Island Escape: Your Ultimate Catalina Travel Guide

If you are visiting or live in Southern California, a quick trip to Catalina Island definitely needs to be on the itinerary. The entire island spans approximately 75 square miles with the highest elevation of 2,097ft. You may also recognize Catalina Island from the infamous 'Catalina Wine Mixer' featured on Step Brothers (and yes, I definitely just mentioned the Catalina Wine Mixer and yes, this has become a real event on the island each June!).

Getting There:

There are two main methods of transportation to Catalina Island from Southern California.

1. By Ferry: A low-cost (approx. $30 per ticket one-way) option with departing location options of Newport Beach, Dana Point, and Long Beach. One-way is approximately 1.5 hours in duration.

2. By Helicopter: A premium (approx. $135 per ticket one-way) option with departing location options of Orange County, Long Beach, San Pedro, and Burbank. One-way is approximately 15 minutes in duration.

Where to Stay:

There are several options in Avalon between hotels, condos, and AirBnBs. Some of my favorite stays are:

• Hotel Atwater

• Bellanca Hotel

• Hamilton Cove

• Pavilion Hotel

What to Eat:

Given the size of the island, there aren't too many options on Catalina so luckily, I've tried them all and can share some of my recommendations:

• For Breakfast: The only option I would recommend is the breakfast burrito at Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co. It is hands down (outside of Baran's in Hermosa Beach, CA) the best breakfast burrito in all of Southern California.

• For Lunch: Catch some great views on the patio of Bluewater Avalon. They have some delicious beers too, which are great for a hot summer day.

• For Dinner: Make sure to check out El Galleon, The Lobster Trap, NDMK Fish House, and M Restaurant.

What to Do:

VisitCatalinaIsland.com is the best site to find and book all of your activities. Again, the island is small so there are limited options, however you do have a blast on each of them. In priority order, I would recommend:

1. Bison Expedition

2. Ridgetop Eco Adventure

3. Undersea Sub Expedition

4. The Catalina Casino

5. Hiking to the Sky

Overall, I highly recommend visiting Catalina Island at least once in your California adventure. The locals are absolutely wonderful and it's a relaxing experience all around.

With love,

Eloiza