Catalina Island Day Trip Guide: Avalon Checklist

If you’re planning a quick escape from Los Angeles, Catalina Island day trip is the perfect one. Avalon is the island’s most charming town, walkable and photogenic. Here’s exactly how my one-day adventure unfolded.

✔️ Take the Morning Ferry to Avalon

Start your day trip with a scenic ferry ride from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point. The trip takes about an hour, and arriving early helps you make the most of your day. Tickets can be purchased online in advance (recommended). We took our ferry from Long Beach, which is one of the most popular departure points. The ferry is comfortable, stable, and offers indoor seating, outdoor decks, and a small snack bar. The approach to Avalon is stunning – pastel houses, the harbor full of boats, and the iconic Casino welcoming you in, and it instantly feels like arriving somewhere completely different from mainland California.

✔️ Grab Breakfast by the Pier

Kick off your Catalina Island day trip with a casual breakfast right on the Avalon Pier. I went for fish & chips – an unconventional island morning meal :).

✔️ Explore Avalon’s Colorful Streets

Wander through Avalon’s charming, walkable streets. You’ll find:

• Boutique shops
• Cafés
• Local ice cream spots
• Golf carts buzzing everywhere (the island’s main means of transportation)

Soak in the slow, breezy vibe that makes Avalon feel worlds away from the mainland.

We didn’t rent a golf cart because we weren’t planning to leave Avalon. And honestly, strolling through town was easy and enjoyable. That said, if you do want to try one of the island’s most iconic experiences, renting a golf cart is easy and fun, especially if you plan to explore the scenic viewpoints above Avalon.

The two main rental companies are Catalina Island Golf Cart Rentals and Island Rentals. Both are easy to find right in town.

They offer 4 and 6-passenger golf carts, with prices ranging from $65 to $85 per hour, plus a deposit and the usual extra fees (because no place in California operates without additional fees :). Unfortunately, rentals are limited to a 2-hour maximum. All drivers must be at least 25 years old and carry a valid driver’s license with them.

If you’d like to:

• Explore Avalon’s hilltop overlooks
• Visit the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden
• Drive the scenic loop with panoramic harbor views

…then a golf cart is the quickest and most fun way to do it.

However, if you’re staying in Avalon only, like we did, walking is genuinely all you need and lets you enjoy the island at a slower, more charming pace.

✔️ Visit the Historic Catalina Casino

Stop by the island’s largest building and simply most iconic landmark. Imagine the golden-age glamour of the Ballroom and admire the historic Theatre’s beautifully preserved Art Deco interior.

Despite the name, the Catalina Island Casino has never been a gambling house. The term casino is of Italian origin, refers to a social club or “gathering place” – and that’s exactly what this building was designed to be. Built in 1929 by William Wrigley Jr. (yes, the chewing gum magnate), the Casino became a glamorous cultural center and, at the time, one of the most ambitious architectural projects in Southern California. Today, it hosts annual galas and seasonal celebrations. For general visitors like us, there’s a self-guided tour with an admission fee of about 22 $.

✔️ Relax at Descanso Beach Club

Just a short walk from the Casino, Descanso Beach Club is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and unwinding. They also have cabanas and a lively beach bar. Must-try here: Buffalo Milk cocktail – Catalina’s creamy signature drink – a rich and sweet milkshake-like mix of vodka, coffee liqueur, and crème de banana, topped with whipped cream.

Keep your eyes open – we spotted adorable fawns wandering right by the shore!

✔️ Dinner by the Ocean

End your afternoon with seafood at Bluewater Grill, a spot with an elegant vibe and polished ambiance. I ordered swordfish and tuna – great flavors… but the portions were small. Solution? Grabbing a hot dog afterward, which turned out to be an unexpectedly hilarious and surprisingly satisfying move. Island life! 🙂

✔️ Sunset Walk Along Avalon Bay

End the day with a peaceful walk by the water, cappuccino in hand, noticing the vibrant hand-painted tiles tucked into benches, steps, and fountains – a legacy of the island’s 1920s pottery studio – and watching Avalon glow in the golden hour before boarding the ferry back…