Island of Misfit Joys: Best Places to Visit in Catalina Island Without Becoming a Beach Cliché

The Best Places to Visit in Catalina Island (Where Tourists Fear to Tread)

Catalina exists in that rare sweet spot between undiscovered gem and overrun tourist trap—teetering precariously but somehow maintaining its balance. The best places to visit in Catalina Island often hide in plain sight, or just beyond where most day-trippers venture. Consider this your map to the island’s sweet spots, delivered with the understanding that if too many people follow this advice, these places will inevitably become exactly what you’re trying to avoid.

Avalon: The Town That Time Forgot (In a Good Way)

Every Catalina postcard features Avalon’s iconic Casino building, which, in a classic case of nomenclature confusion, isn’t a gambling establishment at all. Built in 1929, this Art Deco masterpiece houses a magnificent movie theater and a ballroom where big bands once played for dancing couples. Today, tours range from $20 for the basic walkthrough to $35 for the behind-the-scenes version, where guides reveal secret passages and the theater’s remarkable acoustics that allowed performers to be heard without amplification—a feat that would make today’s autotuned pop stars collapse in technological withdrawal.

Descanso Beach Club sits just past the Casino and offers the island’s only private beach where you can legally sip cocktails with your toes in the sand. For ordinary mortals, simply entering and renting beach chairs costs around $30. For those who vacation like lottery winners, private cabanas run about $200 daily but accommodate six people and include waiter service—making the math almost reasonable when split among friends who appreciate the finer things, like not having to walk 15 feet to order another round of overpriced margaritas.

The Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden ($8 entry) showcases plant species found nowhere else on earth, because apparently Catalina wasn’t content being merely quirky—it had to be botanically exclusive too. The garden’s collection of endemic plants is the horticultural equivalent of a secret handshake, letting visitors glimpse species that evolved in splendid isolation. The memorial itself, built with materials quarried from the island, offers spectacular views that make the uphill walk worth every labored breath.

Two Harbors: Where Locals Actually Relax

At the island’s isthmus, Two Harbors stands as Avalon’s ruggedly handsome cousin—less polished but with better stories to tell. Here, the Buffalo Milk cocktail was invented, a deceivingly potent concoction involving Kahlúa, vodka, banana liqueur, and crème de cacao blended with cream and topped with nutmeg. The Harbor Reef Restaurant serves this island specialty for around $12, and after two, you’ll swear you understand why those bison never wanted to leave.

Two Harbors marks the beginning (or end, depending on your ambition) of the Trans-Catalina Trail, a 38.5-mile route traversing the island’s spine. For day hikers, the 2.3-mile segment to Catalina Harbor offers stunning views without requiring wilderness survival skills. The harbor itself is a tranquil cove where boats bob in crystalline waters that reflect the surrounding hills with mirror-like precision—the Instagram equivalent of hitting the jackpot.

Accommodation in Two Harbors redefines “rustic charm” with its collection of camping options and cabins. The latter ($75-100/night) occupy that curious middle ground between “glamping” and “my grandfather’s fishing shack,” featuring amenities like beds and electricity but requiring communal bathroom facilities. It’s the kind of place where comfort meets character, and both agree to compromise just enough to keep things interesting.

Watery Wonders Worth The Wetness

Catalina’s surrounding waters prove that the best places to visit in Catalina Island aren’t always on the island itself. Glass Bottom Boat tours ($20) transform marine biology into entertainment, with garibaldi fish—California’s bright orange state marine fish—starring in an underwater reality show featuring territorial disputes that would make Real Housewives producers envious. These 40-minute tours offer the perfect mix of education and entertainment for those who prefer their nature experiences with minimal effort and maximum dryness.

For those willing to get wet, snorkeling in Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve reveals an underwater paradise where fish swarm around swimmers with such enthusiasm that first-timers often experience a moment of fish-induced panic. These aquatic residents have become so accustomed to humans they practically pose for photos, having learned that humans often arrive bearing gifts of approved fish food (available at local shops for $5). Equipment rentals run about $25 daily, or bring your own and save those dollars for Buffalo Milk cocktails.

Scuba enthusiasts consider Catalina’s kelp forests among the world’s finest diving experiences, with towering underwater “trees” creating an alien landscape teeming with life. Equipment rentals cost around $150 daily, but the experience of floating through these swaying amber forests while bat rays glide below makes the investment worthwhile. Several dive shops in Avalon offer guided experiences for beginners through experts, though the truly magnificent dive sites lie along the island’s more remote coastlines, accessible only by boat.

