Worth going to Catalina?
 

My husband and I will be in LA for a few days before Memorial Day. Is it worth taking a day trip to Catalina? We have been to LA before and have a few days to take in some new sites. After LA we will be spending two days in Santa Monica for a wedding, leaving time to enjoy the beaches in the area. Is Catalina a repeat event? Should we do something else - perhapa a trip inland or on a hike instead? - not too rigorous!

lasightseeing.net

Catalina underwhelming for me

Might rent a car up to Big Sur like Ventana Resort there

Hearst Castle carmelcalifornia.com nearby

or go up to the Ahwannee Lodge at Yosemite.com

or Wawona if budget is tight only 5 hours or so away

carrentals.com Deluxe rent a car good deals for me in the

past...

IMHO, for a day trip it's worth considering a visit to Catalina.

It's a very picturesque, hilly, small island. Most of the activities center around the harbor. You can also rent a golf cart and go up the hills. No cars are allowed on the island with the exception of service vehicles.

If you just want a nice relaxing day, visiting some restaurants, local bars and shops, I would recommend it, but that's just me.

I love Catalina.
I love the boat trip over,you'll often see dolphins.
I love the beauty and clarity of the water,go snorkeling or glass bottom boat.
I love the untouched wild California inland,take a tour or rent a golf cart.

I think it is well worth it -- it is rather unique - like some have said the boat ride over -- and even if you just walk around -- stop and watch people - grap a bit to eat or drink -- is very special.

Ive gone to Catalina a couple of times, and the weather is the make or break for that trip. Its not my 1st choice, but its certianly worth considering if you have nice weather w/ calm ocean conditions

Ive gone to Catalina a couple of times, and the weather is the make or break for that trip. Its not my 1st choice, but its certianly worth considering if you have nice weather w/ calm ocean conditions

Despite living in California for nearly 40 years, I've never been to Catalina, so I can't comment. But if you decide to not do Catalina, consider Pasadena, in particular, the Huntington Gardens & Library. It's spectacular.

Bookmarking.

I loved Catalina! You can rent a golf cart and explore the island, shop for interesting souvenirs, have lunch, take a tour bus to the "airport in the sky" for breathtaking views.

>>Despite living in California for nearly 40 years, I've never been to Catalina, so I can't comment.<<

I'd say your never having been there is a comment in itself. Enough so that it's got me reconsidering our plans.

Not intending to hi-jack your thread, eznmomma, as I'm also looking for suggestions for day-trips from the LA area. Does San Diego make sense?

<<<I'd say your never having been there is a comment in itself. Enough so that it's got me reconsidering our plans.>>>

NO!!! Absolutely not. We had never been to the Huntington Library & Gardens before either, and we fell in love with it and can't wait to go back. There's lots of things we haven't seen around "home" since we tend to take our big trips farther afield. We're making a concerted effort now that the kids are grown to see what we've missed :-)

islandaze: "<I>I'd say your never having been there is a comment in itself. Enough so that it's got me reconsidering our plans.</i>"

I totally don't understand what that means. California is HUGE w/ <u>thousands</u> of wonderful places to visit. No one (not even Huell Howser ;) ) has been every place.

Just seems a weird response to sf7307's post . . .

I love Catalina. Its beautiful and not too far away. You can take the ferry or fly. I think its highly worthwhile for a day trip, especially as you've been to LA before.

Not sure what you mean asking if Catalina is a repeat event. I've been several times, so I guess for me it is.

Maybe janisj, but I'd think that someone who'd lived in CA for 40 years would've at least hit the highlights, which was the reason for my comment. Maybe sf7307 was too occupied groovin' to Simon and Garfunkel though. ;-)

So sf7307, will you make it to Catalina before the middle of July?

It happens often, you don't play the tourist where you live, there are places in San Francisco where we didn't go, and probably won't, but I can name places far away which the locals there don't visit.

"<i>Maybe janisj, but I'd think that someone who'd lived in CA for 40 years would've at least hit the highlights, which was the reason for my comment.</i>"

I guess you just don't understand the vast scale of California.

I love Catalina, but that's because I lived there for three years, from age 8 to 11. Lived on the beach all summer, explored all around the little town of Avalon with friends. I think that's why I felt so at home when I first visited Hawaii. In the Casino is a museum about the days in WWII when it was a maritime service training base, and there are photos of my father holding church service in the Casino theater for the trainees.

Do go by boat. That's half the fun. And go up the long ramp in the Casino to the huge circular ballroom at the top, with cool views. Snorkle. Walk up the canyon as far as you can to see some of the landscape. Have lunch along the beach promenade.

<<<So sf7307, will you make it to Catalina before the middle of July?>>>

Sorry, but no. Maybe next spring.

sf7307: See all the problems you caused :D

islandaze: Just to give you some perspective . . . Millions of life-long Californians have never been to . . . Just name it.

