The LA Island Beloved by Hollywood Stars

You can see California’s idyllic Channel Islands long before you get there – from the window on your flight into Los Angeles from Australia. Of the eight islands, only Santa Catalina is permanently inhabited and easily accessible. Made famous by the stars of Hollywood’s golden age (Marilyn Monroe lived there for a time, while Clark Gable and Joan Crawford both made films there), the rocky getaway offers a tranquil escape from the city. Here’s our ultimate guide to experiencing the best of the isle.

Getting there

Catalina, as it’s commonly known, can be reached by a one-hour journey aboard the Catalina Express, a ferry that leaves Long Beach,
San Pedro and Dana Point for the village of Avalon.

Where to go

The central hub on Santa Catalina island is the historic and charming Avalon, on the southern end of the isle. From here, you’re a seven-minute drive to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden and 55 minutes away from pristine Moonstone Beach. For downtime, settle into a daybed at the Descanso Beach Club or dine on local seafood at Avalon Grille. 

On the western end of the island lies Two Harbors, which connects Isthmus Cove to Catalina Harbor and is a little over an hour’s drive from Avalon. The village is the ideal base for outdoor adventure, with a dedicated Dive & Recreation Centre that supplies everything you’ll need for snorkelling, mountain biking and more. 

Things to Do

Head under the sea

The underwater world of Catalina Island is home to vibrant reefs and a diverse array of wildlife that call it home, from frolicking sea lions to petite bat rays and fluorescent orange Garibaldi. The best way to spot them? Embarking on a 45-minute undersea expedition on a semi-submersible vessel that takes you almost two metres below the surface. The Nautilus ship also comes equipped with a fish-feeding mechanism that shoots food into the water, so you’ll get a front-row seat to nature in action from your port window-side seat.

Visit the Airport in the Sky

Aviation enthusiasts, rejoice! Perched almost 500 metres above sea level (a thirty minute drive from Avalon), Catalina Island’s Airport in the Sky was created in 1941 and is the result of blasting and levelling two neighbouring mountain peaks on the island in order to create its 914-metre runway. From this high, you’ll be able to take in the entirety of the island in a glimpse before hitting the onsite restaurant for their signature buffalo burger. Get there in style in a vintage airstream on the Journey to the Sky tour before keeping your eyes peeled for the island’s local foxes, bison and bald eagles on the return drive home.

Spot the locals

Local legend has it that the island’s population of some 150 American bison are the descendents of a small herd left behind on the isle after a film shoot. Explore the rugged interior of the island with an off-road adventure on four wheels and meander through the bisons’ favourite grazing grounds in Cape Canyon and up to Black Jack Mountain, where your exertions will be rewarded with panoramic views that stretch from the Pacific ocean to the island’s coast.

Take to the skies

Zoom over groves of eucalyptus trees and dramatic canyons at 64-kilometres-per-hour on the island’s Zip Line Eco Tour, which spans five ziplines and takes you 91 metres above sea level. Between flights, helpful local guides will point out local flora and fauna and once you’ve wrapped your tour at Descanso Beach club, settle in for cocktails and nibbles after your two-hour adventure. Order the signature Buffalo Milk cocktail, a decadent confection of drizzled banana and coffee liquor matched with vanilla ice cream, nutmeg and vodka.  

Practise your swing

Established in 1892, the Catalina Island Country Club and Golf Course is the oldest still operating golf course west of the Mississippi – luminaries including Tiger Woods have putted here – and was formerly the home of the Bobby Jones Invitational Tournament. The nine-hole course will provide a challenge for first-timers and seasoned golfers alike but the real highlight will be watching the sun set over Avalon Bay in the distance. If you’ve brought the kids along, you can also book in an hour-long afternoon session at the 18-hole Golf Gardens mini course.

Where to stay

There are numerous motels, Airbnb properties and campgrounds but the most elegant accommodation option is Mt Ada. The bed and breakfast was once the mansion of a wealthy local family, the Wrigleys, and there are just six guest rooms available – each featuring postcard views of the harbour. Complimentary golf carts help you navigate the hills.

For something closer to town, the recently renovated resort-style Hotel Atwater is footsteps away from the beach and offers luggage service from the ferry terminal for a seamless check-in and check-out experience. Splash out on the 66-square-metre William Suite (the hotel’s largest) – each of its rooms is equipped with a romantic Juliette balcony overlooking town and the rolling hills in the distance. 

Where to eat and drink

Avalon Grille serves modern American seafood complemented by excellent Californian wines. For a light lunch, try a delicious lobster roll at The Lobster Trap. A drink at the nearby Marlin Club, featuring a 1940s “under the sea” theme, is a must.

SEE ALSO: 14 Surprising Places You Didn’t Know Were in California