Santa Catalina Island
Island · Avalon, California
Santa Catalina Island lies about 22 miles off the coast of southern California, reached by ferry in roughly an hour from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point. Nearly everyone lands at Avalon, a small harbor town of pastel houses on a crescent bay, dominated by the round Casino building of 1929, which is a ballroom and movie theater and never held gambling. Cars are tightly restricted, so people walk, rent golf carts or take tours. Most of the island is protected land, and the rough interior has hiking trails and bison descended from film animals brought over in the 1920s. Two Harbors, the island's quieter second settlement, sits on the narrow isthmus to the northwest. Day trips are easy and popular, but one or two nights is better because it lets you see the quiet side of the island once the day boats leave. Summer weekends are crowded and rough crossings are common, so confirm ferry times, fares and hiking permits before you go.
Avalon, Avalon, California, 90704, United States
The island is open year-round, but the ferries set the real hours. Boats run daily from the mainland ports, with more crossings in summer and on weekends and a thinner schedule in winter, so a day trip can leave only a few hours on the island if you pick the wrong sailing. Confirm times with the operator and check the last boat back before booking anything. Shops, tour desks and restaurants in Avalon generally open in the morning and close in the evening, with shorter hours midweek in the off-season. The zip line, glass-bottom boat and interior tours run on their own seasonal schedules, and the Casino can be seen only on a scheduled tour or show. Interior hiking needs a permit from the island conservancy - confirm the current rules.
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