Santa Catalina Island

Archive for June, 2006

Question: Fun things to do on Catalina Island?!?

well im going on a cruise and the boat is stopping on catalina island

what are some fun things to do on the island???

Answer: Get your own snorkel equipment before you go on the cruise and just bring it with you when you get off at catalina. There is a great snorkeling cove that is in walking distance of where the boats drop you off in avalon (the town on catalina). There are all sorts of fish in this cove and if you bring a can of spray cheese like you get for crackers you can feed hundreds of them. Even if you don’t bring food for the fish there are still plenty of fish and most likely someone else will have food that will attract all of them. This cove will be on the south side of the town and is very easy to find as there will always be other snorkelers in it. When we went we did this and still had plenty of time to rent a golf cart and drive around the town and some of the island. It is about $30 for an hour and a half or so. We even had time to do some shopping which is average for a tourist town. If you are into golf they have a small golf course on the island but you may need to book in advance. Hope you enjoy it.

Carnival Elation Cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada

Bonus: Catalina Island can be done on a shoestring budget!

You’d never know it in the peak of tourist season, (weekends June through October) but for three quarters of the year the hotels in Avalon compete pretty fiercely for your accommodation dollars. Even the two top hotels on the strip, the Hotel Metropole & the Avalon, (both excellent, historical, and nestled among the heart of the shopping district) can battle their prices down to the point where you and your family can stay in a suite for under $100 a night. I have personally stayed in a nice hotel just 1 block away from those two for $45 a night.

Need to stay cheaper than that? There are tons of camping areas dotted across the entire island. There is also a hostel in Two Harbors, the smaller of the two cities on Catalina Island.

If you’re looking for more noteworthy accommodations than these, the Avalon valley has two very famous hotels as well, although they are not within walking distance of the main strip. (You can easily catch a taxi-cart up to either one for three dollars, however.) The Zane Grey hotel, which was owned by the famous author, is sitting on the north slope overlooking Avalon. The other, atop the mountain on the south of the valley is the Inn on Mt. Ada, which is the most historical, interesting, and by far expensive place to stay on the island… Of course it comes with all meals paid for, and guests get their own golf carts to drive around town, too. You get quite a lot for what you pay there.

Catalina Island Hotels example Hotel Vista Del Mar

Getting back to my point, however, I should mention that Catalina Island is not a vacation spot restricted to the rich. Anyone who can afford to cross the 22-mile expanse between Long Beach and this amazing island can have an unforgettable holiday there for next to nothing. All the beaches are free, there are plenty of free places to drop your anchor near shore, and there is nowhere on the entire island to hike or explore that could possibly be described as ‘boring.’