Growing up, I spent half of my years in California, when I was not in school. Catalina Island was not unfamiliar to our family. I always loved that the primary vehicles around the island were golf carts. Those golf carts are such a testament to the lifestyle on Catalina. In the days where I was growing up, internet connections were not really a thought, let alone a priority. Whereas now, data/internet is not the best on the island. These days, Catalina is still very much the golf cart community with its citizens, but a tourism hub, especially ports for cruise lines on their way to Mexico.

Catalina Island also known as Santa Catalina Island, is located right off of the coast of Southern California. It is part of Los Angeles County. Avalon is the main city on Catalina Island. A 2010 Census showed around 4,000 residents on Catalina Island. The island has been claimed by Europeans for the Spanish Empire, Mexico, and the United States. In the 1920s, William Wrigley Jr developed it as a tourist destination. Because William Wrigley Jr also owned the Chicago Cubs, they would use the island for spring training from 1921 - 1951, except between 1942-1945. During WWII, the island was used for military training. Some of the bunkers and facilities are still visible today. Marilyn Monroe lived on the island for a little while, although I have yet to photograph her old house even though I’ve been by it on tours. Anyone who knows who Natalie Wood was, might know that it was off of the coast of Catalina where she tragically drowned in 1981. The island’s climate is usually 60s-upper 70s (Fahrenheit) depending on the time of year but it has dipped below freezing, as well as broken 100 degrees.

To get to Catalina from Long Beach, you can take a ferry, which typically last around an hour; or you also have an option to spend a little more and take a helicopter, which lasts around 15 minutes. I have done both. Naturally the helicopter is not a cheap way to fly but flying over the ocean, you can sometimes see dolphins down below. It is a smooth flight. I love ferries though. They aren’t usually very expensive for the tickets and you can spend an hour on the open water.

There are so many activities to keep you busy on Catalina. I recommend making Catalina a stop on your itinerary for at least a couple of days. Fair Warning: You may not want to leave after spending a little time there. The laid-back feeling, the surroundings, the climate are all things a person can settle right into and find themselves feeling very at home. I highly recommend the zip line, as well as an activity they do called Snuba diving. Yes, snuba diving. It is a cross between snorkel and scuba diving. It is great for people who have not been scuba diving, and maybe are leery about it. You can stay close to the surface, or you can dive up to 30 feet. You breathe through a mouthpiece and hose, like scuba diving, you have the gear of a scuba diver, but you don’t have to wear the oxygen tank on your back. Your breathing apparatus is connected to a long hose, that is connected to the oxygen tank on a boat that you can swim around. It is a very cool experience.

If you do the zip line, make sure to hold the guard rails during the walking portion. I let go while walking down the stairs for a brief moment and slipped down the stairs and scraped my leg up pretty badly. The guide asked if I had done the “sip and zip option” LOL! Also, zip lining can be very jerky on your body so be careful with that.

The nightlife on Catalina can be very enjoyable. They have bars/clubs, and karaoke. It is also nice just to walk the pier and beaches along the water, or sit on a bench and watch the waves and the night sky. There is an arcade in the town square as well. It is consistently busy, but it is also where you can find me when I’m not in the water or eating.

Overall Catalina is a perfect “weekend” escape if you need to get away to an island on a limited budget. The locals are very friendly. It’s a refreshing island, where you can just relax and take things at an easy pace. Whether you’re visiting California, or you make a trip specific to Catalina, it’s an overall inexpensive getaway that is well worth it.

Packing List: Jacket, camera and accessories, underwater camera, if you have your own snorkel or scuba gear- bring it but if it’s a full face snorkel, test it before going in the ocean for long periods of time, cash, a waterproof pouch to carry your phone with you

Do: Dress Appropriately; bring a jacket for the ferry ride and nights; test your own gear before going into the ocean; take part in the activities they offer such as zip lining, snorkel, glass bottom boat, Snuba, etc.; bring some cash (USD); tip waitstaff at restaurants, guides, drivers; study maps beforehand; book excursions before going

DON’T: Chase or feed wildlife; trespass; be unnecessarily loud- especially at night; bring a pushy attitude with you from the city