This is my second time taking this class. I really enjoy learning the history of Catalina Island…read moreand Catalina Tile. Loved it so much the first time that I had to come back and bring my husband (huge history buff). Robin is a great host and full of information. Excited to receive our finished tiles in a couple weeks.

We have been visiting Catalina annually for 25yrs. This was our first time going to Silver Canyon…read morePottery to make tiles, and we wish we went a long time ago! Robin was great at providing us with a quick history lesson and she was awesome at teaching us how to make the tiles. We can't wait to see the finished tiles. Definitely do this on your first visit to the island!

Had to visit what is apparently the smallest library in all of LA County…read more And guess what, it's awesome! Met up with this CSA (OR CUSTOMER SERVICE ALL STAR) employee who gave me the lay of the land and a full rundown in terms of the library's history, etc. I didn't stay for long cuz it was too much to see, but I certainly appreciate his insight and the time he took to set me up for success. Did I mention he also hooked me up with the latest Hello Kitty and Friends LA County library card? Thanks for the great experience my friend, your a credit to the LA COUNTY library brand!

Catalina Island Library: A Hidden Gem for Community Connection…read more RELAXING MEETS READING ON THE ISLAND Sure you're on the island and the beach is nearby, enhance you're dopamine. Check out a book and get the best to nurture your soul and mind. The Catalina Island Library though officially Avalon Library, is a small space that goes beyond its shelves of books to become a true sanctuary for the community. Nestled on this picturesque island, the library is more than just a quiet place to read--it's a safe haven for youth, especially during after-school hours when parents are often juggling demanding work schedules to make ends meet. SAFE SPACES FOR GROWING MINDS What sets this library apart is its deep commitment to being a hub for connection and support. For many families, it offers a reliable and welcoming space where youth can feel safe and out of trouble creating a sense of intimacy and community that larger institutions sometimes lack. Although there is no GED program on site, adults can participate in digital learning. I support an onsite program so parents can have credentials and work ONE sustainable job. The two job grind at no joke. LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN BOOKS Catalina Island Library exemplifies the idea that libraries are about more than books--they are vital community anchors. By providing a safe space for youth and continued connection for learning, this library stands as a reminder of why supporting libraries matters now more than ever. INVEST IN LIFELINES FOR OUR COMMUNITIES Let's continue to invest in all libraries. If there's any initiative on any ballot about the libraries to preserve them vote "yes", no matter what city county state or country. Catalina Island Library, is where everybody knows your name (get the pun)? Libraries are not just repositories of knowledge--they are lifelines for those who need them most. *Librarian service: Fantastic Librarian knowledge: Morgan is personable and and librarian approved *Cozy seating: Meh WiFi and computers: Very good *Wireless provider: I have At&t and had 5 bars across the island NOTEWORTHY If you're on a Cruise get off the ship and spend your day in Port at the library. "A mind is a terrible thing to waste." ----Booker T. Washington #AvalonLibrary #Catalinalibrary #SaveLibraries

I visited RUTH MAYERS GALLERY on Catalina Island with some High School Friends . I am also an…read moreartist , so I wanted to go on the weekend when they have the annual Art Festival. Iam so glad I went because I was fortunate to meet Ruth Mayer who was painting another beautiful painting of the Casino & the amazingly beautiful water. She was so friendly & interesting to talk with. My friends & I also went again to visit her Art Gallery which is where we spent at least a hour viewing with awe The many beautiful paintings of Ruth's. Meeting with Ruth's son at the gallery made our visit even more enjoyable. He was very knowledgeable & shared some interesting stories about his mothers art. I highly recommend anyone visiting the Island to see all the gorgeous art in the Gallery located on Summer Pl.

