Hey travelers! Welcome to my blog post on the best things to do in Catalina Island. My name is Divya and I’m from Los Angeles. Apart from being a part time content creator, I own and run a small business named Coffee World. Growing up, my parents would take me on vacations to other countries which sparked my passion for travel. Now there is no stopping me!
I remember the first time I visited Catalina Island. It was for my birthday and my friend took me over for the day. I fell in love with the island and wanted to come back for a longer time. Last month, I got the chance to revisit with my boyfriend. We stayed at Hotel Atwater, did the Aerial Adventure tour, rented golf carts for two hours, ate dinner at M Restaurant and had a nice lunch at Descanso Beach Club. It was a fantastic little trip.
The best way to describe Catalina Island for those who have never visited is that it resembles a coastal town on the Mediterranean coast of Europe. The island is one-of-a-kind, it’s super unique and it offers activities for people of all ages – there are great food options for all diets and overall the atmosphere is relaxing. One of my favorite spots on the island is a scenic viewpoint by the Catalina Chimes Tower. It’s a great place to take photos.
Top 5 Things To Do in Catalina Island
1. Rent Golf Carts and Explore Catalina Island
One of the best ways to see the city of Avalon (the only city) is by renting a golf cart and driving around. You can rent them from the good folks at Catalina Island Golf Cart Rentals & Tours. The cost is $55 per hour and they can be rented for one or two hours, which is a good amount of time to go exploring. Golf carts give you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
2. Take to the Trees on a Catalina Aerial Adventure
Here you can enjoy a unique outdoor experience. Jumping, climbing, swinging and crawling through a series of trees and obstacles is a lot of fun! It feels like you are a monkey. Aerial Adventure was an awesome experience for me because I have never done anything like this after becoming an adult – like revisiting my childhood. Doing a ropes course as an adult is also a lot more challenging and it creates many laughs.
In fact, my favorite experience from this trip was the Aerial Adventure tour. My boyfriend and I had such an amazing time going through the ropes course, especially the black diamond course which was the hardest course. We didn’t expect it to be as hard as it was – so the experience was super rewarding in the end realizing that we completed the hardest course.
3. Enjoy a Few Drinks at Descanso Beach Club
I highly recommend grabbing a drink and relaxing next to the stunning beach at Descanso Beach Club at some point on your Catalina trip. Take a walk along the lovely waterfront past the Casino and you will find Descanso Beach Club – the only beachside restaurant & bar on the island. This is a wonderful place to relax, watch the scene go by and enjoy a few drinks.
4. Grab a Cone of Ice Cream from Scoops
If you love sweet things then head over to Scoops (homemade ice cream) to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings. They are located on Crescent Avenue just before the green pier next to Latitude 33. The homemade ice cream here is phenomenal and their ingredients include the freshest fruits and berries. Scoops has 12 “Pozetti” wells to choose from. Perfect for a hot day!
5. Have Dinner at Maggie’s Blue Rose (Mexican)
Grab dinner at this yummy Mexican restaurant! Maggie’s Blue Rose overlooks Avalon Bay and Crescent Avenue in a stunning setting. The cuisine here is authentic Mexican and the margarita selection is top notch. Order a few tacos, empanadas or enchiladas and pair your dish with some nice drinks. You will have a great time at this authentic Mexican restaurant!
Tips for your Visit to Catalina Island
If you are looking for accommodation on the island, I can absolutely recommend Hotel Atwater. It was the perfect walking distance to all the activities and restaurants. Overall, the staff and service was amazing. It’s important to book your hotel before you make your way over to the island. There are two ways to get to Catalina Island, either by a helicopter ride or by boat. You can book your ferry ride from Catalina Express ahead of time.
