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    Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden

    4.0 (173 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Garden views
    Nan H.

    Nice, small botanical garden that is easy to get to via ride from the Nature Conservancy. Some native plants and many other interesting ones, including lots of succulents. Most plants are well-marked. Also, a good place to spot birds but my Merlin app didn't help because of limited cell service. Easy to walk around, though uphill, which we liked. Wonderful views of the bay and coast. Great staff. Well worth it - - plus you are supporting the important work of the Conservancy!

    Sammy L.

    Plant lovers make a stop here! It's a small botanical garden but worth it! The memorial at the top has a beautiful view and the history is cool. The California native plants and the succulents are healthy and thriving. They have some water bottles and little gifts you can buy at the ticket booth. Very simple place and a lot of shuttles and circuit cars coming by, so if you need to get back to town just ask if you can get a ride back, probably $2 per person. The Garibaldi city bus no longer runs in Avalon so you'll have to take Circuit most likely or walk, I believe it's about 40 min one way. Enjoy my friends!

    Wrigley's mausoleum
    Brandy W.

    We hiked in from the back and got in that way, but honestly, I wouldn't pay to come here. It's over $10 (not exact, though I want to say I saw the entrance sign say $12 for adults). It's a nice area with a bunch of plants that have signs, but there's a road/walkway in the middle and it just doesn't have that fancy garden vibe. Lots of cactus and just kind of... okay. At the very end is a mausoleum for William Wrigley. He was buried there for a short time (climb the stairs!) but was relocated to the mainland in Glendale. That was the coolest part of the place. The area is grand, but he died in the 1930s and the place could use a little power washing. Pretty cool spot. You can keep to the right of the mausoleum and open the gate to hike up a dirt service road trail on the Trans Catalina Trail.

    Mimi L.

    A fairly small botanic garden in Avalon. It's located a bit further from downtown so tourists would need a golf cart to get here. We visited on a cloudy day so the sun wasn't bothering us. Barely any shades here so it's better not to visit during the sunniest and warmest summer days. We walked around and took photos of the desert plants. Best part was a baby fox standing in the middle of the road. Foxes are native to Catalina island and they are protected species. Great to see wildlife thriving after so much rain during winter. We didn't climb up the memorial building but I think it's a good place for photo ops. Wear comfy shoes for the dirt roads and mild hike. Overall I enjoyed this little garden, it's a great place to visit if you love desert plants and some mild hiking!

    View from mausoleum
    Charlotte B.

    If you don't know what else to do in Avalon, I would recommend visiting. I thought the mausoleum was beautiful and had a nice view of the ocean. They had some videos to watch and information about the gardens etc. The garden was primarily different cacti which are cool, but it wasn't what we were expecting. It's not worth $15 for cactus and a mausoleum. I'm still glad that we saw another part of the island though. We took a taxi to the gardens which was our best option especially during the summer months. It's uphill, but a good walk up there. There was no phone service, but thankfully a taxi was already coming.

    Lee K.

    On a beautiful day, this place is a nice 1.5 mile (30 min) walk from the center of Avalon. For those who like a good ascent, you won't be disappointed. On a hot, sunny day, because there is NO shade along the route to the garden, it's better to catch a $2 bus ride runs every 15 minutes. The grounds are beautiful with well maintained cactus gardens and some unusual plants that are unique to the island. The memorial is a beautiful structure dedicated to William Wrigley Jr, the founder of the largest chewing gum company in the world. Aside from the beautiful grounds and structures, you can catch some striking views of Avalon Bay from this summit.

    As some others noted in their review, some plants had wire around them but a good majority did not. It is very leisurely and laid back. I paid online, which seemed to be the best because others noted their machines were not working and cell service was slim.

    Nicholas G.

    Beautiful garden with many native plants. The Memorial is beautiful and provides a view to the ocean. It's a bit of a hike, we rented a golf cart to come see this place.

    Memorial
    Stephanie B.

    Was pretty disappointed by this botanical garden. Everything was very overgrown and not kept up with well. The garden area was incredibly small. The highlight was the memorial building, but other than that, there is not much to see there. We did the gardens to sky hike, which was nice, but you shouldn't have to pay to do the hike. Costs $12 plus tax for adult entry, which was not worth it to me.

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    8 months ago

    While the history behind the gardens is interesting, the plants are in poor shape and aged. A very natural setting, peaceful and serene.

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    Love this place. Fun to walk there. You got to see the campgrounds and the golf course and all sorts of stuff in town along the way.

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    Nice little 10-20 minute walk to the top of Wrigley Memorial. Entrance fee free for Veterans.

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    Ask the Community - Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden

    Is it pet friendly?

    When we were there, we didn't see any pets. Call them to be sure

    Are dogs allowed? I saw a review where they brought their dog and another review saying dogs aren't allowed. Which is which?

    It's a cloud kitchen. So you only walk to the counter to place and pickup your order from a locker. Service dogs may come into that reception area.

    Are we able to walk throughout the garden and take pictures there?

    Definitely; you can walk all around the gardens and up on the Memorial building; lots of great photo opps.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden

    Amazing hiking trails around this memorial to the chewing gum magnate that made Catalina what it is today.

