Knabe park is pretty much the first thing you pass by once getting off the ferry to Catalina…read moreIsland. It's a nice little park that offers a place to sit, swings, a slide, a playground area, a volleyball court as well as a basketball court. It's small, it's clean, It's fun and the kiddos enjoyed themselves.

We get off the boat and all the kids rush to this park. Don't we have parks at home? Yea but this…read moreone is super cool with its pirate ship. The kids are having a blast while all the parents are on the side telling them to go explore the rest of Catalina lol

The good: This is a great and spacious playground park that…read morefeels safe because it's across the street from the fire station! There's a fitness area, a stage, picnic tables, bbq grills, lots of slides, side bench areas to watch the kids on the playground, and nice shady trees. There was also a restroom. The picnic area looked clean and The bad: We didn't have enough time to fully enjoy the park because we came during the evening. The interesting: There were two older metal playground cars on the side that were a little lopsided. One was a police car and the other was a fire truck.

This was one of favorite Kid's Park in the island. The playground has three different slides, rock…read moreclimbing wall, monkey bars, a tunnel, a fire truck, bathrooms and even work out machines for adults. The park was clean and well maintained. Some of the workout machines included bikes, weights, and elliptical machines.

The good: This park was great for my toddler. She loved the…read moregiant jungle gym. This park is located near where the rental golf carts are toward where the boats are. There are picnic benches around and and some play drums. It wasn't crowded when we came. There were lots of spots on the side to park our golf cart. The bad: There wasn't much shade so it was pretty hot when we came. There aren't too many playgrond pieces outside of the large jungle gym climbing thing in the middle. This isn't the best playground for kids under 2. The interesting: There's another playground here about half a block away.

Such a cool hidden playground on the Island. Very interactive with climbing and running, or sitting…read moreand enjoying the scenery. It is located off the main strip tucked away near the golf cart rentals and retail shopping center near the Conservation store. Great spot for a picnic with the little ones allowing them to run around and get put their energy!

Hummer Tour Review If you only see Avalon, you've only…read moreexperienced one chapter of Catalina. I think Catalina is one of those places where many visitors never venture beyond Avalon and the beaches. This tour completely broadened my perspective. Our guide, Christian, made the experience exceptional. I love when someone's personal experience complements their professional expertise. He lived off the grid in Hawaii for nearly a decade, and it showed. His knowledge of the terrain, wildlife, plants, and even how to read the landscape came from years of living it, not just memorizing facts. Experience is the best tour guide, and Christian has a lifetime of it. As a hiking enthusiast, the mountains were calling my name. Exploring Catalina's rugged backcountry was the highlight of my visit. My teenager was fascinated to discover the island is so much more than beaches, and my mom found the peacefulness that only nature can provide. Three generations experienced the same tour in completely different ways, and each of us walked away impressed. The 2 1/2-hour tour takes place in an open-air Hummer-style vehicle that seats about nine people. We never got out during the tour, but honestly, I never felt like I was missing anything. The off-roading was exciting, and the time flew by because Christian kept us engaged from beginning to end. We learned so much, not only about the island's wildlife and landscape, but also about the people who have shaped Catalina's history. And that no so good takeover. I won't spoil the stories because discovering them yourself is part of what makes this tour so memorable. Booking was incredibly easy. Reservations were completed online, payment was seamless with a credit card, and when you arrive you'll simply check in and sign a waiver before heading out. The tour starts with a digital reservation but ends with memories that can't be captured on a screen. TIPS: I wouldn't wear white because of the dust. I recommend closed-toe shoes, sunglasses, and comfortable clothing. In July 2026, it was about 75 degrees. The moving vehicle creates plenty of airflow, so a light layer is optional but not necessary. For families, I think children who are naturally curious, enjoy wildlife, and like learning will have a wonderful time. Because it's a small group, it's best suited for kids who enjoy listening, asking questions, and exploring. We saw plentiful bison, horses, and even a dwarf mule. The only thing I didn't get to see was the Airport in the Sky, which had been on my wish list, because our group chose to spend more time exploring the backcountry and searching for wildlife. I have no regrets. The views are so spectacular that words become inefficient. Some places simply have to be experienced. This is one of those tours that might sound ordinary when you read the description, but it's anything but. If you only see Avalon, you've only experienced one chapter of the island. The wild heart of Catalina is waiting just beyond the pavement, and this tour is the best way to discover. BTW, the conservancy offers guided hiking tours and backpacking tours. In October you can have the chance to hike the Trans Catalina Trail 35 miles. Are you in?