At first impression, this looked like a cute little gallery with prolific and diverse pieces of…read moreart. But a chance conversation with the store manager made me do a complete double-take. I was extremely surprised to find that all these works were completed by the same person! Her paintings included portraits, cityscapes, serene beachscapes, animals, whimsical figures, and abstract collages. She also has an impressive mastery of capturing the movement of light within her paintings. In one framed print that contained sailboats docked along the shoreline amidst the dusk and illuminating moonlight, the store manager (who also happens to be the painter's son) showed us how the setting quickly transformed into an effervescent dawn scene by just adjusting the power on the halogen light bulb that shone onto the painting. It was amazing, and I was soon lusting after the piece. Unfortunately, it was out of my price range, and I had to walk away before I blew off next month's rent. My boyfriend did end up purchasing one smaller print, which depicted vivid blue and rose views of the sunset and the water along the bay. The store manager was very nice and friendly, often telling us stories about a few paintings. We could tell that he was very proud of his mom. We walked away very happy with the purchase, and we look forward to visiting this and the Laguna beach store if we're ever in the area.

Who would have thought I would have had time to actually visit the islands museum?…read more So here's the thing, if you're here strictly for fun and sun and, you won't have the time. You'll be too busy getting a tan, and focusing on those good life vibes! That's going to leave very little time and energy for any kind of cultural or educational endeavors. So I decided before this trip, that while there was no getting away from the food, I would definitely take the time to check out things that are usually off the beaten path. This museum is an absolute must stop on any persons voyage here. And while there is a plethora of exhibits to enjoy, it is small enough as a whole for you to go and see all the exhibits on it's two floors.

Small but bright, informative, interesting museum on the Island. Lots of local history exhibits…read more They had a looping movie about local history done in a mix of newsreel and TV news styles fitting the era & topic presented. Cool. Surprised to learn about the Island's connection to Marilyn Monroe, Wrigley chewing gum, and the Chicago Cubs. The museum also was hosting several artists' exhibitions. Narsiso Martinez's artwork depicting California agricultural labourers was particularly impressive. Some of the works don't get shown to the public often. One of the museum's docents gave interesting background on the artist and the backstory for some of the art pieces. If on Santa Catalina Island, this museum is worth a visit.

A friend and I visited this gallery in spring 2026 and each created paintings, and I bought an…read moreadditional painting. Gregor (?) was an excellent instructor, very patient and lowkey. The paintings are beautiful.

Although I didn't buy anything here, I did have a good time watching others go in and participate…read more The art looks really interesting in both concept and finished product. I see a few negative review here but I can only judge based on what I saw as we walked by and watched others taking part. It looked fun. I'd get one but I've literally nowhere to put it unless I start nailing artwork to the ceiling.

