An hour-long ferry ride from Long Beach or San Pedro, pretty Catalina Island's windswept peaks and remote vibe have long drawn both celebrities and outdoor enthusiasts looking for an escape from the buzz of Southern California. In the island’s main city of Avalon, top things to do in Catalina Island include visiting the art deco Catalina casino which presides over a harbor where luxury yachts mingle with sightseeing cruise boats. Meanwhile, backcountry trails and rocky canyons home to roaming wild buffalo separate the city from the rustic village of Two Harbors, ideal for a true taste of solitude.
The island is at its most inviting in spring and fall. Fall visitors can attend the Catalina JazzTrax Festival, one of the longest running smooth jazz festivals in the world, or cheer on runners at the Catalina Island Marathon, one of the oldest races in California. And while summer brings sunshine and golden beach afternoons, it's often overcast until noon or later.
High-speed ferries reach Avalon from Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point, and Newport Beach in one hour; travelers aiming for Two Harbors must take a ferry from San Pedro. On the island, most residents get around using golf carts, which are rentable by the hour or day. Avalon has a good amount of public transportation options: the Garibaldi bus line, Avalon trolley, and free summer shuttles to Descanso beach.
Visitors come to Catalina Island to lounge in the Mediterranean-like climate, but the island also offers unusual wildlife spotting opportunities. If you’re interested, take the Wildlands Express Shuttles (run by the Catalina Island Conservancy) or safari vehicle tours to see resident bison, wild boar, endemic Catalina Island foxes, and bald eagles. For visitors looking to see some of the aquatic wildlife, there are similar options for scuba diving or taking a trip out on a glass bottom boat.
