There is no shortage of things to do on Catalina Island. It’s hard to believe that the last time Kevin and I visited Catalina Island was over a decade ago. Truth be told, we did next to nothing on that trip. I was exhausted and jet lagged from a work trip and slept the entire time. On this latest adventure, we left the twins behind for a dads getaway. And I packed in as many activities as possible to enjoy Catalina’s gorgeous setting.
Kevin enjoys our cozy room at the Snug Harbor Inn, located in the heart of Avalon, the main town on Catalina Island.
Over the 3 days visiting Catalina Island, we hiked, dined on the beach, visited museums and did countless adventure activities. That’s when we decided to come up with our top 5 things to do on Catalina Island — whether you’re short on time or have a full week to explore. And no, sleeping didn’t make the list. Luckily, I didn’t have a blog on that previous visit. Otherwise, this would be a very short blog post! Check out the top 5 things to do on Catalina below —
5. Climb Up To See Catalina’s Chimes Tower And Spectacular Harbor Views
Kevin gets his steps in today. So many things to do on Catalina Island, so little time.
If you’re looking for a quick workout with stunning views of Catalina Island’s harbor, look no further than a staircase hike to see Catalina Chimes Tower. Built in 1925 by gum tycoon William Wrigley and his wife Ada, the chimes and tower were a gift to the residents of and visitors to Avalon.
Spanish-style Chimes Tower on Catalina Island.
The chimes operate on a timer mechanism, ringing every 15 minutes from 8 am to 8 pm. Or apparently, when Kevin is standing directly in front of it!
We love staircase hikes. In fact, we’ve done several stories on the best staircase climbs in LA. It doesn’t get much more convenient than this hike if staying in downtown Avalon. Follow the pathway along the waterfront towards the iconic Catalina Island Casino.
After passing through the “Via Casino” archway (pictured above), you’ll find a public bathroom on your left. This is where you’ll find your first flight of steps.
Public bathrooms where you’ll find the first set of stairs to the Catalina Chimes Tower.
From here, it’s a steady climb up. You’ll feel your heart racing (at least we did) as we made our way towards the top of the steps.
Up, up and away. Making our way up the stairs to see the chimes.
But it’s all worth it the picture perfect view of the Casino building.
Look at those views.
Just when you think you’ve wrapped up all the stairs, you’ll find more!
Are we there yet? I stop to smile for the camera. Fine, and catch my breath!
You’ll wind your way through some back streets and get to see some of Catalina Island’s oldest homes. You’ll know you’re on the right path when you pass a cactus mural on a wall before reaching the peak.
Taking in the view from above.
In total, the climb took us about an hour roundtrip. But we stopped several times to take photos and walked at a leisurely pace. The entire loop is just a little under 3 miles. So you could probably do it in about 45 minutes. What we loved about this fun hike was just how close it was to Avalon as well as seeing a historic landmark that’s lasted from Wrigley’s era. But maybe best of all? It’s free! And who can beat a deal?
4. Hear About Catalina Island’s History From Locals: One Of the Best Things To Do On Catalina Island
Kevin follows the map on his iPhone with VoiceMap’s audio tour of Catalina Island.
When the pandemic first hit, Kevin and I weren’t exactly sure what we’d do with our time. After all, we loved travel and taking walking tours. We think it’s the perfect combo — exploring a new place and getting a workout in at the same time. That’s when I came across Voice Map, a SmartPhone app that specializes in outdoor, self-guided walking tours in cities across the US and around the world.
Smiling in front of Old Ben, Catalina’s friendly sea lion that would wander around downtown Avalon in the early 1900s.
We’ve done three different tours with Voice Map in Los Angeles, including two on the Sunset Strip and one through the Venice Canals. Even after living in LA for nearly a decade, we learned something new on these tours. Best of all, it’s nearly impossible to get lost. You simply download the app, which includes an easy-to-follow GPS map and an audio tour guide that gently cuts in to say that you “might have gotten off track.” It’s so polite…much nicer than my straightforward approach with Kevin of “Do you know where you’re going?” And only to realize that he doesn’t when he responds, “I thought I was following you?” Sigh…
Stopping at Descanso Beach Club, one of the stops on our Voice Map tour of Avalon.
The Avalon City Tour with Voice Map ($4.99) hits all the major landmarks. Though, what I loved the most was the multiple guest voices on the tour including Avalon’s mayor, a local artist and an author who specializes in all things paranormal. Each brought their own stories and energy to the tour. It’s a 1 hour walk, but it flew by! Sure, there are some free audio tours we’ve done. But they aren’t as easy to follow as Voice Map. This feature is especially handy if you’re exploring a city you’re not so familiar with.
3. Ride Along In An Open Air Truck For A Tour With Catalina Island Conservancy
Buckle up and get ready to venture inland to see the wilder side of Catalina Island. There are several tour operators you could pick from, but we ended up going with Catalina Island Conservancy’s Eco Jeep Tour. Most of the eco tours on Catalina Island offer similar experiences. But we’d recommend this tour since you aren’t packed in as tightly as others. Plus, Catalina Island Conservancy has access to over 165 miles of roads (crossing into conservancy-owned land) that no other outfitter can reach.