I'm a bit of a Mt Ada regular; this was my 6th stay and, due to the rainy/windy weather, the most…read moresurreal. I stayed just after the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend. All boats to and from Catalina Island were cancelled on 2 days of my visit, forcing other guests to change their travel plans. I ended up being the sole guest for all 3 nights of my stay here! With some whispers of Mt Ada being haunted (but not as many as Banning House Lodge in Two Harbors), I was a bit concerned, but fortunately had no paranormal experiences. To briefly review Mt Ada's history, it was once the Catalina home of William Wrigley Jr. and family, of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame. He was instrumental in putting Catalina "on the map", and his descendants still own the Catalina Island Company, which runs Mt Ada, Hotel Atwater, Pavilion Hotel and Banning House Lodge, as well as other businesses. All my stays at Mt Ada have been with the Company, although it was previously run as a private B&B. Mt Ada still runs as a B&B, as opposed to a hotel. It's a pricey stay but has many many perks that justify the expense. These include transportation to and from the boat or helicopter terminals, use of a golf cart throughout your stay, daily made-to-order breakfast and lunch, pre-breakfast continental breakfast, afternoon wine/cheese/charcuterie, 24-hour butler's pantry with snacks like gelato, chips, cookies and popcorn plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, discounts on Island Company tours and activities. Currently there are about 4 main people interacting with guests at Mt Ada, plus "behind the scenes" kitchen and housekeeping staff. My past reviews have mentioned a stay here is more like a visit to a home, as opposed to a hotel. There will be times when you may not see any staff (especially at night). But Pierre, Liz, Tim and Yoli (Yollie?) work their hardest to accommodate guest needs--they are the chauffeurs, front desk, waiters, luggage handlers, concierges, etc. I applaud them all. One of Mt Ada's pluses is its location on the hill (Mt Ada) above Avalon Bay, even above the main Bay viewpoint that all the rental golfcarts stop at (traffic jams are common here). It's quite peaceful, although in busy times the noise from "downtown" does carry uphill. Mt Ada has 6 rooms. The room I booked was the Grand Suite, Mr. Wrigley's former bedroom. It's the largest room, with a separate living and bedroom, a bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and a large terrace above the first floor terrace. It has a fireplace, as do 3 other rooms, and a raised bed that requires stairs to access, as does one other room. The living room has an antique "radio" that is seen in photos with Mr. Wrigley. There are radio stations hand-written on it; I was appalled to see "graffiti" defacing this historic relic. The terrace is fabulous, but alas the weather prohibited much use; I feared the high winds would blow the cushions on the chaise lounges over the railing. Even the dining tables on the first floor terrace were stored; in more temperate weather it's the loveliest place to enjoy breakfast or lunch. The breakfast and lunch menus have some new items and some old faves. Once again a fabulous and peaceful stay. Thanks again to all the staff. With the Pavilion Hotel reopening soon, Mt Ada may be the next property to undergo renovations. I hope it does not lose its charm or homey character.

We stayed here from 11/11/25-11/13/25. We had booked out the mansion for the first day, leaving 2…read morerooms open the second day. We had a wonderful time. This place is truly magical. We saw many deer, a fox, and all kinds of birds. The staff here are very accommodating, we especially liked Pierre. His charming French accent was really enchanting. This place is full of really unique antiques, lots of snacks, beers, wines, hard alcohol, tons of nonalcoholic options too! The afternoon they place a very nice charcuterie, the morning they place coffee just outside the grand suite, with OJ, champagne, decaf coffee and hot water and warm, freshly baked muffins. I'm looking forward to coming back here again. Hopefully for our anniversary or my bday. It's apparently very difficult to book for July 4. The views of the island here is phenomenal.

After 30 plus years decided to knock out a long overdue trip to Catalina Island…read more I was told by various AI models that this could be accomplished for the incredibly road rate of less than $10 bucks round trip. Suffice to say that ended up being more challenging than I thought. For starters, this was going to be in one day trip with me doing about 8 hours on the island. The boat would leave San Pedro at 8:45 am, and I would need to be on the last boat heading back to San Pedro by 6: 00pm. The round trip between the islands and the mainland was not factored in. That was $90 flat. My journey started on the bus from Culver City, and initially looked promising. I started off going east on the MTA 108, boarding on Green Valley Circle and Buckingham. (The bus stop is right in front of the old Jewish cemetery, Hillside). After about 15 to 20 minutes I started to get notifications that I was going to be in trouble and wouldn't make the ferry from San Pedro to Catalina is staying on public transportation was going to get me there about a half an hour late! Various AI models told me I could literally get from Culver City all the way to the boat in San Pedro for under five bucks, but there was a small price to be paid....LA traffic. For anyone who's familiar with Los Angeles itself, I made it as far as Figueroa. Yes, notorious Figueroa! From there, there was no way around the inevitable, which was to dial up a lift or an Uber. Boom! There goes $50 bucks! I lucked up and got an awesome driver who literally got me to the dock with about 10 to 15 minutes to spare. The ride over from San Pedro to Catalina was pleasant, with the occasional big wave-no whales or dolphins unfortunately. Smh The captain & her staff were very accommodating, and all went well-until I dropped my old Surface laptop in the restroom, shattering it. (She was about to die anyways-and was proof positive that you can actually buy an open box product, and get multiple years of usage out of it. We eventually pulled up into Catalina (the Avalon portion) and the rest was history. Beautiful views and an awesome atmosphere much the way you see depicted in postcards and you name it. Glad to be here, it's long overdue!

