**Updated Summer 2022**

We had spent two night on Catalina…sure that’s not how most ‘one day in…’ pieces start, but…maybe they should. See, we were shooting with Expedia and had 3 days to ‘do the island’ and deliver our video highlights. So, in that time, we tried like everything we could get our hands on…even a bunch of stuff we wouldn’t have chosen on our own.

By the end, we had gotten a pretty good idea of what there was to do as an average visitor to Catalina; both the things we’d repeat and the things we’d avoid.

• In reality, Catalina is sort of a weird destination – it’s just off the coast of LA, so it feels day-trip worthy, but it’s expensive to get to and pretty expensive to stay overnight as well. So, considering a trip to Catalina is really a risk-reward balance.
• If you’ve decided that a day trip is your best option, I’m totally onboard. Just don’t spend your time relaxing in the sand (you can literally do that ferry-free all throughout LA). With only one day, do some preplanning – make some advanced reservations – and dig into the island with both hands.

Sure, with one-day on the island, you can’t do everything. But, 1 Days is Totally enough to leave saying ‘Yeah, I’ve done Catalina’.

Having done a bunch, here are : The 7 Things We Would Do Again & Recommend to All Our Friends

• Rent a golf cart to explore the city
  • With only one day to see the Island, renting a golf cart is imperative. It’s the only way you’ll really get to explore up in the hills and also have time to do anything else. Plus, driving up and around Santa Catalina on a golf cart is really fun.
  • Check out I Love Catalina for rental companies & a map that shows where to go and where to avoid.
• Kayak from Descanso Beach to Frog Rock
  • Since it’s an island, you might assume that there is a pretty good beach scene, but the Pacific surrounding Catalina is actually bustling with life and sites. Just heading out a bit off the shore, you’ll find your way into the kelp forest that surrounds most of the East side of the island. There’s a good chance you’ll see some sea lions, seals, dolphins and fish.
  • To get a better understanding of the environment and have your best shot at a dolphin or sea lion encounter, sign-up for a guided tour. A trip out to Frog Rock is a pretty good workout but doable, taking about 2.5 hours.
• Zip-Line through the Canyon
  • If you’re looking for the best view of the island’s coast, this is the place to go. Composed of 5 lines that criss-cross the canyon, dropping a total of 600 feet, this is a good, long & fast zip course. Our experience here was highlighted by the guides – a really fun team that got everyone excited to leap off into the air.
  • This is the most ‘sold out’ tour on the island. So, plan and book ahead of your trip.
• Snuba (Yes, you read that correctly)
  • I didn’t know how popular Catalina Island was for scuba diving until our first stroll around the Old Casino. Unfortunately, neither Jade or I are Scuba Certified. So, on our first trip – we just got to sit on the wall and watch others explore under the sea. Not any more.
  • Snuba is a combination of snorkeling and scuba, allowing anyone to get up close and personal (and under the water) with Catalina’s wildlife. Everyone (age 8 and above) can dive down to as much as 20 feet during their excursion.
• Downtown Avalon
  • Eat locally made taffy & fudge – To balance out the island excursions, spend some down-time in downtown Avalon. Lloyds of Avalon has been creating candy with many of the same recipes since opening in 1941. This is truly a Catalina institution.
  • Bowl in the 2 Lane Bowling Alley – This spot is especially good for families and people who don’t want to ‘check-out’ during lunch. 3 Palms Avalon Arcade is a mix of restaurant and arcade featuring classic arcade games and – yes – a 2 lane bowling alley.
  • Massage and Relax – Catalina is widely known for massage and spa culture. There’s a wide selection of spas and massage parlors within Avalon – book ahead to get your ideal time (like just in time to finish and catch the boat back to LA).
• Visit the Airport in the Sky
  • For a long time, Catalina was most famous as the home of the airport that Harrison Ford flew into just long enough to grab a bison burger. Sitting 10 miles away from Avalon- it’s about a 30 minute drive (no I don’t believe that a golf cart can go to the airport).
  • Aside from hiring a car, the best option to get to the airport is the Catalina Wetlands Express Shuttle – which is awesome because it actually continues beyond the airport and into Little Harbor (a very much less visited spot on Catalina).
• Tour of the interior & Spot a Bison
  • This is the most under explored attraction. Catalina is actually home to a number of species that can only be found on this island – and small(er) bison are the most iconic. Pretty much all of these animals don’t make an appearance in Avalon, so you have to head out into the forest to get your perfect view.
  • Touring the interior can eat up a bunch of your day. If you want to explore this side of the island, make sure you plan the rest of your day around this.

Whatever you do on your Catalina Island adventure, plan ahead and don’t just hang out on the beach. Have a great time, and then relax back at your home beach the next day.