The view from the roads of inland Catalina Island.
During the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see Catalina’s wildlife including their famous bison. How did the bison get here anyway? It turns out they were brought over for the 1925 film based on Zane Grey’s famous novel, The Vanishing American. The only problem? The bison weren’t the most well-behaved actors and didn’t follow the director’s cues. In fact, the bison were cut completely from the final film. Sorry, no Hollywood Walk of Fame star for you!
What started off as 14 bison “movie extras” eventually ballooned into more than 600 bison by the early 2000’s. A bulk of the bison were eventually relocated to Native American reservations on the mainland. Today, about 150 bison remain. Though, they were pretty shy on our trip and the only bison we saw was a stuffed animal version in a gift shop.
Kevin holds up the only bison we saw on our tour.
Just make sure you dress appropriately for the weather conditions. The day we visited, it was sunny but chilly. We were glad that we wore layers that day.
Tours sell out far in advance, so we recommend making a reservation well ahead of your trip. There are two tour options — a 2-hour tour ($79 per person) or 3-hour tour ($119 per person). The main difference is that the 3-hour tour takes you to a beach on the other side of the island that most people would never get to see on their own. We opted for the 2-hour tour since we figured that would be enough time for us. To make a booking, go directly on the Catalina Island Conservancy website.
2. Climb Through the Trees On An Aerial Adventure Ropes Course
High in the sky, one of our favorite things to do on Catalina Island.
Catalina Aerial Adventure is just a short stroll from Descanso Beach Club (a great place to get a drink post adventure!), but you’ll feel like you’re deep in the woods, as you climb, swing and crawl through a series of challenging obstacles suspended in a grove of towering eucalyptus.
Kevin is ready for the aerial adventure course.
You’ll find five self-guided, self-paced courses — each made up of rope ladders, log bridges, balance beams, zip lines, and other elements. We recommend easing your way in on the 2 beginner ropes courses before attempting the 2 intermediate courses and 1 advanced ropes course.
Kevin navigates the many obstacles in the air.
Kevin and I have done several ropes courses before, and both agreed this was one of the best.
Take it from us, that last advanced course is a tough one. And there were more than a few choice words screamed aloud — many of which were not exactly children friendly (KEVIN!). Though, I mean, who was the masochist that came up with the idea of building an aerial bridge with rolling pins that spin? Yes, it’s as challenging as it sounds!
The rolling pin bridge. Kevin let the entire island know his thoughts on this obstacle.
The entire ropes course took us about 2 hours. Though, we were told that some people do it in less time if they give up. Tickets can be purchased directly from the Catalina Island Company website here. Cost is $49.95 per person.
1. Fly High At 800 Feet While Parasailing On Catalina Island
Top pick on the best things to do on Catalina Island. Parasailing 800 feet above the ocean.
When planning our latest weekend adventure, I knew we had to go parasailing on Catalina Island. I recently learned that Kevin has never done it before. I guess I shouldn’t be too shocked. He has a crippling fear of heights. Despite his initial reluctance, Kevin ended up loving it (as did I). We credit the friendly and professional team at Island Water Charters with calming his fears. The company operates spectacular parasailing trips from the center of Avalon, the main town on Catalina Island.
Kevin has boarded the boat. No going back now.
While planning your parasailing adventure, you’ll make a choice — either getting wet or staying dry. It was freezing on the day we planned to do it. Okay, 60 degrees… We’ve totally become those precious southern Californians. Needless to say, we ended up going for the dry option.
We suggest bringing layers so you can adjust accordingly. We ended up wearing a light jacket, a sweater and jeans. And you really won’t get wet (if you request the dry version). Our guide Carlos and driver David didn’t even get one drop of water on us. Now that’s impressive!
We did it! Kevin is warming up to it.
You’ll spend about 7 to 8 minutes in the air. So enjoy that birds eye view. You’re allowed to bring your own camera up in the air with you. But I pretty much knew that I’d be the first person to drop it, so left it on the boat. I didn’t need another incident like when I went parahawking and nearly dropped my iPhone camera into the ocean! For all these reasons, I suggest purchasing the photo package ($20) where you can get a USB with plenty of photo options. In our case, more than 140 photos to pick from. Don’t worry, we won’t show them all!
Coming down for our landing.
The ride is incredibly smooth. In fact, we were expecting to bounce or be blown around. But that didn’t happen at all. In total the entire experience takes about 1 hour from departing the Catalina Harbor. You can fly solo, tandem or three at a time. Ticket prices are all inclusive (no taxes or fees added). You can do the Standard 600 feet flight ($65 per person) or Premium at 800 feet ($79 per person). Ride along and not flying ($25 per person). We suggest getting the photo package on a USB card, which is just $20 extra. To book your parasailing adventure, visit Island Water Charters website here.
Looking for other fun ideas in southern California? Check out our full list of recommendations for your next Los Angeles staycation in downtown LA, as well as 5 secret spots in LA you (probably) never knew existed (but should!). Is the beach more your speed? Be sure to read our feature on the Malibu mystery picnic, the perfect birthday outing idea for adults. Or if you’re feeling like staying at home these days, we have recommendations on the best virtual activities you can do from a drag show with sangria making to a virtual pottery class.
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