We've stayed here anywhere from 2 - 4 nights at a time…read more We like to get out and do things so we generally divide our time between hiking, snorkeling, sight seeing, dining and shopping. We've taken the Catalina Conservancy tour and visited places like the Casino, Wrigley Monument, Botanical Gardens, Museum. Ideally you want to be here when the weather is in the 70s and sunny, which for our latest trip in mid September it was. We mostly walk although we have rented a golf cart at times too and driven around the rim of Avalon in the hills. Just make sure to get out

On a one day visit to Catalina Island, there is so much to do, see and eat…read more To start, rent a golf cart or wear good walking shoes because this port is not too big for tourist exploration. There is also a "Circuit" ride share that will take you around the island for $2 per person. Coming in by tender from a cruise ship is great. The docking area is in town and so close to everything. I exited the tender and walked along the waterfront where I passed a few children's playgrounds with a pirate theme. Then on to where the golf carts are rented. I walked to the pier (Green Pier) where there are bathrooms and many small shops all hoping for the tourist business. They carry the typical port souvenirs. After a long walk on this short pier I got to the end where there is many people fishing with poles and the little set ups they will sell you for a few dollars and the bait too. There are plenty of benches to sit and watch the boat come in and out of the harbour. There is a small beach area that has lots of pretty colored little rocks along the shoreline. The walk to the round Casino Building is pretty much the end of the road before a mountainside resort. I passed by some waterfront restaurants that were even crowded on a cloudy day. My walk back to the tender was quick and the ride back to the cruise ship was also pretty nice and calm.

Great day trip with smooth "sailings" there and back. Tickets were easy to get and upgrade as…read moreneeded.

We loved the hotel. Located on a side street and away from the busy Front Street shops and…read morerestaurants. We stayed two nights, and it was great. Our room offered a nice balcony with views of the bay. The bed was comfortable and cozy. The bathroom was large. We had cups and a coffee maker along with a mini fridge, so it was everything we needed for our two night stay. They offer a continental breakfast each morning out on the patio, which is a peaceful spot to just sit, enjoy the firepit, and koi pond. Or the roof deck is awesome with a BBQ, tables and chairs and stunning views. They also offer trays so you can take your breakfast back to your room and have breakfast in bed. Spoiled! The staff couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and accommodating. Evelyn was awesome, thank you for the smiles and truly wonderful service throughout our stay. Off the boat, we went to drop our luggage to store until check-in. Fortunately we were there during the week, and our room was ready earlier, so we chilled a bit before heading out to explore and have lunch. They also held our bags upon check out. After we returned from an adventure, they allowed us to sit on the patio and enjoy the sun before we had to be at our boat. We couldn't have asked for a better stay, and we will absolutely go back. Just a note for anyone who has mobility issues. The hotel is awesome, but note that you have to walk part way up a little hill to reach the stairs to the small lobby. There are stairs to the lobby and depending on which floor your room is located, there is no elevator, just stairs. For someone in a wheelchair or needing a walker and unable to climb stairs, it is not doable.

My husband and I stayed at the Avalon hotel for 2 nights and had a great experience. The staff was…read moreso friendly and helpful! They held our luggage for us after we checked out while we waited for our ferry time to arrive. The reason one star was docked down was due to the fact it is located slightly up the hill & after cutting my foot on the rocks at the beach, was super hard to get up that hill, and their "breakfast" was only bagels and some other random pastry items. We've stayed at many hotels that offer free breakfast that have WAY more items to choose from, including a pancake/waffle bar, eggs, sausage & hash browns. For the price of the rooms, you'd think the hotel would offer more like a simple Best Western does. The room itself was clean and had a pretty view of the docks. Absolutely loved the staff though!!