Things to Do on Catalina Island with Kids
Only an hour away by boat from San Pedro, Dana Point, Long Beach and Newport Beach, Catalina Island offers a perfect family weekend getaway.
Catalina Island (or Santa Catalina) is one of California’s Channel lslands that lies to the southwest of Los Angeles. The island is only about 76 square miles in size. Its main town is Avalon with a population of about 3,700, and the resort town of Two Harbors lies to the north.
About 88% of Catalina Island is protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy (if you could see me, you would see me clapping), which was set up in the 1970s and includes the Trans Catalina Trail that traverses the island and typically takes 4 days to hike. The island is known for its spectacular dive spots and local wildlife.
Ferry Ride
Just getting to Catalina Island is a fun-filled experience. Daily ferries to Avalon, or the more remote Two Harbors, operate out of several ports including the following:
Dana Point Harbor
Long Beach Harbor
Newport Beach Harbor
San Pedro Harbor
Ferry rides typically take about an hour and tickets cost around $40 each way for adults depending on the season and the day of the week.
You can almost always spot pods of dolphins as you travel across the seas to the island and if you’re lucky, you might even spot a whale. Gray whales have one of the longest migrations of any mammal, over 12,000 miles round trip, and the best time so see them on their journey off the coast of Southern California is from December to April.
For ferry information, visit Catalina Express.
Things to Do:
If you are going to spend a weekend with the kids at Catalina Island here are some of the top things to do.
Bison Expedition
Catalina Island is currently home to a herd of approximately 120-150 American Bison. Although they’re commonly referred to as “American Buffalo,” buffalo are native to Africa and Asia and only bison are found in North America and Europe.
Adult males weigh an average of 700-900 pounds and are often 6 feet tall.
The Catalina Island Conservancy works to protect these magnificent creatures in part by controlling their population to avoid any negative ecological impact on the island. At one point, the herd grew to as many as 600 and efforts had to be made to relocate some of them to the Great Plains with the help of local tribes.
Why are the bison here you might ask? Well the origins are interesting and vary depending on who you ask. The most common explanation is that a small herd was brought to the island in 1924 for filming the silent movie, The Vanishing American, and left behind. Interestingly enough, the parts of the film depicting the bison were left on the editing room floor as the final version of the film depicts no bison, nor does it show any terrain that resembles the island. Accordingly, a local reporter back in the 30s attributed their arrival to the filming of The Thundering Herd instead. Regardless, they are not native to the island and it is commonly told they were brought in by Hollywood and abandoned once filming was completed.
If you are visiting the island with kids, my number one suggestion is that you book a two hour, 4-wheel drive Bison Eco Tour to see them up close and personal. Seeing them is quite a thrill and a jeep tour is a great way to experience the more remote island interior which is beautiful. Just a warning though, it’s a bumpy ride!
For more information, click here.
Seal Rock Safari
Journey across the sea hugging the island’s rugged shore on an ocean safari in search of seals and sea lions. The cruise takes you to the eastern tip of the island to what is known as Seal Rock. If you book your cruise at sunset, you will marvel at the reflection off the water as the sky lights up in shades of crimson and gold making the journey even more spectacular.
For more information, click here.
Zip Line
Need an adrenaline rush? Treat the kids to a Zip Line Eco Tour. Experience the thrill of soaring above the tree line at heights up to 600 feet above sea level on one of Catalina’s five high-speed ziplines some of which travel up to 40 miles per hour. Get a bird’s eye view of the island that just can’t be beat. Just know that this is a high-octane thrill so if your kids (or you) are timid, you should know they do not offer refunds if you change your mind.
Catalina Rock Climbing Wall at Descanso
Photo courtesy of Catalina Island Company.
Located near the Zip Line Eco Tour base camp is a 32-foot rock climbing wall with 8 color-coded routes up designed for skill levels ranging from novice to advanced that will give you quite the work out. The Climbing Wall has a high-tech system that manages the lines so climbers can be lowered safely and slowly during descent making it perfect for kids.
Photo courtesy of Catalina Island Company.
Catalina Aerial Adventure
Located near the Descanso Beach Club, an adventure awaits. The Catalina Aerial Adventure is like an obstacle course nestled amongst the Eucalyptus trees with 5 different self-guided courses that require you to conquer a network of rope ladders, balance beams, zip lines and bridges. There are 2 beginner courses, 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced course to accommodate all skill levels.
Photo courtesy of California Unpublished.
Mini Golf
A block away from the beach near the meeting point for many eco tours, is Avalon’s Golf Gardens, an 18-hole mini golf course that’s been there for almost 50 years. When you read about the course online, you may hear it’s one of the most beautiful and challenging courses around which I think is a little bit of an exaggeration. Regardless, mini golf is always a lot of fun and you really can’t beat playing a round on a classic style course on an island getaway. So, I still highly recommend taking the kids.