San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Mendocino, Big Sur, Redwoods National Park, Death Valley, Burney Falls, Sonoma, Disneyland, Carmel, San Diego, San Simeon, Lassen Volcanic National Park, and . . Catalina . . (and a thousand other places). Doesn't mean they aren't all major destinations.

Problems? I thought we were being helpful, keeping eznmomma's thread topped. ;-) I suspect she's (and I) still open to suggestions for day-trips from the LA area.

Was gonna say something about this being a travel site, and thus the reasonable expectation that posters would at least be familiar with highlights of their own states (heck, even I've been to every place you named except San Diego and Catalina). But then I got to thinking about some of the popular tourist attractions around where I live that I haven't yet seen. Oops!

Just a note: currently there is a very significant brush fire on Catalina..lots of hillside burned, smoke.

I'd think twice about going right now if you hae breathing troubles.

If you had a great time in Catalina last time -go back. If not, find a new place to visit. No much changes in Catalina. Maybe try south oc. Trips to yosemite and tahoe are way-way too far for a 2day trip! 6-9 hrs one way from LA

Thanks everyone. We have been up and down the coast from California - from Yosemite to SF and all the way down to San Diego and saw almost everything major inbetween. I like the idea of taking a boat ride over to Catalina, snorkling and/or taking a cart to explore. We are pretty tireless tourists and the last times we were in LA we toured early morning to night. I didn't think Death Valley would be as interesting as Catalina. We have been to very barren deserts in other parts of the world and a little in Nevada, Utah, Arizona etc.

What is the lure of Huntington Gardens and Library? Several people have mentioned it. I read that the Japanese Garden just closed for renovation until 2012. is it still worth the trip and how much time should we leave. We might consider working it into another day we are there.

Thanks everyone.

The lure is magnificent gardens (the Japanese garden being one of many), a terrific art collection (including Gainsborough's Blue Boy), and a fantastic library with all manner of historical documents, including a Gutenberg Bible.

I think we will put Huntington Gardens on our list even though the Japanese Garden is closed for renovation. I am still considering Catalina but will keep watch on the news about the fire. We will be there at the end of this month so hopefully the smoke will clear. I am assumng I can get tickets for the boat ride at the last minute.

eznmomma,
If its golf cart or snorkling, imo -go with the golf cart. Even on the most perfect day in August, visibility will be mediocre at best. For late May, you might need a wet suit too

I disagree with FrankS' statement." visibility will be mediocre at best ". Catalina is a major scuba destination with very good visibility. The island is swept by cold, clear Pacific currents.
I have never found a day when I did NOT desire a wet suit.
They are available for rent on the green pier. The best snorkling IMO is at The Casino. Concrete steps lead into the ocean.

Catalina is definitely worth a day trip. You can rent a golf cart or ride the open buses, or both. There's plenty to see there, including the Botanical Gardens, and plenty of nice waterside restaurants. The boat ride over is also very pleasant.

I also recommend the Huntington Gardens and Museum. I used to visit my aunt who lived in the area and always fit in a trip to the Huntington. The house and gardens are beautiful, and the art collection is well worth a look. It's a lovely, tranquil place to visit.

To islandaze, I live in NY and have never been to the Top of the Rock (not yet, at least). Doesn't mean other people should not go.

Catalina Island is a local playground for yacht owners and a cruise ship destination. Obviously, it's worth a trip for some.

logandog,
Catalina might be a 'major' SCUBA destination, but mediocre snorkeling even in summer. I dont know why you changed from snorkel to SCUBA to disagree with me. Anyways the month of May isnt a great time to snorkel. For instance today the water is 57 degrees which usually means the top will be murky and bonechilling cold. But if you are certified SCUBA, have a 1/4 suit with hood and booties, it might be much better near the bottom

A few years ago we had dinner and spent the night on the Queen Mary in Long Beach. My husband and his family traveled to Europe on that ship many years ago. The next day we left our car in the parking lot and went next door to board a boat to Catalina. On Catalina we took a Jeep ecotour of the island. We saw buffalo which supposedly were left by a film company in 1924 and an injured eagle. I am very glad we did the tour, as it enabled us to see things we could not have done with a golf cart. I enjoyed our visit to the island very much. http://www.queenmary.com/Stay-Aboard.aspx

Lake Arrowhead is a nice daytrip from LA.

The Getty Center and the Getty Villa have beautiful gardens and art, as well. Gorgeous views, too.

Admittedly it's been decades since I swam on Catalina, but in Avalon Bay, in full summer, I used to swim for hours. Of course, I was a kid and pretty active. No one had heard of wetsuits in those days. Or snorkels or Scuba.

I've lived in the Los Angeles area for 20 years. Catalina is the only place I've visited here that I wouldn't under any circumstances return to. There is so much more that is so much better.