Hurray! CATALINA ISLAND is once again open to visitors. We made a day-trip to this historic island off the coast of Los Angeles in January* and was about to share the details of our adventure when coronavirus struck. But after closing down for three months, Catalina Island began opening back up earlier this month. Wahoo!
If you're looking for a day trip or an overnight stay, here are our family-friendly suggestions for a quintessential summer experience.
Catalina Island, while home to the amazing Catalina Wine Mixer (haha), is also a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts with hiking, camping, rock climbing and biking galore. We hope to return and do that sort of trip soon but for now, this is a guide on what to do with the fam.
GETTING THERE: CATALINA ISLAND EXPRESS
The best way to get to Catalina Island is through the Catalina Island Express, an hour or so high-speed catamaran ride that departs from Long Beach, San Pedro and Newport Beach and takes passengers to either Avalon Harbor or Two Harbors. These are rather sophisticated catamarans with two floors of seating, full bar and refreshments, and plenty of deck space in the back to take in the open ocean air.
Since Covid-19, Catalina Express has upped their cleaning regimen, required masks while on board, enforced social distancing, limited capacity on the boat, and changed up the boarding process to prevent any crowds from forming. You can read all about what the ferry is doing to stay safe while carrying passengers over to Catalina here.
We departed out of the Long Beach terminal to Avalon. We had some rough waters that day so if you're prone to seasickness, here's a tip: Grab a seat on the lower floor towards the back. But all in all, after an hour we pulled into the gorgeous harbor of Avalon. For a minute, we could have sworn we were pulling into Amalfi Coast in Italy. And given that flying to Italy is out of the question these days, this is a terrific alternative.
Ticket prices are $37.25 for adults and $29.50 for kids for a one-way ride. Parking at the Long Beach Terminal is also available for $19 a day.
Having just finished a renovation late last year, the Hotel Atwater is one of the loveliest hotels on the island. Located just a short walk from the Avalon Harbor, the Hotel Atwater has quite a historic past, as do most places on Catalina Island. It first opened in 1920 and was owned by William Wrigley Jr. of the chewing gum company. Wrigley purchased the Catalina Island Company more than a century ago and this hotel was named in honor of Helen Atwater Wrigley, wife of his son Philip Knight Wrigley.
But while both historic and Wrigley touches are found throughout, the Atwater is a modern coastal style. Guest rooms range from standard rooms with king beds or two queens to one-bedroom suites with one and a half baths. Above is a video of the William Suite. All rooms have modern amenities too, such as mini-fridges, smart TVs, and even digital concierge tablets.
Downstairs, the lobby is a gorgeous place to relax, plan out your day, people-watch or even play monopoly. A deluxe edition of the board game is available for guests to play and sits inside an antique safe once owned by the Wrigley family.
There's no pool on-site but guests do have access to the Descanso Beach Club, where you can rent beach chairs and cabanas for a fun day in the sand. (And alcoholic drinks are served here too!)
Rates at the Hotel Atwater start at around $400 a night on the weekends and $350 a night during the week. For more on Hotel Atwater's Keep Well commitment to health and safety during Covid-19, go here.
SEE MORE PHOTOS OF HOTEL ATWATER HERE!
EATING THERE: BISTRO AT THE ATWATER
One perk of the Atwater that doesn't require a room reservation is the Bistro at The Atwater. It's only open from 7am to 11am so it's the perfect place to stop once your boat arrives in Avalon. You can opt for some grab n' go meals like pastries, salads and sandwiches or you can sit at a small table and slurp your smoothie while planning out your next adventure.
We also dig stopping in here because it's located within the postal building that's adjacent to the Atwater. Here is where the residents of Catalina pick up their mail as they don't have traditional postal service to their houses. Love it when we learn a fun fact while exploring.
For lunch and dinner options, Catalina has a bunch of restaurants that are still open for take-out and outdoor dining. You can see the full list here.
When we visited, we stopped in at the Avalon Grille for a refined dinner with a great kids' menu and probably the best martini we've had in long time—the Wrigley which was originally served at the Wrigley Bar in Chicago's Wrigely Building. Sadly, the Avalon Grille is closed these days but you can still order this martini at the Descanso Beach Club. Bonus: It comes with a stick of Wrigley Gum.
Speaking of fun facts…playing mini-golf is one of our favorite things to do when visiting new places. Blame it on the golf nuts in our family. But the Catalina Golf Gardens mini-golf course is really outstanding because the challenging holes also throw in a bit of history. At the start of each hole, a posted sign details a flora or fauna found on the island along with the history of how it came to be. For example, the infamous buffalo of Catalina Island were brought over for a movie production in 1924 and were left there when the movie ended. We learned a ton about the history of Catalina Island while counting up strokes.
The Golf Gardens is within walking distance to Avalon Harbor and Hotel Atwater (as is everything within Avalon) and it's also near a Von's supermarket in case you need to pop in for some snacks, sandwiches or drinks. Adults are $12 to play while kids ages 2-11 are $11 and seniors over 55 are $10. (Another fun option for play time (especially while waiting for the ferry) is the Three Palms Avalon Arcade. However, this is currently closed due to Covid-19. We'll let you know when it reopens!)
EXPLORING THERE: UNDERSEA SUB EXPEDITION
One of the biggest highlights of our day trip was this submarine adventure. Indeed, our kids (9 and 7) still ask to go back on one of these. Located at the Green Pleasure Pier right in the heart of Avalon, the Undersea Sub Expedition dives down (but not too far down) to show off the kelp forest and loads of different fish around Lover's Cove. Posters found in the sub will help you identify the fish you're seeing out the window but a staffer will also answer any questions you have.
While sitting in the bottom of the boat is obviously the best, if you're a little queasy you can hang out up top on deck. From there you can even feed the fish, so they will swarm around the windows down below. The ride doesn't last very long, about 45-minutes, but it's a great way to cool off and see marine life, without getting wet. It's also perfect for all ages.
Ticket prices are about $40 for adults (babies are free) and $38 for kids.
OTHER ACTIVITIES: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
There is so much more to do on Catalina Island, depending on what you're interested in. Independent activities range from camping to snorkeling, diving, golf, parasailing, and fishing. However, be aware that most activities require reservations now and of course, face masks are required and social distancing is enforced. See what else there is to do right now with this list from LoveCatalinaIsland.com.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
Don't Feel Like a DIY Adventure? These Guides Have You Covered
Social Distancing is Easy at These Dreamy SoCal Resorts
*Disclosure: Our day trip was courtesy of the Catalina Island Company but all opinions are our own as was the round of mini-golf, arcade games, souvenirs, and parking. And as always, we wouldn't recommend anything we didn't think was up to Trips + Giggles standards.
