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If you read my post on how to get to Catalina Island, you’re probably wondering what there is to do here. The island is fairly small and can be a place to get away for a day, but I escaped to this quintessential beach town for the weekend.

Avalon is the only incorporated city on Catalina Island and is the southernmost city in Los Angeles County. It’s clean, safe, laid back, and offers plenty of things to explore, eat, drink, and relax.

1. Avalon Beaches

Avalon has three public beaches and one private beach. I learned that one of California’s last private beaches with public access is located right here at the Descano Beach Club.

Middle Beach

Middle Beach overlooks the center of the harbor and this is where the majority of the town’s shops and restaurants are located. If the weather were warmer, I can definitely see this beach being a fantastic place to soak in the sun.

During my visit to the island, the beach was transformed at night into an outdoor dining space. A total of six local restaurants are open in this space for an outdoor beach dining experience.

Step Beach

Walking with Zooey in front of the Via Casino arch

Step Beach is located in the area in front of the Via Casino Arch and is a pretty narrow stretch of sandy space along the water. I think this would be a great place for a picnic as the views are gorgeous and there was less foot traffic here compared to Middle Beach.

Descanso Beach Club

The Valiant in the distance at Descanso Beach

Just beyond the world-famous Catalina Casino is Descanso Beach, which is a private beach with public access. Access to the beach is $2; however, I didn’t encounter any fees when I visited in November. The beach is part of the Descanso Beach Club, which offers a restaurant, bar, chaise lounge, and cabana rentals.

Zooey and I enjoyed the beach here and I noticed there was a shipwreck (called the Valiant) here just off the beach. Apparently, the cause was due to fire back in the 1930s. If you are into diving, it’s one of the easiest wreck dives and a popular destination for local scuba divers.

2. Descanso Canyon

If you’re in the mood for some physical activity, there is plenty to do at Descanso Canyon. The Canyon is situated just 600 feet above Descanso Beach Club and there are plenty of activities at the Aerial Adventure Park where you can enjoy zip lines, suspension bridges, and various climbing structures within the trees.

Sitting in our golf cart at the Descanso Canyon parking lot

None of the outdoor activities are pet-friendly, but I parked here and took Zooey to the grassy area where she was able to run around. Since this was a great spot for Zooey to run around, I returned later that night to take her out for a walk but it was completely dark.

I thought I saw someone out on the grass, but when I got closer, I realized it was a herd of deer grazing. I obviously didn’t want to disturb them so I turned around and headed downtown for Zooey’s walk.

3. Catalina Casino

Standing in front of the Catalina Casino entrance

I was hoping the Casino would be open for a tour, but due to the pandemic, it was temporarily closed. I initially thought the casino was a Vegas-style gambling venue, but it’s actually a massive theater and event space.

It was commissioned by William Wrigley Jr. (yes, the American chewing gum guy) and you can’t miss this building as its structure dominates the island. Even though I couldn’t get a look inside, I enjoyed walking around the premises.

4. Green Pier

View of the Green Pier from Bluewater Avalon restaurant

I took a walk on the pier one night with Zooey and noticed there were a ton of tour booths here. The Visitor Center is also located here so it’s a great place to stop and get visitor information if you’re keen on diving and safari tours.

5. Scenic Drive

Avalon, Catalina Island’s main town, only encompasses one-square mile and many attractions are within walking distance. If you want to drive around the island, you can rent a golf cart and easily explore the mountain terrain.

The Vrbo home I was staying at came with a golf cart, so I took advantage of it and spent about an hour (which is plenty of time) driving around the island. The views are gorgeous and I spotted deer everywhere. The deer population on the island is abundant so you have to be cautious when driving; especially at night.

6. Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden

The drive up the mountain to the botanical garden was gorgeous and I spotted several deer along the way. I wasn’t aware that dogs weren’t allowed inside the garden, so I wasn’t able to enter the premises.

The guide suggested dog-friendly hikes in the area, but I wasn’t wearing proper hiking shoes and the grounds were pretty muddy from all the rain, so I had to skip the garden and hiking. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the scenic drive up and hope to return to the gardens someday to view the Art Deco memorial.

7. Downtown Avalon

There are plenty of shops and dining options in downtown Avalon and it’s a pleasant area to walk around. A charming brightly-colored water fountain called the Cabrillo Fountain appeared to be the focal point of the town.

We had dinner on our first night at Bluewater Avalon, where we had the best views of the Green Pier. However, the food was VERY average which was disappointing because their entrees were not cheap. I was definitely paying more for the views than the food.

8. The Metropole Market Place

Across the street from Bluewater Avalon is The Metropole Market Place which is an adorable cobblestone village. I purchased a cup of coffee and a couple of fresh-baked cookies at the Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co.

If it wasn’t for the off-and-on rainy weather during my weekend visit, I probably would have walked here every morning and afternoon to grab a latte and cookies. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I was pretty obsessed with their homemade cookies.

Where To Stay

Vrbo Spectacular Harbor and Ocean View Home - We stayed at this amazing home and had amazing 280-degree views of the island. The rental also comes with a 4-seater electric golf cart, so you can get around the island with ease.

Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel - Clean and modern rooms with spectacular ocean views. About an 8-minute walk to downtown Avalon.

The Edgewater - Located in the heart of downtown Avalon and steps away from beaches, shops, and restaurants.

Vrbo deck with Amazing views of Catalina Island

How Do I Get There?

There is only one way to get to Catalina Island and it is by a ferry called the Catalina Express. There are three port locations: San Pedro, Dana Point, and Long Beach.

The most popular port of embarkation is Long Beach and that is the port I used. Here is my step-by-step guide from booking my ticket to the onboard experience on the Catalina Express.

The Catalina Express docked at the Avalon Port

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed my time on this quaint island even though I didn’t have the best of luck with the weather. Since a huge storm rolled in on the weekend of my visit, the ports were eventually closed and none of the ferries were operating for a day and a half. This meant fewer people on the island, which was nice to have this town to ourselves.

There were moments of sunshine in between the two days of rain, so whenever the rain clouds passed, I hopped on my golf cart to explore. Surprisingly, I was able to explore the island a lot more than I thought I would be able to. My visit was in November during their off-season, which I imagine is a different vibe compared to their high-season in the summer.