BajaNomad

Anyone been to Catalina Island?

David K - 7-13-2010 at 08:01 AM

Thinking about going, would like recommendations: where to stay, what to do, places to eat... Thanks!

Barry A. - 7-13-2010 at 08:07 AM

David-----Unless you have a boat at your disposal while there, the little town of Avalon is about it for you, but Avalon is a very fun place, tiny, and everything is within walking distance. Been a long time since I was there so can't give you any current info, tho. The snorkeling at the NW end of the island is outstanding, as well as elsewhere. Fog can be a problem, but less likely in Aug and Sept.

You will love the place, but it is not as warm as Shell Island. :spingrin: take jackets.

Barry

noproblemo2 - 7-13-2010 at 08:09 AM

Are you referring to Two Harbors or Avalon when you say Catalina?

Russ - 7-13-2010 at 08:29 AM

I was going to recommend Toyon Bay since that's where I spent my first two years of high school. They've turned it into a marine institute that is really cool. Unfortunately it's geared for kids. There is always Whites Landing. If you're going by boat. You should take a tour of the island. I'm pretty sure they still have them. The Island is a lot like Baja. And you'll probable tire of Avalon quickly if you're not interested in the tourist trap. Do a google search for a ton of info.
Have Fun!

Osprey - 7-13-2010 at 09:11 AM

DK, watch out for those red rattlers without the rattlers.

Bob and Susan - 7-13-2010 at 10:00 AM

we usd to go all the time
but we took our boat

got a mooring and used our shore boat
the shore boats that operate in the harbor are very expensive

the place is lots of fun for a weekend

i'd stay in town so you can walk around
take the tours
rent a golf cart
go to the movies in the casino at night
eat dinner $$$
we would bbq on the boat

everything is really expensive and
EVERY building is OLD
and smells a little moldy

avalon is the ONLY tourist location
2 harbors is for planned camping ONLY
too rough and no commercial boats go there

make reservations

mtgoat666 - 7-13-2010 at 10:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Thinking about going, would like recommendations: where to stay, what to do, places to eat... Thanks!


you can do a day trip to avalon, and snorkel near the ferry dock. you can also stay overnite in avalon, but the town is dullsville (just tourist crap, and lots of tourists).
my fav: take a bike and panniers/overnite gear and ride the island (but you got to be in shape, the island has serious hills).
find a friend with a boat and anchor on one of the many nice spots.
take sea kayaks, and paddle the shores, and overnite where allowed.

[Edited on 7-13-2010 by mtgoat666]

knuckles - 7-13-2010 at 10:22 AM

I agree with the Goat....Snooozeville
A hike up the the Wrigley Mansion is fun, beautiful view from there, but only takes half the day.

bill erhardt - 7-13-2010 at 11:06 AM

Since this is a Baja forum you must be talking about Isla Catalana, in the SOC about 40 miles SE of Loreto. Home of rattle-less rattle snakes and the biggest barrel cactus on Baja. when I was last there, about a week ago, choices of where to go and what to eat were pretty limited. One of my first trips to the island was in search of the elusive rattle-less rattle snakes. We spent the first half of the night walking up and down the arroyos looking for snakes with rapidly dimming flashlights, and the last half on the beach in sleeping bags hoping the snakes didn't find us.
Here is a pic of my McKee Craft Backwater 172 tucked in for the night at an abandoned fish camp on the east side of the island on the night of the snake hunt.

@IC.jpg - 46kB

Taco de Baja - 7-13-2010 at 11:44 AM

As with most places, if you pay more you get a better hotel room. The cheap ones are pretty much all the same, as are the mid to expensive rooms. Just remember if you are beach front, it will probably be noisy. Last time I was there I stayed at the Casa Mariquita, and it was fine place. Next time I go I think I am going to try out the Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel, it's out of the main part of town on the hill, but looks like a cool place with reasonable rates.

Good food at Ristorante Villa Portofino, Armstrong's Seafood, the original Antonio's Pizzeria, and Mi Casita Mexican Food.

