cheryldina

Hi, we are going to Catalina next weekend for the first time...staying at the Hotel Metropole. Any good restaurants that are must do's? Don't mind paying for a nice meal out, but also don't mind a good dive. Also, any other must do's? We love hiking and thought of kayaking, any good places? Also, is it worth going to the other side of the island and how long does it take? We are there for 2 1/2 days.
thanks!

LaurenSKahn

If you are staying in Avalon, the only way you can go inland is to take a bus tour. The roads are really rugged and you cannot rent a car on Catalina. In fact there is a years long waiting list for people who LIVE on the island to bring one in.

The inland areas are the best part of the island, in my opinion. Great views! Take one of the 3-4 hour bus tours to get a view of the Catalina "outback".

If you decide not to do that, you can rent a golf cart for $30 AN HOUR. Unfortuantely, the golf carts are limited as to where you can drive them.

In my opinion, the fuss about the Catalina Airport in the sky is not worth it. The views at the airport are no big deal. You get the best views from the switchbacks.

I ate at Armstrong's in the harbor area. I was told that the restaurant at the country club was the "big deal" place on the island, but I did not go there.

The kayaks that you rent are, I think, restricted to the harbor area.

Please note that the inland bus tour does not go all the way to the other side of the island (except at the "waist" and you do not go down to the beach). The road was washed out a few years ago and not repaired (or so I was told). The only way to get there would be by boat. The roads are extremely rugged and the golf carts cannot go up those sorts of grades.

Surfergirl

Like Lauren said, it's worth it at a minimum to walk up to the country club (it's public) and check out the bar and restaurant. It was beautifully restored a few years ago, and aside from checking out all of the original (and restored) Catalina tile, it looks like a great place to dine.

For better dining, we like the Channel House, which is right around the corner from your hotel. We like it because they make the caesar salad the original way, at the table.

For "dives" -- well, they're all pretty informal, but we like to go to Antonio's pizza right on the beach (there's another one not on the beach). People who like to eat a big breakfast usually head over to the Busy Bee, also on the water. Lunch is good at the seafood/burger stands on the pier, or my personal fave, Coney Island's, which is in the Metropole complex along Crescent Ave.

There's 3 places that I recall off-hand where you can rent kayaks -- at the pier, at Descanso Beach, and right by where the Catalina Express docks. We prefer Descanso beach rentals. The coastline there is just wonderful to explore by kayak.

Other must do's: Take the obligatory tour of the casino and museum located there; if there's a good movie playing, it's worth seeing it because the theatre is great. In summer, but maybe now too, they have a guy play the organ in there before the movie starts. Sat. nights if I remember, but ask them. It's a pretty unique experience.

I would also highly recommend the flying fish tour (it's jaw-dropping), and either the glass bottom boat or the submarine tour.

LaurenSKahn

I did take the submarine tour and it was fantastic. They throw food over the side and the fish swarm the boat. You do not see the array of colorful fish you would see in the tropics but it was still very interesting.

I did not get to tour the Casino, because I only had one day. They were screening films there on the weekend. Please note that the Casino does not have gambling, just films. Casino is just the name of the building.

cheryldina

Thanks for the info. The flying fish sound pretty interesting..I'll have to check that out. So does the kayaking at Descanso, and the tour inland.

Question on the drive inland...not a good motion sickness person...is it long and windy and queasy?

Thanks!

jd

I'm not sure, but be sure to take motion sickness medication on the boat ride over. The ride was on the rough side, and alot of people felt sick. luckily I had taken dramamine.

cheryldina

Thanks jd, but that's why we are taking a helicopter over! My hubby and I both get seasick and unless it's a calm day, it would not be fun.

thx!

LaurenSKahn

You know, as a kid I was capable of heaving up 3 times between Stamford, CT, and my Great Aunt Fannie's in the Bronx--a drive of about 40 minutes.

I had no trouble with motion sickness on the boats too and from Catalina and saw no one who did. The boat did bounce a bit going home and it would have been hard to walk around. I stayed seated and had NO problem. I have gotten sick on other boats (Do not mention the English Channel to me--and thank goodness for the Chunnel!), but had no problem with the modern Catalina boats.

Insofar as the inland tour is concerned, no one got sick there either. The roads are mountain roads. The driver sits in a truck cab hauling you--in a modified truck trailer with seats (but comfortable) around. The "bus" was a trip in itself. The driving would not have bothered me if I had an appropriate vehicle, but some people would have found it more trouble than they wanted. In any event, the professional driver does that and you enjoy the view.

Do not miss the inland tour! It was the absolute hit of my week long trip to Long Beach! Go fer it!

darlena

yeah, its true the golf cart rental is an embarrasingly expensive, but, heck, your on vacation and its FUN! you can putt up behind avalon and check out alot more than you could on foot. we didn't mind the limitations, there is still alot of places you can go in the carts. how many other places have you been to where you can rent carts and drive around town? i think its a uniquely catalina experience.

cheryldina

Thx again. The golf cart sounds fun.

Also, regarding the boat trip..I've heard it really depends on how choppy the water is going out to Catalina, which is weather related. If it's calm waters, it's fine...if there have been storms or it's windy out, it's choppy - which makes for a rougher ride. I'm from CA and it's been somewhat windy as we are having a later spring and it's cooler than normal, so that's why we opted to fly. We also thought it would be fun since my hubby hasn't been on a chopper before.

Thx again.