Located at the entrance of the Green Pleasure Pier on Catalina Island, the visitor center was…read moremanned by two friendly guides during our day visit to the island. Since we were part of the 4,000 people coming onshore from the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas, it was quite busy inside (assuming for the whole day) but the ladies seemed to be handling it with no problem. There are self-serve pamphlets for all the various attractions on the island. My brother's particular question was around getting info for the jet ski tour from Long Beach to Catalina. The guide explained that those originate from Long Beach, and that the jet ski tour guides here in Avalon provide one hour tours around the island. That was enough info to point us in the right direction, and we continued on our way.

The worst visitor center I've ever entered in all my travels across the USA and even…read moreinternationally! This place should be embarrassed! Shortly after arriving on Catalina island, we discovered that we somehow didn't have a ticket back to the mainland. After trying to book a ticket back, and finding nothing but fully booked Catalina Express boats, I came to the visitor center assuming they would be able to help with methods of transportation off this island and back to the mainland. The answer I got from the woman working behind the counter was, "Here's a brochure. Scan the QR code. You can contact Catalina Express or take the helicopter, but I don't know their availability." What kind of answer is that?!?!?!?! Here, scan a QR code? Seriously?????? I even asked this lady about the airport and she couldn't even tell me when they close for the day. Couldn't even tell me if there were private planes or private jets that fly in and out of this airport. How can you be working at a visitor center and not be able to answer basic questions about the airport? I needed to get off this island! I was ready to pay $1,000 or more to get home at the end of the night. This lady was completely incompetent and offered zero help and clearly demonstrated she had zero knowledge. After leaving the visitor center, I had to call a family member on the mainland and have them help find me a ride off this island! Within 1 hour, I had a ticket on the 7:45 PM Catalina Express. So here I am sitting at home, back on the mainland writing this review.....no thanks to anyone on this island, especially nobody from the visitor center! ZERO stars!

This is a great place to come to, to sit and relax while watching the boats go by and see the…read morepeople fishing with makeshift fishing equipment. Along the pier there is bathrooms, places to rent a motor boat and do some shore explorations at the entrance of the pier.

Of all the green piers I've ever been on, this one is the greenest. I like going through all the…read moreshops ( two if you count Yoshis ) and checking out the visitor information booths. This is where you'd board your rides for the glass bottom boat or submarines. The real feature here is the clear water. I've been around southern California ocean towns most of my life but I've never been able to walk to the end of a pier, look down, and see clearly to the bottom. You can see the Garibaldi as they swim around, no foaming tide or heavily oxygenated water whose bubbles hide anything. It's like looking into slightly refracted glass. At the far end of the dock is a machine where you can buy fish food. It only costs a quarter but I don't think the fish were having any of it on the day I went. Still, it was the most fun you could have for a quarter.

June 26 & July 5, 2025 | Catalina Island Avalon | The Catalina Island Museum is a great way to know…read moremore about the beautiful island, including its history! Experience | It was amazing learning more about Catalina Island: history, the famous people on the island, including Marilyn Monroe, as well as well-known Writers/Authors, incredible art pieces, sculptures, pottery, photography & even the blueprint of the spectacular Casino... and so much more! Lights, Camera, Action | There is also a sit down Theater inside the museum where you can watch a 15 minute movie about the history of Catalina Island! Tickets | $12 | Admission throughout the two-level museum, both indoor and outdoor! Stairs and elevator accessible! Gift Shop | Fun books, postcards, beautiful tiles, souvenirs, jewelry, figurines, Bath & body products ... The gift shop has it all! Overall | I enjoyed every moment at the museum, as Catalina Island Avalon is one of my favorite places! Exploring the museum is a great way to know more about the island and it's history!

Beautiful museum in Avalon surveying its history, from Native American settlements to the Civil War…read more(!), the great fire, the Wrigleys, WWII, the Beach Boys, and beyond! Has a nice gift shop with quality souvenirs, a theater with an enjoyable movie that gives you a great overview of the island's history, well laid-out exhibits, and galleries with local art and pottery. There is a large rooftop patio with a nice view, and one of my favorite plaques (by the elevator), which lists some of the local slang! (Eg, non-islanders live "overtown" on the mainland) A visit here will enrich your visit tenfold, giving you context to the paradise around you.

This image is the main thing you notice when you first dock here. The architecture is just…read moregorgeous. We were so looking forward to tour and see this historic spot. We didn't have any luck on Christmas Day as you would expect as most of the town was closed up. But on Friday we were able to get the self tour option. $20, the guided was $40. Wow they have really kept the place up in pristine condition. This place was purchased by the Wrigley/ Family Dynasty, actually they bought the entire island back in 1929. The reason it is called a casino is not because of gambling but for the Italian meaning for a gathering place. This location was one of the first theaters to have "talkie" films. I was very impressed with the way the caretakers have kept the original fixtures, seating, bars and even the restrooms are all kept in the 20's style. The seating on the first level has over 1800 seats. There is an original organ for when they hosted silent film festivals here. This was a place where all the rich and famous celebrities would gather for all sorts of festivals and events. This is a Must visit if you head over to the island. Impressive!

