performed.
Cubs fans will have to read up on their history with Wrigley and the island.
Take an inland tour if you’re not afraid of narrow mountain roads or buffalo
Visit the fried seafood shack on the pier ,do not dip your fries in the tartar sauce.

I LO-O-O-O-OVE Catalina, just because it's such a fun step back in time away from the hustle and bustle of home (Long Beach). September is the month of the absolutely BEST weather in southern California IMHO (we go a lot in October for my mother-in-law's birthday, and the weather is STILL delightful), so your timing is generally spot-on. If you're just doing a day trip, get on the first Catalina Express (when I go I don't want to rush anything), plan on taking the last one home; it leaves from downtown Long Beach, parking is plentiful, but the ferries get VERY packed with day-trippers and scuba divers and fishermen/women. A nice thing about the ferries: BAR. Have yourself a Bloody Mary with a pickled green bean stirrer.

The inland tours are wonderful. But just walking around in Avalon can be a hoot. There's a primitive old miniature golf course that is one of my favorite things to do when I'm there; we cheat and are proud of it. Descanso Beach Club is wonderful for a round or two of drinks and snacks with views.

One commandment of visiting Catalina reads:

Thou shall not visit Avalon for the gourmet dining.

However, for dinner I can recommend Bluewater Grill very highly-- fresh fish and great views. For breakfast, the Pancake Cottage is quite good, as is the Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co. I also love Maggie's Blue Rose for Mexican. El Galleón is a bar and grill with cheap, solid food, strong drinks and, in the evenings, some of the most gruesome karaoke you'll see in our area. Fun fun fun!

Really, Catalina is all about chilling out and enjoying the natural beauty of the island. Enjoy!!!

Thanks, logan! That all sounds amazing. We love seafood. Love wildlife; we go to Costa Rica all the time, so seeing some wildlife would be very cool to us.

r, I'm so happy September would be a good time to go. For some places, everything seems to shut down after Labor Day. Love all your suggestions too. We're down with the casual seafood - anything open air or with a view makes me super happy.

We definitely want to stay for a few days, maybe like a long weekend? Three or four nights? Sounds like there's plenty to keep us busy and to just have time to relax and enjoy it.

So it's best to leave from Long Beach?

The Catalina Express from Long Beach is the easiest. The boats are big and fast,keep an eye out for dolphins. Most of the time it’s a smooth trip.
We rent a condo for a few days. It’s very quiet and relaxing at night after day tourists leave.
Lots of dining and some indulgent breakfast places and a small supermarket for necessities.
There is a nice tour office on the Main Street where you can book various tours. I enjoyed the inland trip to the airport.

You can also catch ferries to Catalina from San Pedro, Newport Beach and Dana Point. Long Beach is most convenient for me, which, let's face it, is all that matters.

Just kidding.

I like the idea of finding a short-term condo rental; there should be links for such properties on the Catalina Chamber of Commerce or other tourism websites. There aren't a lot of hotels there; the last time I stayed in one, it was the pre-renovation Hotel Macrae-- and it was VERY, er, rustic (clean but VERY well-worn). Word is that the hotel is much nicer now. In general hotels are quite expensive, so be warned; I don't have specific recommendations.

The Vons (our Safeway supermarket chain) on Metropole is basically the only market in Avalon; it's small, but has the essentials. If you have dietary restrictions or very specific food items you will require, buy them on the mainland and schlep them on the ferry (ice chest, insulated bags, etc.). Don't worry, everyone else will have bags of supplies on the boat. You can find lots of outdoor activities, but little in the way of Fab Glamorous stuff; it's just a simpler place to unwind and relax. I wish I was going there now...!

>> it was the pre-renovation Hotel Macrae--- and it was VERY, er, rustic (clean but VERY well-worn)<<

Has it been renovated? I stayed there pre-reno too and really liked it. Rustic is one way of putting it ;)

Probably a lot more expensive if its been re-done..

A trip report from a few years back when they had the free birthday promo (no longer).

https://www.fodors.com/community/uni...-trip-1014327/

I'd still do all of those things even with paying. The minigolf course is fun.. do walk up to the Wrigley Memorial. Chances are you will see the sort of tame Island Fox there. (usually see it on the left side stairwell facing the Memorial).

I can't thank you guys enough - this is super helpful! I haven't had much time to plan, so you're making it easy for me. Definitely sounds like our kind of place.

If I were to spend the night, I'd for sure try to see a movie in the Casino building. They also do an hour long pipe organ thing on the Friday, Saturday before the film.

I know there are some more exciting things like ziplines and you can go to Two Harbors but I've never done those since I've only gone for the day and I'm over ziplines...

Two Harbors Bus

https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/...ors/safari-bus

Thanks, m, I will look into that. Sounds fun!

We're looking at staying at the Snug Harbor Inn. Do you guys think that's in a good location?

Actually, that place looks really good. You'll be just off the main drag, around the corner from that Vons Express market, so in that regard I think you chose well. And the place itself looks really cute! I might check it out for the next time my DH and I want to get away to Avalon.

I think it looks really cute too; the more affordable rooms are tiny, but I don't really care about that, and it includes a nice breakfast delivered to your room. I think we would get a sliver of ocean view too. Glad to know it's in a good location - thanks for confirming that. The fancier rooms look like they have amazing views, but wow are they pricey.