Into The Wild: Catalina’s Interior

Jeep eco-tours ($150) offer the easiest way to penetrate Catalina’s rugged interior, where the famous bison roam alongside endemic island fox, whose cat-sized proportions and fearless curiosity make them the island’s unofficial welcoming committee. These tours cover territory inaccessible to rental golf carts, revealing panoramic views and historical sites while guides share stories ranging from Native American settlements to rumrunning during Prohibition.

The Airport in the Sky sits at 1,600 feet elevation, a small airstrip whose very existence seems improbable on this mountainous island. Its DC-3 Grill and Gift Shop serves legendary bison burgers ($18) that offer the uncommon opportunity to consume local wildlife while watching small planes perform white-knuckle landings on a runway that appears frighteningly short to the uninitiated. The irony of eating bison while potentially becoming another island statistic is not lost on most diners.

Serious hikers tackle the Trans-Catalina Trail in its 38.5-mile entirety, a multi-day adventure requiring permits and reservations at designated campgrounds. The trail’s difficulty rating of “strenuous” understates the challenge of significant elevation changes, limited shade, and occasional bison encounters that test both cardiovascular fitness and bladder control. Water sources exist but require purification, and camps must be booked well in advance through the Catalina Island Conservancy, whose protection efforts ensure the island remains largely wild.

Between February and April, seasonal wildflowers transform Catalina’s normally golden-brown hills into a riot of color, with lupines, poppies, and rare island-specific blooms creating natural gardens that would make conventional landscapers weep with inadequacy. Botanical enthusiasts plan entire trips around this fleeting display, though timing nature’s schedule requires flexibility and a willingness to accept disappointment should Mother Nature miss her cues.

Where To Rest Your Weary Head

Accommodations on Catalina span from “character building” to “old-money luxurious” with surprisingly few options in between. Budget travelers gravitate to Hermit Gulch Campground ($30/night), where tent cabins offer a step up from ground sleeping for those who’ve realized that air mattresses are worth every ounce of extra packing weight after age 30. Located just a 15-minute walk from Avalon’s center, it offers both convenience and the satisfaction of spending approximately 1/25th what the yacht people paid for their lodging.

The mid-range Seaport Village Inn ($150-250/night depending on season) delivers harbor views without requiring a second mortgage. Its rooms maintain that particular coastal aesthetic that might be described as “nautical-themed without going overboard”—think subtle blue accents rather than walls festooned with fishing nets and plastic seagulls. Most rooms feature small balconies perfect for morning coffee or evening wine, allowing guests to absorb Avalon’s gentle rhythm from a comfortable distance.

For those who vacation on corporate accounts or recently sold tech startups, Mt Ada ($750+/night) occupies the former Wrigley mansion, offering just six exclusive rooms with panoramic views and amenities including complimentary golf cart use. Staying here is less accommodation and more time travel, with breakfast and lunch included in rates that would make average travelers choke on their budget spreadsheets. The terrace view alone explains why Wrigley chose this spot as his island home, though modern guests might wonder how he managed without Wi-Fi.

Filling Your Stomach Without Emptying Your Wallet

Dining on Catalina requires acknowledging a fundamental island truth: everything edible arrived by boat, and that transportation cost is reflected in menu prices. Original Jack’s Country Kitchen serves breakfast portions that could fuel a small hiking expedition, with pancakes ($12-18) that overlap the plate’s edges and egg combinations that make ordering side dishes seem like culinary hubris. Morning crowds testify to its quality, so arrive early or prepare to practice patience on an empty stomach.

The Lobster Trap represents that rare establishment that satisfies both locals and visitors, serving fresh seafood without pretentious presentation or prices that induce cardiac events. Entrees range from $25-40, with their signature lobster tacos striking the perfect balance between upscale ingredients and relaxed dining. The restaurant’s weathered wood interior feels authentically maritime rather than staged for tourists, perhaps because it actually serves the island’s fishing community rather than just romanticizing it.

Budget-conscious travelers find salvation at Antonio’s Pizzeria, where harbor-view balcony seating elevates a simple pizza meal ($15-25) into a memory-making experience. Their pizza strikes that ideal balance between California innovation and traditional techniques, with a crust that would earn grudging respect from New Yorkers. The pizzeria’s location just steps from the ferry landing makes it both the first and last meal for many day-trippers, bookending Catalina experiences with reliable satisfaction.

Catalina’s limited freshwater supply—a challenge that necessitated the construction of a desalination plant—directly impacts restaurant operations and explains certain quirks, like being asked if you actually want water with your meal. This resource scarcity contributes to higher food costs but also fosters creative cuisine that maximizes flavor while minimizing water usage. It’s sustainability born of necessity rather than trend, something increasingly rare in California’s dining scene.