Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Channel Islands → Avalon

Location: Santa Catalina Island

Time Required: 1 day

Red Tape/Notes: You’ll need a ferry to get to and from the island; the Catalina Express gives the most options.

What’s Nearby?: Trans-Catalina Trail, Santa Catalina Diving, Wrigley Botanical Garden

The only true “community” on Santa Catalina Island, Avalon is the central hub and base for tourism, and has a delightful old world resort feel to it. William Wrigley Jr. (as in Wrigley’s gum) invested millions into Avalon’s infrastructure in the early 1900’s and many of the historic buildings from this era are still present, including the casino (which has never been used for gambling – it’s a ballroom and movie theatre). Because Avalon is a tourist destination, the downtown area is extremely picturesque and has lots of great places to stop for a bite to eat or grab an ice cream and stroll the beaches; we also love keeping an eye out for the interesting styles of golf carts around the island (there are very few regular cars). I’m always mesmerized by the toffee being pulled in Lloyd’s, and if you walk up the road to Mt. Ada, the former residence of William Wrigley (where you can stay the night, or just have lunch, with a reservation), you’re rewarded with beautiful views looking down on Avalon. You can also rent a kayak and paddle around the island for up close views of the rugged coastline, or grab some snorkeling gear and head down to the Casino Point Underwater Park, which offers excellent snorkeling (and diving).

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → Channel Islands → Avalon