My wife and I visited this place when we were on a cruise in May. We stopped in on our way back to…read morethe tender. There are many informative books and maps. They also have a lot of merchandise for sale. Some of the proceeds help support the conservancy and other parks. My wife liked a book on bison that she saw. Unfortunately we didn't purchase it and later she regretted doing so. I contacted the conservancy and spoke to Yesi. She was very nice and helped me to purchase and mail the book to our address. My wife was very surprised and happy to receive it. Yesi took ownership of the purchase and followed through to make it happen. If you are on a cruise or just taking the ferry over to the island, stop by the Catalina Conservancy. It's only a couple of blocks from the docks where the tenders are. Not only is it a worthy cause to support, but they have some great information and merchandise. You won't be disappointed.

*Beautiful gardens with some very unique, and endemic flora- some only found on the island or…read moreendangered. * Awesome birding here *Main path to the memorial is a gradual incline and on relatively gravel/ sand even terrain... off shoot walking paths to meander thru the gardens as well. * To get to the top of the memorial, there are a lot of steps to climb. Worth the view from on top. * You can jump on the garden to sky trail (near the memorial)... it is described as a moderate to strenuous hike and aptly so: some switchbacks, elevation gain, rocky terrain... but the views... oh the views are lovely. Of note you can also catch this trail elsewhere- but it all depends on you and the distance and time you have. * Operated by the Catalina Island Conservatory * To get here: you can either walk here from Avalon... but it's quite a ways. The public transit COAST is available but we found it impossible to secure a ride (didn't help that a cruise ship had come in that day), rent a golf cart for the day, or the best / hassle free option was to pay a small fee (about 13 bucks a person) at the Conservancy and they shuttle back and forth. The only draw back is you need to schedule your trip ahead of time and if you are a person who does not like itineraries when you travel, this may put a dent... but definitely worth a visit. *Restrooms are located at the entrance

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!

There are two main places to snorkel on Catalina, here, and Casino Point…read more Lover's Cove is a lot calmer and peaceful compared to Casino Point. The first time we came to Catalina, we came to Lover's Cove per brother's recommendation who had lived on Catalina for a summer. We really enjoyed our time! It was the end of October, and the water was surprisingly on the warmer side (though still cold after being in it for awhile...), and we even saw a sea turtle! I guess that is fairly uncommon.. my brother said the waters must have been especially warmer that year. There are a lot of fish here, lovely orange Garibaldi, and some other guys! You don't have to swim too far out to see them, which is nice for me because I don't really like swimming. I know how to swim, but once it starts to get deep (there's a part that kind of drops off), I start to get nervous. It's right in this area where you can see the fish, so I swim around, see the fish, and then swim back to where I can put my feet down and feel solid ground again. The second time we came back to Catalina for hubby's bday, in June. We wanted to see the second snorkeling spot. Casino Point is crazy (to me) .. it's just behind the Casino, there's asphalt, and then a bunch of stairs. I literally set up my beach chair on the asphalt, and watched my husband descend the stairs, and there were a bunch of snorkelers who looked seasoned, and people in actual dive gear. The ocean this time (end of June) was very choppy and freezing cold as well. The stairs were all wet from the waves crashing against it. I was afraid my hubby would get swept away! He claims to have been fine, but it's certainly not for the faint-hearted. He said it was pretty awesome, in that you're pretty much right there, with all the fish, almost instantly. I was not confident enough to get into the water here, plus, freezing cold okay? So we head back to Lover's Cove. I get enough guts to gradually acclimate to the freezing (to me) cold water, and plunge my head under to see the fish. Yay, fish! And then after doing that a couple more times, the fish to cold ratio started to balance out and I was starting to get really cold.. so we got out. It is indeed rocky (though they are round rocks), so bring water shoes if you have them or plan to get a deep tissue massage! We set out our chairs which we borrowed from our hotel on the rocks, so that was nice to have a place to sit versus last time when we put the towel on the rocks and could feel the rocks through the towel. Really love how this place is easy access to nature's lovely creatures, even for a rather out of shape person like me who does not enjoy swimming!

