Planning your next adventure or vacation? Check out Catalina Island. It's fun for the whole family. From scuba diving and snorkeling to shopping, Catalina Island has a little bit of everything for everyone. Avalon, the main town on Catalina has a variety of restaurants, gift shops, spa services, and water sports to satisfy everyone in your travel posse. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day away, or an adventure filled vacation, Catalina Island has everything you need.
For the adventurer and wanderluster, Catalina has a variety of x-treme sports and x-treme outdoor activities. If you're a waterman or water lover, you definitely want to scuba dive and or snorkel Casino Point Underwater Dive Park. Catalina Scuba is a premier dive shop on Catalina Island that will help you scuba dive Catalina, snorkel Catalina or freedive Catalina. Try scuba diving Catalina or try snorkeling Catalina with Catalina Scuba. The Casino Point Underwater Dive Park is filled with a multitude of brightly colored fish, and a ton of giant kelp. The giant kelp forests are majestic, breathtaking, and a must see. Snorkelers can snorkel at Lover's Cove's rocky shoreline and snorkeling hotspot with Catalina Scuba. Looking to get scuba certified or continue your education? Learn to scuba dive with Catalina Scuba. Already certified? No problem, Catalina Scuba offers a variety of PADI scuba courses and scuba specialties for all age, experience, and ability levels. No experience needed. Looking to go professional? Become a PADI Professional with Catalina Scuba and dive Catalina today.
If you are a hiker, camper, and/or nature lover the Trans Catalina Trail is the adventure for you. The Trans-Catalina Trail is a long-distance trail which traverses Santa Catalina Island off the coast of southern California. From the eastern terminus at The Trailhead in Avalon out to Parson's Landing on the West end, then looping back to Two Harbors, the trail's official length is listed as 38.5 miles. Camping is allowed by permit from the Catalina Island Conservancy. There are five campgrounds along or near the trail: Hermit Gulch, Black Jack, Little Harbor, Two Harbors, and Parsons Landing. Nearby is Ben Weston Beach, a remote beach with an old military bunker. Other beaches include Pebbly Beach, Cat Harbor, Starlight Beach, Jason's Landing, Step Beach, Descanso Bay, Middle Beach, Hamilton Beach, Toyon Bay, Harbor Sands, and Moonstone Beach. Moonstone Beach is in Moonstone Cove on the northeast side of Catalina Island just south of Whites Landing. The two coves, White and Moonstone, are separated by a rocky point that juts out into the bay. Moonstone Beach is private and operated by Newport Harbor Yacht Club based in Newport Beach, CA. The cove has many moorings available and some room for boat anchorage. The Catalina Express operates ferries daily to Avalon on Catalina Island from the mainland in Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Dana Point. Other hiking trails include, Garden To Sky Summit and Mount Orizaba, the highest peak on Santa Catalina Island, California, United States. The summit is at 2,097 feet. On January 10, 1949, 8 inches of snow fell on the mountain.
While in Avalon, make sure you visit the Green Pleasure Pier. Today, the Green Pleasure Pier is still a hub of activity.  It is home to the Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau’s Visitor Center, where you can get information seven days a week.  You can also find tours, water activities, dive centers, and some great places to eat on the 407-foot pier. Just a short hike away is The Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden is a botanic garden on Santa Catalina Island, California, operated by the Catalina Island Conservancy. It also contains a memorial to William Wrigley Jr. It contains beautiful walkways with plants native to the island. Don't forget to check out the Casino Point Ballroom. The Catalina Casino is located in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles in California. It is the most visible landmark in Avalon Bay and when approaching the island from the mainland. The large building contains a movie theater, ballroom, and formerly an island art and history museum. The Catalina Casino gets its name from the Italian language term casino, meaning a "gathering place". Contrary to the current common usage of casino, this has never been a facility for gambling. Check out the Avalon Diving History Exhibit when you're at the casino.
The Isthmus of Catalina Island is a 770-meter section of land that joins the northwestern portion of Santa Catalina Island to the main part of the island. It lies approximately 37 km southwest of San Pedro Harbor. Part of the isthmus is occupied by the town of Two Harbors, named for two harbors on either side of the isthmus, Isthmus Cove and Catalina Harbor. Two Harbors lies on the leeward side facing Isthmus Cove. The northern part of Santa Catalina contains about one sixth of the entire island's land mass.
When in Avalon, don't forget to stop for game of miniature golf at Golf Gardens in the heart of Avalon. Take a stroll down Avalon Scenic Drive to Old Ben Park, and up to the Catalina Chime Tower. There is the Wrigley Stage and Casino Art Gallery as you walk down Front Street of Avalon. Front street is next to the Harbor and the location for one of the many restaurants in town. Now matter when you're into, Catalina Island has something for you. Visit Catalina Island soon.