I've been Lindy Hopping/Swing Dancing since 1996...and finally got a chance to dance at the world…read morefamous Catalina Casino Ballroom! I had been to Catalina a few times, but never got a chance to go inside... The historic ballroom is gorgeous, glamourous, ginormous and grand! The symmetry and acoustics carry the music evenly throughout, the lighting scheme with its colors and tones make it magical, even during the day! The first floor theater is a retro art deco dream...incredible!

Catalina island gives us Californians another reason why it's such a incredible state to live in,…read moreminus the politics, homelessness, crime, fuel costs and the cost of living here, lol! My mom took me to Catalina for the first time when I was a child. In those days, there were flying fish jumping out of the water next to the boat ride from Long Beach to Avalon which are not as prevalent these days. I've made multiple trips since. Catalina sits about 25 miles (approximately an hour) off the California coast. There's multiple ferry services to Avalon from 3 or 4 ports in Southern California. Avalon is the primary destination for most travelers. It has a Mediterranean vibe and feels completely removed from California. The water is crystal clear which makes it awesome for snorkeling and diving. It gets extremely packed with tourist on the weekends, especially in the summer time. It's also a stop for the cruise ships coming from San Pedro on the 3-4 day Mexico cruises so when they all roll off the ship, the town doubles in population. Avalon has a large selection of hotels ranging from divey to high end, a good selection of restaurants from fast food to gourmet and tons of bars. If you want a slower pace, you can go to 2 harbors which has 1 restaurant/bar and a couple of campgrounds. You can also backpack across the island on the Trans-Catalina trail which takes 3-5 days. Overall, Catalina is a California gem worth visiting. It's hard to believe that there's so many people that were born and raised in Southern California and have never taken the short trip. Get out and explore!

Why fly to a tropical island when a beautiful getaway is just an hour boat ride away? I recently…read moretook the Catalina Express out of Long Beach--though they also have ports in San Pedro--& the transition from the mainland to the island is seamless. The moment you arrive in Avalon, you'll notice how incredibly crisp, clear, & clean the water is. The harbor is filled with boats, & the hillsides are dotted with charming, colorful houses that feel reminiscent of the Bahamas. You can even spot the famous Wrigley Mansion overlooking the town from the cliffs. Getting around is part of the adventure. You have a few solid options: * Golf Carts: Rentable for around $60/hour for self-guided exploring. * Guided Tours: A more premium $140 hour-long tour that takes you up to the airport and provides a chance to see the island's famous bison up close. * On Foot: We chose to walk, which is perfect for exploring the restaurants, bars, and shops in the main tourist area. While the island is famous for its Bison Burgers, we trekked out to the restaurant near the helicopter landing point to try one. It was a cool experience watching the helicopters come and go, but the burger itself was just okay--honestly, you're better off sticking to the fresh seafood. If you're looking for more than just sightseeing, there is plenty to do~~~ Scuba diving and kayaking Zip lining & horseback riding Glass-bottom boat tours It is a perfect escape from the heat. While the Valley was roasting at 90°F, the island was a crisp and refreshing 70°F. Keep in mind that everything on the island is very overpriced, from the food to the hotels and Airbnbs. Whether you want to camp under the stars or splurge on a pricey hotel, it makes for a fantastic day trip or a weekend retreat.

Zoom zoom partystarter…read more This was way fun! My husband and I did the 45-minute "Casino Tour" which takes you from the miniature golf parking lot on Sumner Ave to the famed casino along the bay. It was super scenic, and our guide Joe was very informative. He was patient when we first started (we were segway newbies), and gave us helpful instruction. He was also very willing to help us take fun pictures! They have a variety of more extensive (and expensive) tours. I wish we had more time to spend on the segway! It was a blast. What I didn't like was how Joe kept answering his cell phone while we were on the tour to schedule tours with his clients, and at one point this resulted in us "standing" around for nearly 15 minutes (which ended up extending our tour time, since he didn't count his cell phone time as part of our tour). This seemed rather unprofessional.

When you are stuck on a tiny island with 5 hours to kill you'll find you're willing to do things…read moreyou told yourself you would never do! I never understood why people use Segways. I mean, how lazy can we Americans get? Now we can't even be bothered to pedal on a bike or drag our legs on a skateboard or scooter? Our sedentary lives aren't enough? Now we need to STAND STILL on a motorized mechanism to get ourselves from point A to point B? All this being said, I did see that movie with Kevin James where he plays Paul Blart the Mall Cop (don't judge me it was a free movie on a flight). He had some pretty nifty moves on that segway of his so in the spirit of Paul Blart and needing to kill some time we decided to rent segways. Since it was our first time, we opted for the 1 hour package to the casino and back. I believe it was around $42 for the hour? The employees were very friendly and spent time with each of us teaching us how to operate the segway in a safe gated area. I have to say this was the funnest part of our experience. Each of struggled for a couple minutes before we figured out the machine. I think it took me the longest to figure things out. It took me a hot minute to figure out how to stop. I almost drove into a tree but seriously the instructor is so on top of it he doesn't let anything bad happen to you. He stopped me right in time. They took all the necessary safety precautions and once we all gained confidence in how to operate the segways, we were off! I felt safe with the employee leading us through the streets and down the paths. On our way back I realized that even though we looked like complete dorks, it was a great way to zip around and cover more ground. Would I use a segway ever again? Probably not.... I'd rather do Stand up Paddle boarding and use more of my core, paddle and have the added adrenaline of potentially falling into the water. Am I glad I did it? I sure am!

