Avalon

By boat

Most visitors reach Avalon on the ferry from either Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point or Newport Beach; note that the ferry from Marina del Rey is no longer in operation. The trip takes about an hour via high-speed ferry. Perhaps the best way to reach the island is by private sailboat or powerboat, about a half-day from the Los Angeles harbors. The seas in the channel are generally calm, though there are swells; dolphins, flying fish, and other sea life are often sighted.

• Catalina Express

  phone: +1-800-481-3470
  The most popular way to get to Catalina Island via their fleet of boats. In the summer months, Catalina Express offers about 30 trips a day to Avalon from San Pedro, Dana Point and two ports in Long Beach, downtown and at the Queen Mary.

• CatalinaferriesHas two boats making trips daily in the summer and also have a special winter schedule. It's a great way to get out of town without having to drive out of town.

• Catalina Passenger ServiceOperates the Catalina Flyer on a daily round-trip service from Newport Beach.

By plane

• Catalina Airportaccessible by private plane

• Island Express Helicopter ServiceOffers daily flights from heliports in San Pedro and Long Beach, carrying up to six passengers.

Around Avalon, the primary mode of transportation is by golf cart. The streets are very narrow and the town is crowded and small so this works out very well. Upon arrival to Avalon by sea you will see signs for golf cart rentals.
You may also rent bicycles (or bring your own from the mainland for an extra fee).

• Brown's Bikes

  phone: +1 310 510-0986
  address: 107 Pebbly Beach Rd
  Rentals and bike repair. Hourly rates are from $5 to $15 per hour, depending on the type of bike. Daily rates are from $12 to $40.

• Catalina Auto & Bike Rental

  phone: +1 310 510-0111
  address: 301 Crescent Ave
  Bicycle and golf cart rental.

• Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden

  phone: +1 310 510-2595
  1.5 miles (2.4 km) up Avalon Canyon Road from Avalon. Daily from 8AM to 5PM, year round. A memorial to William Wriggley, Jr., founder of the WM Wriggley Jr. Company, renowned for its chewing gum. Mr. Wriggley was also a long-time benefactor of Catalina and was key in assuring that it was protected for future generations. The Botanical Garden features plants that are native to California islands, especially species only found on Catalina Island. Adults: $5, Children under 12: Free.

• The Casino/Art Museum - Casino Point, northwest end of Avalon Harbor. The Casino is an Art-Deco movie palace and ballroom built in 1929 that was once the place to be for the Los Angeles elite. The tour will take you into the movie theater and up the ramps to the ballroom while the tour guide gives information about the history and unique construction of the casino. Adults: $14.50, Children: $7.25, Seniors: $13

• Descanso Beach Club

  phone: +1 310 510-7410
  On the north side of the casino. A beach front bar and restaurant. Showers, chair and umbrealla rentals and restrooms are available.

• Catalina Island Museum

  phone: +1 310 510-2414
  address: 217 Metropole Ave.
  Avalon’s only institution devoted to art, culture and the rich history of Santa Catalina Island. The newly renovated Catalina Island Museum includes an expanded museum store, a digital theater, a number of galleries dedicated to the history of the Catalina Island and a new traveling exhibitions gallery. Open daily 10AM - 5PM.

• Catalina Island Golf Course

  phone: +1 310 510-0530
  address: 1 Country Club Rd
  A 2,100 yard, nine-hole golf course with two sets of tees to provide 18-hole play. Call for current prices.
• Hiking - Catalina Island has miles of backroads and trails but a permit is required. A permit can be obtained the day of your hike at the following locations:

• Conservancy House in Avalon, at 125 Claressa Ave.
• Airport-in-the-Sky
• Two Harbors Visitor Information Center

Fishing - The ocean waters around Catalina are teaming with fish. Rent a boat or join an organized fishing trip on a commercial boat.

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving

Multiple locations. With warm temperatures and clear waters with visibility from 40-100 feet (12 to 30 m), Catalina is a prime location for snorkeling and scuba diving. Several vendors rent equipment or provide guided trips.

• Lover’s Cove Undersea GardensJust a few minutes from the boat landing in Avalon, this cove features giant kelp forests and hundreds of fish.