Spent an hour snorkeling here on a cloudy day (water was warm low 70s early September due to recent…read moreEl Nino). Water was clear, LOTS of fish, and uncrowded. The current and waves may get a tiny bit strong near the rocky shore but nothing dangerous. Do need to be aware of the boats like the yellow submarine that traverses the cove, and stay away. There are kelp beds but well below the surface.

Machine Gun Park on Catalina Island in Avalon honors machine guns from World War II. I find it odd…read moreto utilize weapons of war as a City Park, which is why I can only offer 3 YELP STARS here. This park is located behind a golf cart rental and as I was riding my rental bike around the island, I came across Machine Gun Park. It is kind of built up on a hill but there is the standard park features such as picnic tables and a playground for the kiddies. There is also a replica of a machine gun placed around the perimeter front entrance. This weapon is a captured German machine gun that was presented to the city of Avalon by the Catalina Island Post 137 of the American Legion. This patch of green grass is called "City Park" in Avalon but is also colloquially referred to as "Machine Gun Park. " Apparently. the history of this island does include quite a bit of war craft, especially during WW II. A story on KCET.org mentioned the intrigue. "Catalina Island nimbly reinvented itself as a training camp for spies, commandos, merchant marines, Coast Guard recruits, and other uniformed service members. Vacant hotels became barracks. Empty marinas, yacht clubs, and even the Chicago Cubs' spring training ballpark were transformed into simulated wa rzones. Engineered by the Wrigley family, which controlled much of the island, the tactic saved Catalina from economic disaster." When my daughter was younger, my ex and I used to take her to play in this park, when we visited Catalina Island. So it has many fond memories for me.

Gail P. Is a whiney ass bitch, give it 5 stars who cares if its a weapon of war, its badass ya…read morelibtard

This is a nice and clean little pirate themed park. It was small, but everything's small on…read moreCatalina island. But it was more than enough for the kiddos a.k.a. swashbuckling Buccaneers to play at and have a little fun before hopping back on the ferry.

I love that their is a memorial here for our veterans. After doing some research, Catalina Island…read morewas transformed into a military base during World War Two. It makes sense, considering its location. I am so grateful for our military and veterans and all they do, so that we can live free. Thank you!

Water shoes are a must bc it's all rocks! Rent a pair of lounge chairs in advance from the beach…read moreClub online. You can reserve for the whole day for a couple hundred which might seem crazy but it beats renting and. hauling your own towels, beach gear and arranging transit to claim a spot on the free but very limited sand area during high season. You end up spending nearly the same amount anyway but can actually sleep in, relax in comfort since they also provide towels, umbrella, free smoothies and butler service w/ rental. The club pretty much owns like 95% of the prime sandy portion of the beach. Don't miss out like I did bc I didn't plan ahead and it was booked up!

Rocks rocks and more rocks. We had a blast in the water but know that if you plan to frolic in the…read moresand there is minimal sandy frolicking space available. The beach has lots of rocks and you have to walk across them to get into the water. Clean area and there are cabanas and lounge chairs but you must reserve those ahead of time. Otherwise, spread a towel or blanket and enjoy the beautiful breeze and beautiful scenery.

This is a cute little park right along the water. The seal statue and story is so cute and can…read moremake for fun photos while on the island. It is a very small "park." It seems like more of a memorial, than an actual park. The only negative was that there were parents allowing their small children run all over the place; hanging all over the seal statue and jumping on and off the bench here.

Statue of old Ben on Catalina Island, old Ben was a sea lion that lived in Avalon and was somewhat…read moreof a local celebrity in the late 19th and early 20th century.