I have wanted to visit Catalina Island for a few years and was finally able to go in June. Catalina is an island located near Southern California and is a short boat ride away from several cities. You might be wondering what to do on Catalina Island. First of all, I recommend a water-related activity since you are going to an island. However, there are several fun things to do on the land as well!
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Once you are on the island you have a variety of options to chose from on how to spend your time there. You can rent a golf cart and explore the island. You can rent kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats, snorkeling gear, and a few other beach items. If you would like to go parasailing there are options for that as well. They do have a zip line tour if are looking for an adventure while on the island. If you are looking for some pampering you can check out the spa. During the day they have tours of the casino which now serves as a movie theatre and plays one movie nightly.
We ate lunch at Bluewater Avalon which is right on the water. You can eat indoors or out and will have a pretty great view no matter where you sit. Due to the severe drought on Catalina if you order water it will be bottled and you will have to pay for it. I ordered fish and chips which were delicious and my mom orders a crab blta (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado) sandwich which came with homemade potato chips. The food was really great but we were more pleased with the view. There are lots of places to eat in Catalina and the majority of them offer an incredible view. If you are looking for seafood or burgers and sandwiches Bluewater Avalon is definitely a location to consider.
We thought about kayaking or renting jet skis but decided to explore the island and do some shopping. Most of the touristy stores have the same items so if you like something you will most likely see it again so don’t feel like you have to buy the first thing that you see. We walked down past the casino and came upon a beautiful resort that had the most secluded beach that we saw.
If you want to do something in the water be sure to walk down here because you have so much more space. There are little storage bins for your things so you don’t have to worry about your stuff while you are having fun. Suggested items to bring: water & snacks, a towel, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and any other beach items you would like to have with you like a chair or an umbrella.
Looking for things to do on the mainland? You can check out my post of 101 Things to do in Los Angeles.