• Descanso Beach

  phone: +1 310 510-1226
  Just north of the Casino. Rental equipment available.

• Casino Point Marine ParkAt the edge of Casino Point. At the breakwater with stairs access to a kelp forest and a shipwreck starting at 60'. Lot's of Garibaldi's, Calico Bass, Moray Eels and the occasions Black Sea Bass sightings make this a favorite dive destination for many.

• Scuba Luv

  phone: +1 310 510-2350
  address: 126 Catalina Ave
  A complete scuba outfitter providing rentals, instruction and guided trips from their 65-foot (19 m) dive boat King Neptune.

• Catalina Divers Supply

  phone: +1 310 510-0330
  Green Pier and Casino Point., . A complete scuba outfitter providing rentals, instruction and guided trips from their 42-foot (12 m) dive boat Cat Dive.

Kayaking

One way to explore the island is to kayak around it, finding coves inaccessible from land and peering up at massive cliffs. Several vendors on the island rent kayaks or provide guided tours.

• Descanso Beach Ocean Sports

  phone: +1 310 510-1226
  Kayak rentals and tours with experienced guides. Specialty tours such as a sunset tour and an astronomy tour.

• Joe's Rent-A-Boat

  phone: +1 310 510-0455
  Joe's rents kayaks by the hour as well as paddle boards and motor boats.

• Wet Spot Rental

  phone: +1 310 510-2229
  Avalon Boat Pier., . Kayak and paddle boat rentals. Wet Spot also has another location in Little Harbor.

Events

January

• Avalon Benefit 50 Mile RunAn annual benefit run from Avalon to Two Harbors and back. Proceeds benfit local charities.

February

• Annual Avalon Harbor Underwater CleanupAn annual event where scuba divers dive in Avalon Harbor to remove trash and other items from the floor of the harbor. This is the only day of the year that scuba divers are allowed to dive in the harbor.

March

• Catalina MarathonA 26.2 mile run from Two Harbors to Avalon.

• Catalina Conservancy BallAvalon Casino. A black tie event that includes dinner, big band dancing and silent and live auctions to benefit the Catalina Island Conservancy.

• Rubber Ducky Derby

  phone: +1 310 510-1987
  A rubber duck race to benefit the children's theater company.

June

• Silent Film BenefitA silent film screening featuring live musical accompaniment on the historic Page organ in the Avalon Casino's Theatre.

August

• Church Mouse Marlin Invitational

  phone: +1 310 820-4434
  A non-profit marlin fishing tournament to benefit Cataline youth.

September

• Pottery & Tile Extravaganza

  phone: +1 310 510-2414
  A month long exhibition of locally made Catalina tile including walking tours of examples of installed tile.

• Catalina Island Festival of ArtAn art festival that has been running annually for more than 50 years, this street fair is free and features artwork from all over the country. The 2016 fair will be held from September 16-18, from 10AM-5PM each day.

October

• Catalina Island Jazz Trax FestivalA 3-weekend, nine-night jazz festival held in the Casino Ballroom.

• The Avalon BallRecreating the Big Band scene of the 1920s and 30s in the Avalon Ballroom.

November

• Catalina Island Triathlon

  phone: +1 714 978-1528
  A half-mile swim in Avalon Bay, a 16K cycle course around Mt. Ada and a 5K run past the golf course.

December

• New Year's Eve Celebration

  phone: +1 310 510-1520
  December 31 - Ring in the New Year in the Casino Ballroom. Reservations are accepted beginning in July.

There are a variety of places to eat on the pier, serving things like hot dogs and fish and chips. There is also a small Vons supermarket at 123 Metropole Avenue which may be helpful if you need a candy bar, soft drink or such.

• Catalina Visitors Country Club

  phone: +1 310 510-7404
  The clubhouse of the Catalina Country Club golf course. Nice, quiet ambiance on the patio, but the food is pricey and can be lacking in flavor and creativity.

• Steve's Steakhouse

  phone: +1 310-510-0333
  address: 417 Cresent Ave

• The Sandtrap Restaurant and Bar

  phone: +1 310 510-2505
  address: 501 Avalon Canyon Rd

• Avalon Grille

  phone: +1 310-510-7494
  address: 423 Crescent Avenue
  Upscale steakhouse with a full bar just across the promenade from the water. Large patio, low, ambient lighting, not too noisy.

