Just off the coast of Southern California lies Catalina Island, with its main town of Avalon. Having lived in California my entire life, I grew up hearing about this tiny island that has inspired songs, television shows, and films since the early 1900s. In 1920, Al Jolson sang, “I found my love in Avalon beside the bay,” and in the 1950s, The Four Preps sang about the island “26 miles across the sea… Santa Catalina, the island of romance.” Scores of movies have been filmed on the island, which I learned more about during my recent visit.
The island and the quaint tourist town of Avalon, with its population of around 4.000, have always intrigued me. I recently decided to grab a friend and head to Avalon for a couple of days of relaxation and exploration. What I discovered is that you do not have to go far to experience the feeling of being far, far away and that Catalina is a perfect island getaway. Most people make this trip in the summer and focus on water activities, but we found that November is a lovely time to enjoy the island with cooler temperatures and fewer crowds.
Our trip began in downtown Long Beach, California, where we boarded the Catalina Express ferry. This is just one of four ferry terminals from which you can make the hour-long trip to the town of Avalon.
We caught the 9:50 a.m. boat and watched the Long Beach skyline fade into the distance.
As we arrived at the island dock, we could see the adorable town of Avalon that hugs the shore, the boats that dot the turquoise water in the bay, and the iconic Casino building on the other end of town.
Before looking for a good spot for an early lunch, we stopped at Pavilion Hotel, where we had made a reservation, to see if we could leave our backpacks until check-in. To our surprise, our room was ready and we were able to check in right away.
The lush tropical gardens throughout the property contributed to the island vacation vibe. The hotel sits in the center of the main strip facing the beach, making it the perfect home base for a couple of days.
We were also delighted to find that the hotel offers a number of perks, such as a $20 food and beverage credit, discounts on tours and activities, a communal fire pit, and a free wine and cheese reception each evening. The room was clean, comfortable, and pretty.
We asked the incredibly friendly staff for some dining recommendations and headed a couple of blocks down to the Metropole Cafe for an al fresco lunch. I would definitely order the Caprese “Pressed Sando” with sweet potato fries again!
It feels like everything on this small island is just that, small. There are some cars on Catalina, but what you see most are golf carts. In fact, some private vacation rentals come with a golf cart for the length of your stay. Even the mail carrier we saw was in a golf cart.
After lunch, we walked around the cute Metropole Marketplace and farther down the main street, ducking into a few shops to browse handmade soaps and candles, clothing, jewelry, and more.
The thing about landing on a small island with a tiny walkable town is that you quickly slow down and relax. There are things to do on Catalina, sure, but there is no sense in hurrying.
Catalina Coffee and Cookies was so good we stopped in on both days. The spicy chai and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies will not soon be forgotten.
One of our favorite shops was Catalina Pottery and Tile Company, which occupies what was once the town bank. The original vault now holds a treasure trove of antique island pottery made during the 1920s and 1930s.
The Bison Expedition tour we had scheduled was canceled due to heavy rain the day before, but the tour company gave us an immediate refund, and we used the time to do a bit more shopping before enjoying complimentary wine and charcuterie back at the hotel.
We did see some wildlife after all - two young deer spent the evening walking through town, though they evaded my camera.
We used our food and beverage credit toward dinner at the elegant Avalon Grille, which I would recommend to anyone visiting Avalon. The Wagyu Burger was delicious.
We ended the evening with ice cream at Lloyd’s of Avalon, a fun old-fashioned candy shop full of homemade saltwater taffy, old-fashioned confections, and vintage collectibles.
It was almost impossible not to stop at every turnout to capture the breathtaking views.
Avalon is just so picturesque, from the narrow streets and cute homes to the foliage-covered hills that rise above the town to the incredible colors of the water.
Casino means "gathering place," and this incredible structure, built in the 1920s, houses a stunning movie theater and a 20,000-square-foot circular ballroom with panoramic views of Avalon Bay.
This expansive theater appears just as it did in its heyday, with original murals, red velvet seats, and a theater pipe organ.
This theater was built to show the first talking films, the "talkies," and now plays modern movies on Friday and Saturday nights.
The tour was fascinating, taking us back in time as we visited the original projector room, peered into dressing rooms used by early Hollywood stars, and stepped onto the immense ballroom floor under a historic art deco chandelier.
Not quite ready to leave Avalon, we had one last meal at Antonio’s Pizzeria, one of those classic little joints with red-checkered tablecloths, peanut shells on the floor, and signed black and white celebrity photos covering the walls - an excellent ending to our trip.
After two relaxing days, I am putting Catalina Island on my list of places to go when I simply need to get away. After all, I still haven’t seen the bison.
Check out our video guide to this lovely Southern California destination below:
Have you ever been to Avalon on a Catalina Island getaway? We would love to hear about your experience in the comments. If you’ve never been, you can learn more on the City of Avalon website.
To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next on OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.
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