December 13, 2006
Catalina Island, California: activity, restaurant, hotel recommendations
I recently received the following question: Any of you people have a hotel and restaurant you can recommend on Catalina Island? I will just be there overnight in Feb. My kid is heading out for his second tour. So we are going to see him off again. Two years ago we just flew right back home that night. Bad move by me. The wife was a wreck for the whole flight back. I figure a day or two to be together to get her mind off of things for a while might help. Any suggestions?
I've already found a few answers but I hope some of you can leave comments below. You religious types might consider a prayer for his son's safety. However, if we can keep the comments travel related and make the prayers private that would be best.
Answer 1: Bring a warm jacket because it can get cold and foggy in Feb. Its either 70 and sunny or the marine layer comes in and it gets cold. I have stayed at The Mac Rae and The Vista del Mar. I would go with the second. Its much nicer. The only place I recall to eat is Armstrongs. It was a fun place. Nice deck looking over the harbor and good drinks.
You really cant go wrong. But you want to make sure you have a place right on the main drag. Some of the other hotels can be back up in the hills. Its a long walk to the main street. Catalina was know for their tile factory back in the 20's...some great tile work all over the island... It really is a great place. Enjoy!
Answer 2: I went there when I lived in RPV, take a tour on a glass bottom boat, it was surprisingly entertaining. I was able to see the Island from my parents bedroom. If you really want to do it right, take the helicopter over rather than the Express boat...It gets you there in 15 to 20 minutes where the boat takes about an hour. If you take the ferry, sit by the windows. The dolphins like to play in the surf of the boat sometimes, really nice if you get to see it.
Answer 3: Make sure you get some Moose Milk (local drink). I'm telling you 15-20 of these bad boys and you're in for some fun. Stay anywhere in Avalon. They're all kind of like motels that you would stay in down at the Jersey shore unless you step up and pay for something very nice. It is off season so you may get some better prices. Be sure to rent some jet skis if the weather is nice but get a wet suit. The water can be very cold that time of year.
And whatever you do, don't fall off. There are lots of sharks around Catalina Island. I'm not kidding. There are Blues and Mako's. A gal was hit by a Mako 3 or 4 years ago...And Great Whites have been spotted in the channel between Socal and Catalina. My ex-wife loved to scuba dive there...I would sit in the bar drinking and praying...OK now I am kidding. But seriously, in 94 a friend of a friend's husband was attack and killed by a great white.
Answer 4: Avalon is also known for the Wrigley's. He actually had a few Cubs spring training camps there. Catalina is cool, but waaay over priced. Armstrong's is a good place to eat. There is also a good Mexican place across the street. I forgot the name of it though. I think it's Mi Casitas.
Rent a golf cart and travel the island. Its pretty cool. Stay away from the Pavilion Lodge. It's real close to the beach, but a total dive.
Posted by James Trotta at December 13, 2006 12:37 AM | TrackBack
February is a great time of the year to come to the Santa Catalina Island. Room rates are significantly less than the peak summer months and you can find deeply discounted packages that include the boat ride, Discovery Tours and accommodations. I work for the Santa Catalina Island Company, please check out our website at www.VisitCatalinaIsland.com for additional information. For more information go to the Chamber of Commerce website at www.catalinachamber.com
If you are interested in seeing what Catalina looks like this time of year, our website has two live cams with views of Avalon Bay and the town of Avalon. Feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions: bwilson@scico.com
For non bias reviews you can check out tripadvisor.com
And regarding Answer #3: There has never been a shark attack around the island and it is Buffalo Milk, not Moose Milk :)
Happy Holidays!
I have been scuba diving since 1952 and have logged over 3000+ hours of diving (Four years of full time commercial diving) with much of it at Catalina and the SB Channel Islands. I have seen many non aggresive sharks but never have seen the variety that you might be concerned with.
Posted by: Don Urquhart at December 13, 2006 8:46 AMMy fiance and I went to check it out for a possible honeymoon spot. Great move!!
We chartered a boat over. Bad move!! The boat doesn't come back for like 6 hours. Horrible! Tourist trap. Great if you want to drink.
Thought about using the helicopter service to get off Catalina Island. Usually have great reviews but this is not one of them.
Catalina is a great place in winter. No crowds of "overtowners" to contend with, but it can be cold. I highly recommend the Hotel Villa Portofino. http://www.hotelvillaportofino.com/ make sure you mention your AAA membership. Very cool place.
As for restaurants, there is a great Italian place at the HVP if you are looking for upscale and there is a good but very dress down place just west of the green pier. I think it is called Anthonys?? anyway they serve day old spaghetti and it rocks!
Luao Larry's for Buffalo's Milk
Zane Grey for accomodations
Take the tram around Avalon if it's running
Take the glass bottom boat ride.(lots of cool fish and plant life
If you have time, take the boat trip to Isthmus.
I think that is an all day event.
Just going to the Island for a day or so will be good enough. Easy to relax there.
A few years ago we spent Christmas vacation in the Hotel Metropole. It was delightful and I loved the island (without drinking). Much to see and great walks.
The Metropole was so clean and sparkling that I felt little elves must be painting things every night!!
Posted by: Virginia at December 14, 2006 1:07 AMme and my husbond first spent are honeymoon there on catalina island, and now we are saving to send our daughter to catalina Island for her fifth grade experience. She will see life in it's human nature...
Posted by: Chris at February 27, 2007 6:20 AM