Things to do: Get a daily hiking pass (they’re free at the Island Conservancy) and hike the remote fire roads / trails (just not the fire breaks…). You will get away from the tourists and see the real Catalina....But be prepared the ridge around Avalon is over 1,500 feet, and it's a steep climb, but the views are amazing. Rent a kayak and paddle northwest of Avalon to see the remote and often otherwise inaccessible and beautiful coves. Check out the Wrigley Gardens and the Nature Center. Take a glass bottom boat tour. Take an interior island bus tour.

If you don't like crowds, go after Labor Day. It's amazing how empty the town gets on that Tuesday, and if you go a few weeks after Labor Day the weather is still really nice, and the water temps are still warm.

I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks over there for work and got to hike to many remote areas across the entire island. Also went a lot as a kid for vacations. It's a great place. Have fun.

jaime here

Baja Bernie - 7-13-2010 at 12:12 PM

hey DK, Catalina sets just outside our windows in Sunset Beach. If you like the ocean, there is snorkeling off the rocks, rentals for kyacks to take you to beautiful coves away from people, glass bottom boat, submarine trip to see the underwater fish up close and being fed. you can charter a boat and go fishing...for bonita (great fighting fish) mackerel (yuck) barracuda, bass, yellowtail, white seabass, and the elusive Marlin. you can go see the Catalina Island tuna club, very old historical building and great memorabilia inside. women cannot join, just men, then their wives can come to lunches and dinners. the hotels mostly have shared bathrooms, unless you pay more. most (all) hotels are very noisey, once bars close at night. the Zane Grey hotel is on the hill, overlooks all of the harbor of Avalon. they have all the first editions of Zane Grey's (western and fishing ) books, and, as a guest you are welcome into the library to check them out and read them. its around $250 per night, unless off season, then it may go down to $249 per night, starting price!!! It is very quiet up there except for the bell ringing. Evidently Zane had a fight with Wrigleys wife,, as the story goes, and she got even with him by putting a HUGE bell next to his home (the hotel). And, it rings every hour,or used to. For on island fun, there are biking trails, hiking trails, buffalo, flower gardens, red tail hawks, osprey, bald eagles, and stuff which crawl on the ground and rattle. you can rent golf carts to see it all, or even take it overnight on trails and camp in a cove just for you. and, NO for the summer season, wait until after labor day. then, you will have the island and all it offers to yourselves!
Trivia question: How much is a piece of wrigley's chewing gum, from the 50's in its original wrapper worth? If you can find one, over $10,000. that will get ya a room at the Island!

capt. mike - 7-13-2010 at 12:23 PM

there is only one reason to go to that island and that is the Catalina Jazz Festival. i think in sept most years?
fantastic.
only thing to do there is pub crawl. which i happen to like, and pester tourists, especially blue hairs.
definitely go to the casino.
bring a lot of money to upgrade your room.

noproblemo2 - 7-13-2010 at 01:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
we usd to go all the time
but we took our boat

got a mooring and used our shore boat
the shore boats that operate in the harbor are very expensive

the place is lots of fun for a weekend

i'd stay in town so you can walk around
take the tours
rent a golf cart
go to the movies in the casino at night
eat dinner $$$
we would bbq on the boat

everything is really expensive and
EVERY building is OLD
and smells a little moldy

avalon is the ONLY tourist location
2 harbors is for planned camping ONLY
too rough and no commercial boats go there

make reservations

Two harbors is served by the Catalina express now and there is the Banning House to stay, but must have reservations which are hard to come by, far more peaceful, we used to moor there a couple of times a month until 4 years ago, but far prettier unless one likes the chaos of Avalon.

Martyman - 7-13-2010 at 01:07 PM

I went to catalina a few times. One time I crashed out above the golf course with a bottle and a cupla' buddies. When I woke up in the morning we got our camp stove out and made some coffee. Some golfers were visible down on the course and I stood up nekkid and yelled out, "hey, what time is it?" they paused and yelled back "time for you to leave the island"

Bob and Susan - 7-13-2010 at 01:50 PM

the BEST weekend to go is priate day at two harbors

the boat takes you there
we would hook to the string line

priates and wenches EVERYWHERE
and GROG to drink

really fun day if you do the "treasure hunt"

action all day
then go to avalon for dinner and a movie
breakfast the next day
then home

edit:
ps while ther check out the saltwater toilets
a complete separate sewer system to save on water
interesting concept
saltwater septic is in another thread

[Edited on 7-13-2010 by Bob and Susan]

Catalina Island - Late 60's

Gypsy Jan - 7-13-2010 at 07:32 PM

Picture this: Waking up in a tent in Little Harbor, a typical misty morning.