• Bluewater Grill Avalon

  phone: +1 310-510-3474
  address: 306 Crescent Avenue
  Hip waterfront eatery with fantastic fresh seafood. The baked crab and artichoke dip is outstanding, and the seared scalloped with jalapeño aioli is is the perfect mix of savory and spice, with chopped crispy bacon to balance the soft scallops.

• Lloyd's of Avalon Confectionary

  phone: +1 310 510 7266
  address: 315 Crescent Avenue
  Lloyd's is an absolute Avalon classic. They've got all sorts of handmade chocolates and pastries, but are most famous for their creative candied apples, which come in dozens of flavors. Kids enjoy watching the saltwater taffy machine in the window, whirling the homemade taffy to perfection.

• Luau Larry's

  phone: +1 310-510-1919
  address: 509 Crescent Ave
  Has the island's drink, the buffalo milk cocktail.

• Catalina Island Brew House

  phone: +1 310-590-6905
  address: 417 Crescent Ave
  Food, coffee and locally brewed beer

• Descanso Beach Club

  phone: +1 310 510-7410
  Beach restaurant and bar. The strawberry daiquiris are made with real strawberry pulp and are thick, sweet and refreshing. Worth visiting just for the daiquiri. Nachos are tasty and a generous portion.

• Best Western Catalina Canyon Resort And Spa

  phone: +1 310 510-0325
  address: 888 Country Club Dr

• The Avalon Hotel

  phone: +1 310 510-7070
  address: 124 Whittley Ave
  Classic California Craftsman style with ocean view rooms. Have your morning coffee and continental breakfast in the garden patio, meet our koi puppies and watch the local hummingbirds drink their morning nectar. Enjoy the roof deck with a 360 degree view of town and Avalon harbor. Enjoy our tangerine-sage lotion, salt scrub and shea butter made especially for us. Hike, bike or tour in the surrounding 75 square miles of private nature preserve. Swim, paddle or boat in the pacific ocean. Wander through the local shops, eat at the nearby restaurants and enjoy the interesting and elegant history of Avalon's glamor past. Hollywood use to play here. Opening "talkie" performances were shown in the local Avalon Casino Theater, you can still catch the music on a pipe organ on the weekends before the opening show (we get 1 new movie, ever friday night). The Catalina Island Museum has information on the Chicago Cubs that did their spring training here in Avalon in the early 1900s. Find the serpentine wall traversing down front street. Set up a spa service, relax and unwind. We hope to see you soon visiting our Island home.

• Aurora Hotel & Spa

  address: 137 Marilla Ave
  Romantic modern hotel & spa in downtown Avalon.

• Pavilion Hotel

  address: 513 Crescent Ave
  The new 71-room, 2-story Pavilion Hotel, formerly the Pavilion Lodge, is 14 steps from the beach. The new design takes advantage of the garden courtyard area by creating semi-private lanais, or outdoor living areas for most of the ground level rooms. The landscaped garden includes a large fire ring and an open air ocean-view lounge area near the front lobby. There is also a new indoor lounge area / hospitality room where guests will find their complimentary continental breakfast in the morning and the complimentary wine and cheese pairing in the afternoon. New amenities also include HD flat screen TV's, upgraded in-room coffee/tea, iHome MP3 players and complimentary use of Apple's new iPads. Packages and specials available.

Vacation rentals

In addition to hotels and campsites, visitors to Avalon can rent private homes, townhouses and condominiums on a short-term basis.

• Catalina Island Vacation Rentals

  address: 119 Sumner Ave
  Provides vacation rentals in private homes and condominiums in Avalon and Hamilton Cove. A call ahead is necessary to make arrangements for picking up keys and getting directions to the vacation rental.

If you are coming from the mainland you probably want to see a bit more of Catalina Island, such as Two Harbors or the interior of the island (home of the buffalo). Unfortunately, golf carts are not allowed outside of Avalon; all roads leading away from the town hold "no golf cart" signs. So, if you are interested in visiting other parts of the island, another mode of transportation (such as bicycle, small motorscooter, or guided tour) must be found. Note that the island is hilly so you might find yourself pushing your bike up the roads in the island's interior.