“I found my love in Avalon, beside the bay; I left my love in Avalon and sailed away; I dream of her and Avalon, from dusk til dawn and so I think I’ll travel on to Avalon.” -Al Jolson

We have been to Catalina Island twice, on our honeymoon and on a family trip. We just did day trips both times but I would love to spend a few days on the island! Here are some of the things we did and some interesting facts about Catalina!

Transportation

To get to Catalina Island you will need to take a ferry from Los Angeles to get there. I booked our transportation in advance through Catalina Express for both of our trips. The ferry ride is about an hour from the mainland and the water can be pretty choppy depending on the weather. They have different times scheduled all throughout the day of when they go to and from the island so make sure you plan accordingly on your times.

Things To Do

On our honeymoon we went to the Catalina Island Museum and it was interesting to learn more about the history of the island but it was a strange museum and when we went they had some bizarre exhibits so I am not sure if they are still there or if they changed them.

I would highly recommend doing a tour of The Catalina Casino and no it’s not a casino where you gamble, it’s an entertainment theater! It was built in 1929 and is equivalent to 12 stories tall. It has a movie theater and a ballroom inside of it and has been featured in multiple movies over the years. While visiting the theater our tour guide said that it has some of the best acoustics in the world. They walked to the very front of the theater talking all the way down the aisle while we were seated in the back and as soon as they got to the front and turned towards us it sounded like they were right next to us. It was crazy! I would highly recommend visiting.

While there, we also did a glass bottom boat ride and got to feed the fish. It wasn’t as cool as I thought it was going to be because the bottom of the boat wasn’t all glass only small holes across the boat. There was also a lot of people on the boat at the same time. I think if you went with a more expensive company that did small groups in would be a better experience.

There are so many different shops and restaurants on the main drag through the town. We ate at a restaurant with a great balcony right on the water with fabulous views! It’s also fun to window shop in all the stores!

Interesting Facts

The Spanish named the island “Santa Catalina” after the colonized California.

Catalina Island has been the filming location for over 500 movies and films.

Many Hollywood stars loved spending time on the island. Some of these included Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and Charlie Chapman.

The golf course in Avalon was built in 1892, making it the oldest golf course in Southern California.

Catalina Island is apart of Los Angeles county.

If you are looking for a fun day trip away from LA or for a weekend getaway, Catalina Island is a great place to explore!