A mini-bison herd (the bred-down animals left by the Hollywood film crews of years gone by) are in the field outside our tent, snorting and grazing.

Yesterday, P.K. Wrigley and his wife rode down on their award-winning Arabian horses to visit our marine biology summer school camp. They brought gifts from their kitchen for our dinner.

Today, we hiked the hills through the island to the USC Marine Biology Institute to meet up with Jacques Cousteau. He is charasmatic and passionate in his speech to our small, bedraggled group about how unique and wonderful the marine environment around Catalina is: "My friends, marine biologists are discovering new species every day!"

Catalina Island was magic then; I believe that there still is magic to be found.

Catalina

bajaguy - 7-13-2010 at 07:36 PM

Plenty of cute B&B's close to the ferry terminal in Avalon. A suggestion is to pack light and use a small roller bag.

You can ride the trolly all over town, or rent a golf cart (expensive)

Interesting places to eat and shop.......great people watching.

Worth a 2 day 1 night trip

[Edited on 7-14-2010 by bajaguy]

David K - 7-13-2010 at 08:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey
DK, watch out for those red rattlers without the rattlers.


Funny... I expected this feedback for sure! The OTHER Catalina Island, Osprey! Thanks anyway!:lol::light:

David K - 7-13-2010 at 08:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bill erhardt
Since this is a Baja forum you must be talking about Isla Catalana, in the SOC about 40 miles SE of Loreto. Home of rattle-less rattle snakes and the biggest barrel cactus on Baja. when I was last there, about a week ago, choices of where to go and what to eat were pretty limited. One of my first trips to the island was in search of the elusive rattle-less rattle snakes. We spent the first half of the night walking up and down the arroyos looking for snakes with rapidly dimming flashlights, and the last half on the beach in sleeping bags hoping the snakes didn't find us.
Here is a pic of my McKee Craft Backwater 172 tucked in for the night at an abandoned fish camp on the east side of the island on the night of the snake hunt.


Nice photo Bill... but I did use this forum: "Non-Baja Vacation Trip Reports" to seek some suggestions from Nomads about Alta California's Catalina Island. :coolup:

David K - 7-13-2010 at 08:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
hey DK, Catalina sets just outside our windows in Sunset Beach. If you like the ocean, there is snorkeling off the rocks, rentals for kyacks to take you to beautiful coves away from people, glass bottom boat, submarine trip to see the underwater fish up close and being fed. you can charter a boat and go fishing...for bonita (great fighting fish) mackerel (yuck) barracuda, bass, yellowtail, white seabass, and the elusive Marlin. you can go see the Catalina Island tuna club, very old historical building and great memorabilia inside. women cannot join, just men, then their wives can come to lunches and dinners. the hotels mostly have shared bathrooms, unless you pay more. most (all) hotels are very noisey, once bars close at night. the Zane Grey hotel is on the hill, overlooks all of the harbor of Avalon. they have all the first editions of Zane Grey's (western and fishing ) books, and, as a guest you are welcome into the library to check them out and read them. its around $250 per night, unless off season, then it may go down to $249 per night, starting price!!! It is very quiet up there except for the bell ringing. Evidently Zane had a fight with Wrigleys wife,, as the story goes, and she got even with him by putting a HUGE bell next to his home (the hotel). And, it rings every hour,or used to. For on island fun, there are biking trails, hiking trails, buffalo, flower gardens, red tail hawks, osprey, bald eagles, and stuff which crawl on the ground and rattle. you can rent golf carts to see it all, or even take it overnight on trails and camp in a cove just for you. and, NO for the summer season, wait until after labor day. then, you will have the island and all it offers to yourselves!
Trivia question: How much is a piece of wrigley's chewing gum, from the 50's in its original wrapper worth? If you can find one, over $10,000. that will get ya a room at the Island!


