Catalina Island is a small island located about 22 miles from Los Angeles, off the coast of California. For an island of only 76 square miles, Catalina packs in a huge variety of vacation activities. Whether you are looking for rest and relaxation or to have the adventure of a lifetime, you are likely to find something here that will meet your needs. Catalina Island is accessible by boat, helicopter or plane from the mainland, and many activities originate in the town of Avalon.
Not surprisingly, water activities are many and varied on Catalina Island. You can charter a boat or rent one to pilot yourself, or you can bring your own. In any case, there are plenty of ways to spend a day or a week at sea. Once you are out on the water, you can swim, fish, snorkel, scuba dive or just take in the sea breezes from the deck. Kayaking is also a popular activity on the waters around Catalina Island and rentals are widely available. If you prefer a more relaxed time on the water, try the glass bottom boat tour.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
Santa Catalina Island Company
1 Island Plaza
Avalon, CA 90704
310-510-8687
visitcatalinaisland.com
If you prefer to keep your feet on firm ground while vacationing on Catalina Island, there are plenty of vacation activities for landlubbers. There are miles of hiking trails for exploring the island or you can bring or rent a bike. If you plan on biking the interior of the island, you will need a mountain bike, a helmet and a permit, which you can acquire on the island. For the more adventuresome, there is a zip line tour that allows you to see the island from a vantage point of up to 500 feet above the ground. The tour lasts for about two hours and includes various stopping points where tour guides provide information on local flora, fauna and history.
Zip Line Tour
Santa Catalina Island Company
1 Descanso Canyon Road
Avalon, CA 90704
800-626-1496
visitcatalinaisland.com
As a respite from the land and sea action or as a goal in itself, a spa visit on Catalina Island is an opportunity for pampering from head to toe. There are several day spas and salons that provide massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. The Island Breeze Day Spa and Salon offers a full-day spa package, which includes a steam bath, massage, facial, champagne lunch, manicure, pedicure, hair style and make-up application. The spa also offers massages in a cabana on the beach, where, weather permitting, you can relax to the sound of the surf.
Island Breeze Spa and Salon
124 Catalina Street
Avalon, CA 90704
310- 510-7242
islandbreezespa.com
