The Perfect Catalina Island Day Trip Itinerary
Catalina Island is a tropical paradise in the middle of the ocean, easily accessible from mainland Southern California. Departing from multiple towns along the coast, including Long Beach, you can hop on the Catalina Ferry and arrive for an incredible Catalina Island day trip. Made famous by the celebrities that have been sighted there over the years (including Marilyn Munroe, Charlie Chaplin, Joan Crawford, Nicholas Cage, and Kurt Russell), and the movie Step Brothers (shout-out to the Catalina Wine Mixer), it's definitely a hot spot you should check out. With so many unique outdoor activities, including a zipline adventure and high ropes course, you need to visit Catalina ASAP.
How to Get to Catalina Island Via the Catalina Ferry
To get the most out of your Catalina Island day trip, opt for an early morning ride on the Catalina Express. The journey is filled with people going on all types of excursions: families visiting for multiple days overloaded with luggage, beach chairs, and umbrellas, older folks looking for some R&R, or couples like us, with no additional bags, just going for the day. With snacks and drinks for purchase, the Catalina ferry is a relaxing ride (when you're not feeling seasick like I was) on the open water, eventually pulling up to the port of Avalon, the most prominent of the two small towns on the island.
Grab a Quick Bite at Avalon Bake Shop
Before exploring too much, pick up a late breakfast at the Avalon Bake Shop, just off the main drag along the water. This little cash-only bakery has delicious homemade $2 donuts. There is no better way to start your day of exploring with an inexpensive bite to eat. We ended up stopping by here twice during our day trip to keep us carbo-loaded throughout the afternoon.
Go on a Zipline Adventure 300 ft in the Air
We continued to our first stop and the only pre-planned part of our Catalina island day trip, a two-hour zipline and ecological tour of the island. We rode in an open-top hummer up to the top of the mountain and headed back down for 5-6 zips. While some were steeper and some were longer, all gave a fantastic view of the water and beach below. Ziplining is an unforgettable experience, and this was definitely the longest zip-trip I've ever done. The first step off the ledge of a zipline is a seriously heart-pounding moment, but within 15 seconds, you'll realize how awesome it is to be flying through the air. Go no hands if you're feeling daring or sit back and enjoy the view. We had quite a few nervous people in our group, but the onslaught of dad jokes from our guide kept everyone calm and relaxed.
Avalon features many other outdoor tours and excursions. There's an adventure for everyone on the island. Additional activities include a high ropes course, stand up paddleboarding, fishing trips and rides on glass-bottom boats.
88% of the island is in the hands of the Catalina Island Conservancy, who are trying to bring the land, animals, and plants back to their natural state. Ask anyone running any of the excursions about the wildlife and history of the area, and they'll be more than happy to chat. The people that work on Catalina have some serious heart for their little slice of paradise. :)
Grab Lunch at one of the Best Catalina Island Restaurants
Food was calling our names and our stomachs after our morning zipline adventure in the summer sun. We headed back towards the water to eat at the Descanso Beach Club, one of the most well-known destinations in Catalina. This resort has a laid-back outdoor dining space with great island-inspired food like ahi tuna burgers and tropical cocktails (like the margarita that I ended up spilling all over my lap). The outdoor bar features DJs and beach parties in the summer evenings, and you can live in pure luxury with a private cabana rental near the water.
Descanso is what makes Catalina feel like you're in the tropics. Beach-goers are running past with giant pool floats, dogs are relaxing in the sun, and literally everyone is in a good mood!
Stroll Through Town and Enjoy "Island Time"
Walking through the small side streets of the town of Avalon gives you a peek into the island lifestyle, even during your short day trip. Almost everyone you run into is there to get away from their day-to-day lives. The carefree vibe can be felt wherever you go. Make sure you watch out for golf carts; cars are only allowed on the island in extreme circumstances (and there's a 14-year waiting list even to be considered). You can rent golf carts to zip around town like the locals or go further into the bluffs for better views of the ocean. We opted to walk everywhere due to our shorter stay.
Other Awesome Catalina Island Activities:
The Avalon Casino: The most iconic landmark of Avalon, the casino doesn't have any gambling or slot machines inside but can hold 6,000 people within its rooftop rotunda.
The Wrigley Mansion: Looking at the top of the hill, you can see the Wrigley Mansion. Catalina Island was purchased by the family of the Wrigley Gum fortune in the '20s, and they still fund the Catalina Island Conservancy to this day. Because of this connection, the Chicago Cubs used the island for spring training into the '50s. Cubs flags decorate quite a few of the bars on the main street of Avalon. I almost felt like I was back home in Chicago!
Lloyds of Avalon Confectionary or Scoops: Make sure you pick up some Avalon fudge at Lloyds or some delicious homemade ice cream or frozen lemonade for those hotter days at Scoops. Scoops mint chip ice cream is actually bright blue making it perfect for an Instagram-worthy pic.
Golf Gardens Miniature Golf: Mini golf has been a staple of vacations for my family since my childhood, so trying a new course wherever we go is never out of the question. Mini-golf pairs perfectly with the quaint island-town feel of Catalina, and it's a great way to kill time while waiting for the Catalina ferry back to the mainland.
Although short, our Catalina Island day trip was exactly what we needed to unwind and decompress during our hectic California road trip. Avalon is a beautiful town to explore by foot, and the outdoor activities (including an epic zipline adventure) will make your trip unique. So go and book the next available spot on the Catalina ferry!