Hi Jaime... thanks for the tip... YIKES!:o

Taco de Baja - 7-14-2010 at 07:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Baja Bernie
....the Zane Grey hotel is on the hill, overlooks all of the harbor of Avalon.... it’s around $250 per night, unless off season, then it may go down to $249 per night, starting price!!!

It is very quiet up there except for the bell ringing. Evidently Zane had a fight with Wrigley’s wife, as the story goes, and she got even with him by putting a HUGE bell next to his home (the hotel). And, it rings every hour, or used to.


It's not that bad :lol: .... And the bell shuts down after 10:00 pm, or did when I was last there ~ 4 years ago.

Peak Season:
June 1 - October 15
$195 ocean view
$175 mountain view deluxe
$150 mountain view standard
$95 m.v. standard (Mon-Thu)

Quiet Season:
October 16 - May 31* (Peak rate applies to weekends in October and May)
$110 ocean view
$95 mountain view deluxe
$80 mountain view standard


November 1 - May 31:
excluding holidays
MONDAY - THURSDAY ONLY All Rooms $75, except Tonto Rim which is $80

Zane Grey Rates

David K - 7-14-2010 at 08:17 AM

Thanks for all the data... sounds too Cabo-like for us... Maybe someday?

noproblemo2 - 7-14-2010 at 09:01 AM

Two Harbors is a very peaceful envirnment, try going mid week, and check the Banning House for accomadations, the nature there is incredible. Avalon is the Cabo envirnment for sure.

805gregg - 7-18-2010 at 08:00 AM

You are used to camping, just get the boat to two harbors, they have a truck to take all your gear to the camp gound. Great views and walking distance to town. I think you need reservations 310-510-8368.

Barry A. - 7-18-2010 at 09:43 AM

I second the "two harbors" idea---------spent a week there on a cabin cruizer and we had a ball-----nice camping too that we walked thru--------water was crystal clear, and full of creatures, but it is a tiny place so mid-week is a great idea.

Barry

Bob and Susan - 7-18-2010 at 09:48 AM

there is NO real town at two harbors
its pretty remote

the little restruant is pedestrian for sure

camping is about it
and its always COLD!!!

water too

BajaSedoso - 7-18-2010 at 11:36 AM

Based on your writings about your Baja trips, I think you and Baja Angel would like Two Harbors, either camping or staying at the Banning House. Nothing touristy about it, everything is very basic. There is also a little store and firewood can be purchased from the rangers if you are staying at the campground (they deliver to your campsite).
I have gone many times with friends, mostly in September. On a few occasions the wheather was on the cool side but for the most part it was wonderful. Also, I think no one has mentioned that you can rent kayaks either for a 1/2 or full day. And there is a cool research station just outside of Two Harbors which can be reached on foot or via kayak.

805gregg - 7-20-2010 at 08:30 PM

The camping can be cold or hot depending on the weather, the restaurant is good and expensive, and crowded on week ends. But you can BBQ at your camp site or come into town and BBQ at the beach out front. Or get restaurant food on the deck or in the bar. the town is fun and you can have an open container, so hanging out people watching out front of the well stocked market is OK as are dogs on a leash. Visiting Catalina is a totally different So Cal experience, not to be missed. It's even better on a boat.

David K - 7-20-2010 at 11:32 PM

We went to Baja instead... fantastic trip... Thanks for the Catalina details everyone!

wilderone - 7-21-2010 at 08:08 AM

Well - another time then. You can camp at a campground a mile up the road from Avalon (scouts like this campground - beware), and a nice campground at Two Harbors too. You can take an inter-island van or boat to Two Harbors. Also I've backpacked to the third campground - about 7 miles (?) from Two Harbors. Fished from shore, a little body surfing, very picturesque coves, saw some bison, etc. Off-season is best - still nice - but fewer people. And there is a small store at Two Harbors, so that if you're backpacking, you don't have to take all your food, and if you forgot something, they will probably have it. Very well stocked, including vino, but kind of pricey.
Another Channel Islands adventure are the islands out of Ventura Harbor. Need reservations too, but a fabulous camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking, indigenous culture experience. Santa Rosa Island has it all. Experience your own Alta California.