Los Angeles is a city filled with delicious food, rich art and music, high-end fashion, interesting history, and unfortunately, traffic. Although we love exploring this metropolitan city, sometimes we just need to escape its hustle and bustle.
Catalina is a quick ferry or helicopter ride from Los Angeles and a perfect spot for a quick weekend (or day) trip away from the city. The island is complete with crisp air, clear water, and the friendly town of Avalon.
Once you arrive in Catalina, it is easy to explore the island by foot, especially since Avalon is only about 1 square mile. But, we highly suggest renting a golf cart in order to make the most of your time and see the entire island.
Start off your morning with the Garden to Sky 1.2 mile hike. This moderate trail is located near Avalon. It concludes with a breathtaking view of both sides of the island (and a perfect instagram post).
After you’ve worked up quite an appetite, we suggest heading over to Original Jack’s Country Kitchen. It is almost guaranteed that they will have your breakfast (or lunch) meal of choice on their huge menu. I would just say -Top off whatever you order with a fresh brewed cup of Kona coffee.
Make sure to catch an Inside Adventure Tour to see a side of Catalina that will surely take your breath away. From the canyons to the coastline, you will get a glimpse of Catalina’s wildlife including the bison, boars, turkeys, eagles, ravens, and more. You might even come across the beautiful deer by the Nature Conservancy like we did.
Although we did not get a chance to try it, the word on the street is that the snorkeling and scuba diving off the island is unparalleled. We definitely are going to check it out during our next trip to Catalina, and we think you should too.
At the end of the day, enjoy a drink and a sunset swim at the Descanso Beach Club. During the summer, the club has a DJ spinning hit tracks every Saturday and live music performances every Sunday. This little paradise is the perfect way to unwind after a successful vacation on Catalina Island.