If you go on the bison tour or a 4-wheel drive eco tour, it’s a perfect way to end the day since the tours drop you off right next to the course.
Photo courtesy of Three Palms Arcade.
Arcade & Mini Bowling
I am a huge sucker for a good old-fashioned arcade where you win tickets that you can trade in for all kinds of fun junk and candy prizes. So, it will come as no surprise (especially to my grandkids) that I highly recommend taking the kids to the Three Palms Avalon Arcade. This arcade/fun zone not only offers arcade games, prizes and big screen TVs, it is also home to Island Style Bowling, a miniature size bowling alley with mini bowling balls that I am completely obsessed with. You can even order food, beer, wine or cocktails while you play.
My recommendation, take the kids out for burgers and fries near the water’s edge, grab an ice cream as you stroll through town under the light of the moon, and end the night at the arcade for a few games and some mini bowling.
Rent A Golf Cart
Catalina Island visitors are not allowed to drive cars on the island and most residents rely on golf carts. Seeing all the little golf carts go whizzing by as you walk around Avalon is just part of the fun Bohemian island vibe that Catalina has to offer.
Now, I realize renting a golf cart might not seem like a lot of fun, but I think you would be surprised. It’s really a great way to explore the island and kids love it! We took my granddaughter to Catalina Island for her 8th birthday and this was literally the main thing she begged us to do – rent a golf cart. So, if you have the time, why not? You will get a great lay of the land and overview of Avalon in a short period of time. Just note that Catalina’s interior is off limits to golf carts, so a 2-hour rental is usually plenty of time for exploring.
For more information on golf cart rental regulations and rental locations, click here.
Glass Bottom Boat Rides & Semi-Submarine Tour
Discover the underwater world of Catalina Island and all of its unique habitat residents and creatures by booking a glass bottom boat ride or semi-submarine tour at Avalon Bay. Glass bottom boats are like a window into another world full of colorful fish and sea life as you explore Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve.
Snorkeling
Whether you bring your own snorkel gear, rent it or book a guided snorkeling tour, Catalina Island is a great place for exploring Southern California’s underwater marine life.
Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve offers a great area for snorkeling especially in the summer when water temperatures average 70 degrees, some of the warmest waters along the Southern California coast. Another great spot to snorkel is the Casino Point Dive Park located just off Avalon, or you can venture to Two Harbors on the other side of the island to escape the crowds.
Be aware that if you are swimming or snorkeling at Lover’s Cove, the glass bottom boat tours have the right of way so be alert and pay attention. Make sure to educate your children so they are cautious.
For information on renting snorkel gear, click here.
Swimming
One of the best places to swim on Catalina Island is in the pristine waters of the beloved Descanso Beach. The area offers soft white sand beaches surrounded by palm trees swaying in the wind for a relaxing day of sunbathing. The Beach Club offers cabana rentals and chaise lounges with food and beverage services. It’s an ideal spot to grab a towel and a good book and get your toes in the sand.
Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens
The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens is located up Avalon Canyon, a 30-minute stroll from the center of town. There is also a city bus that takes you right to its entrance. The area is great for hiking around its beautiful grounds and I recommend the popular Garden to Sky Trail. The monument itself is the center piece of the gardens honoring William Wrigley, Jr., an island resident from 1861 to 1932, who is probably best known for his chewing gum.
The monument was built mostly from local materials and quarried stones. The blue flagstaff rock on the ramps and terraces is from Little Harbor, the red roof tile and colorful handmade glazed tile is from the old Catalina Pottery Plant. The surrounding gardens were the idea of Wrigley’s wife Ada who oversaw their creation. While standing atop the monument, you can actually see the other side of the island in the distance.
Catalina Casino
The Catalina Casino is the most well-known landmark on the island and is often the classic Catalina photograph you find in travel magazines. However, it’s not a casino at all. The Catalina Casino is actually a large gathering facility that offers a movie theater and ballroom, and was once home to the Catalina Island Museum. The building is absolutely beautiful and a great spot for a stroll.
Catalina Island Museum
The Catalina Island Museum opened its doors in 1953 in Avalon’s historic Catalina Casino. As of 2016, it has been moved to the Ada Blanche Wrigley Schreiner Building. It provides over 18,000 square feet of exhibition space and its new home offers all the amenities of a modern museum. The exterior design is representative of both the Spanish Mission style and the Art Deco influence of the 1920s. It also offers an unusual amount of exterior space both on its rooftop and the adjacent gardens. It houses exhibits related to Catalina Island’s unique history.
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