This is a member only club for preservation. You pass by this piece of history that was started…read morearound 1898 and learn a little history on your trip down Via Casino on the boardwalk. The jumping/leaping tuna is the significance of Catalina island. Lots of history to learn without becoming a member.

Very easy to take the ferry from Long Beach. Its quiet, very instagrammable place. Plenty of…read moreseating area close to the water, plenty of bathrooms along the road as well which was nice, area looks like its very well taken care of. Prices in the shops and restaurants are very decent, not overpriced. Day trip honestly is enough if you don't plan on doing water activities, we arrived at 9:15 am and we were done walking around by 3pm and was just waiting around for the ferry to go back.

The City of Avalon is the main destination for those visiting Catalina Island after they've stepped…read moreoff the ferry...or, if they're a bit more well-off, their private boat or yacht. Having lived on the East Coast, and spent time visiting sea-side resorts growing up, I get the feel of the city. The types of shops and sites and activities are very familiar. Restaurants and gift shops abound. But there are a few things that make it unique. First, Avalon, and Catalina Island in general, are beautiful. On the peer during the day you can see crystal-clear green waters with fish lazily swimming about. The mountains and flora are beautiful. And the non-native bison (shipped in for the making of Western movies) still roam. Though, apparently, not for too much longer. Second, in taking just an hour trip from Long Beach, you really do feel like you've gotten away from it all: one of the advantages of being a city on an island. Visiting Avalon as a day trip during the season (April to October, roughly) can be a nice excursion. It allows for leisurely strolls, visits to the beach and drinks or meals with friends. Personally, I'd have a hard time making it a more than a one day trip, but I'm not a huge hiker, nor do I engage in scuba diving. If you're, like me, just looking for a day trip, I'd suggest taking one of the morning or early afternoon trips on the ferry. You'll have enough time to see Avalon, do a little shopping and, most likely, see a marvelous sunset. The moon on the water is particularly beautiful. And then you can whisk yourself back at 7 or 8pm.

I haven't been here in years and it's just as great as I remember. Definitely worth taking a trip…read moreup when if visiting Catalina Island. The Catalina Island Conservancy group maintains this modest sized botanical garden and the Wrigley Memorial. If you gut a ticket for entry you can take their Jurassic Park type shuttle ride up to the gardens. I didn't know that so we hiked up and took the ride down. You can also rent a bike or golf cart and ride up. There are numerous trails to hike once up there and the beautiful Garden to Skyline hike is worth the effort. We didn't have time for it this trip which was a bummer, but it was a great visit nonetheless. The memorial reminds me of one of my favorite childhood movies- Labyrinth with David Bowie, and offers many neat opportunities for cool pictures. I hope to come back again and do the hike to the skyline where you get an epic view of the ocean.

Definitely a place to visit when touring Avalon, Catalina Island. From the port, it's about a 15…read moreminute ride, 40 for walking. We downloaded the Ride Circuit app and it's a $2 fee per ride, which you can't really beat! The place also does student discounts, which is a nice touch. Walking through the first part was nice. Reading information on the little cards about the plants and taking different routes. We actually got to see a tiny fox! It is uphill, nothing too crazy, just bring some water. The memorial at the top of the hill is worth your time. It is a climb up the stairs, so be prepared. Once you get to the top and oversee the garden and have a view of the port, you'll for sure gasp in surprise of the view. Pretty cool seeing a structure preserved! If you take the left path when you get to the memorial, you'll come across a little area called Little Fox Hollow. I'd recommend visiting and walking through. For little ones, but you can make it fun as an adult too! On the right path, there is a hiking trail about a mile long. A lot steeper than when you start from the entrance to the memorial. We didn't get fully to the top due to exhaustion. It gives a higher view than the memorial structure. Overall, I'd definitely come back when I visit Avalon, Catalina Island!

Captain John was amazing, he knew all the spots. We caught our limit of rockfish within an hour. We…read morewent back to dock to drop someone off because of motion sickness. John was super accommodating and he managed to acquire live squid for us to use for halibut/bass fishing. We caught 3 massive halibut, White Sea bass(wasn't a keeper), and white fish (also threw back). John cleaned our fish and bagged them for us. Amazing trip will definitely come back for yellow tail!

Our tour was AMAZING. Captain promised no dolphins because of how strong the current was but we got…read moreto see many. I pointed out that I saw something in the distance and without a doubt started driving that way.