You have a few different transportation options when it comes to getting to Catalina. The most popular choice is to go by sea. Catalina ferry boats operate out of coastal Southern California towns like Dana Point, Newport Beach, Long Beach, and San Pedro. Traveling by boat, you get the chance to see wildlife like whales or dolphins on your way to the island. Some visitors love to sail their way over to Catalina, which can take several hours from the mainland. There are also q

Fun fact: it is quite common for Catalina Island teens to learn to drive in a golf cart. There are not a lot of cars on Catalina! Owning a full size automobile like a car or truck on the island is a privilege for only a small percentage of Avalon residents. The waiting list for residential vehicle permits stretches about 25 years. In order to keep the number of full size vehicles on the island at a manageable number, the city typically only issues one new permit for every tw

Crossing the Catalina Channel can be a thrilling experience. Truly, part of the fun of your Catalina trip is your ferry ride over to the island. Think of it as the beginning of a beautiful adventure. An incredible diversity of marine life occupies this stretch of ocean in between the Southern California mainland and Santa Catalina Island. In fact, this passage of the Pacific is sometimes even referred to as a whale super highway. On your boat ride, you might spy gray, humpbac

Upon arriving in Avalon, most visitors are charmed by the views of the Catalina Casino, the boats in the harbor, the long Green Pier, the striking ridgeline of the island, and the collection of hotels, houses, and businesses that dot the town’s landscape. There’s so much to do in this little island town: golf, swim, dive, shop, dine, paddle, and, of course, relax. However, on Catalina Island, there is much more to explore, and you don’t see it all when you first arrive. In fa