    Mentioned in 29 reviews

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    Catalina Museum - June 26, 2025 | Thursday | Inside of the museum!

    Catalina Museum

    4.2(63 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    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.

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    Catalina Museum - June 26, 2025 | Thursday | Outside of the museum on a hill!

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    Catalina Island Conservancy - Garden flowers

    Catalina Island Conservancy

    4.3(76 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    We booked several items through the conservancy. First I will let you know that we are members,…read moreand it has some nice benefits. One day we went to the botanical gardens and the Wrigley Memorial. With the level of membership we have, we saved ourselves the entrance fee to the botanical gardens and memorial and our shuttle up to the gardens was complimentary. If you aren't a member the fees are nominal and it helps the conservancy. John was our driver and he gave some great information and history of the island on our way up and back. We didn't know what to expect from the botanical gardens and we loved it. We walked up to the memorial which was really interesting. There are plaques that explain the history of the memorial to Wrigley. As we walked back down we took all the various trails throughout the garden and some some interesting plants, insects and ended at the little amphitheater where we watched a couple of the films they have on the island and the gardens. I have read that others found the gardens to be boring and they only spent a short time. Everyone is different, and the time you spend is dependent on your interests. We took the 10:15 am shuttle and came back at 11:45 am. We found that to be plenty of time, but not too much time, it worked out well for us. It was fun! We also booked our shuttle up to the Airport in the Sky for a hike and lunch through the conservancy. It was great. Our driver was so friendly and explained so much about Catalina's backcountry.

    We went to Catalina to do a bike packing trip accross the island. I was naively thinking we would…read moreget information in addition to the bike permits at the conservancy. But no, this is mostly just another overpriced gift shop. They don't really have much information, no informative displays, maps or handouts. there are some flimsy flyers for $11.95 plus tax each and a subpar map for $5 or 6. The employees are not knowledgeable or helpful. They just want you to do everything online. Which is a joke given that many people won't have cell coverage in most parts of the island and even if you had coverage eventually on a multi-day camping trip the phone's battery will fail. And if we do everything online then what's the point of this physical location? Or of the employees? Also, I contacted the conservancy before my trip and never got a response. This island is so amazing, what a shame the conservancy can't do a better job sharing information.

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    Interior

    Catalina Island Conservancy - Cute Fox

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    Nature Center at Avalon Canyon

    Nature Center at Avalon Canyon

    4.0(3 reviews)
    0.3 mi

    We walked there from the boat dock and it was an enjoyable walk. Took approximately 1 hour because…read morewe made many stops along the way. The Nature Center is located towards the most distal part of the Island, so if you walk there, you will have the opportunity to do a lot of things such as sightseeing, playing at parks (if you have children), sitting down in the shade, seeing wild animals such as deer, birds, and squirrels. There are also at least three public bathrooms on the way and an interesting "Bird Park" that seemed to be closed. If you did not make any stops, you could walk to the Nature Center from the dock easily in 20-30mins. My 7 year old daughter easily made the walk without any complaints. Nature Center: free. Small and doable in about 15 minutes. There are also clean bathrooms inside and someone working at the front desk to answer your questions. They sell stuffed animals and some little souvenirs that were a little more expensive than the items found on the Green Pier. There was a coloring station that consisted of a small table and two little chairs, pictures and coloring pages were provided. There was a digital microscope and we spent some time placing everyday objects underneath for viewing (dollar bills, hands, nails). There were also some interesting facts and an iPad connected to a large screen TV...wasn't operating the day I visited but I think it was supposed to be display a short video. Afterwards, we did not want to visit the Wrigley Monument nor the Gardens, so we took the bus back to the Pier. Bus cost $2/person and arrives every 20 minutes. The stop was situated less than a one minute walk from the Nature Center. Overall, it's a quick place to stop if your'e visiting the Island. Something fun to add to the itinerary for the day.

    We actually really liked this place. It is small, but it's free to go inside and there are a…read morenumber of informative boards for those of you who like history and nature. You can get to know a little bit more about the island, and also, clean bathrooms. We stopped here on our way up to the Wrigley Memorial during our walk. You can also get hiking permits here. There's also a little table for kids, with children's books and coloring too.

    Photos
    Nature Center at Avalon Canyon - Front desk lady

    Front desk lady

    Nature Center at Avalon Canyon - Stuff

    Stuff

    Nature Center at Avalon Canyon - Stuff

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    Mt Ada - The sitting room! (Ooops!  I forgot to clean up my knitting first!)

    Mt Ada

    4.5(143 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$$

    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.

    Absolutely the best accommodation on the island. Spectacular views, the house is gorgeous, the…read morestaff is impressive and attentive. Highly recommend!!! There are only six rooms so book early!

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    Mt Ada - Oh!  The sunsets are spectacular!

    Oh! The sunsets are spectacular!

    Mt Ada - Relaxing and enjoying the view!...even for my workaholic husband!

    Relaxing and enjoying the view!...even for my workaholic husband!

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    City of Avalon - Avalon bay night views

    City of Avalon

    4.1(56 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    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.

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    City of Avalon - 4th July fireworks on the water

    4th July fireworks on the water

    City of Avalon
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    Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden - gardens - Updated May 2026

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