Five secrets to a great Catalina summer
There’s nothing like an island summer filled with ocean breezes, sandy feet and the charms of Avalon. Here are just a few things to do on Catalina this summer.
Take in a Catalina Concert with the Catalina Island Concert Series: This year there will be three of the popular concerts on Wrigley Stage. The first, Mick Adams and the Stones, features a tribute to the iconic Rolling Stones and is scheduled for June 23. On July 28, SantaWays takes the stage in homage to Santana. And on Aug. 18, the always popular Xceptional Tribute to ABBA will bring the series to a close. All three concerts are free and feature dancing in the streets. Before each concert begins at 8 p.m., a beer and wine garden will open nearby at 6:30 p.m.
Get in the water: It’s not summer if you don’t hit the water. We recommend snorkeling on Catalina to get an up-close look at the denizens of the deep, but you can also try snuba, a cross between snorkeling and scuba, or take the plunge and Discover Scuba. Want to see beneath the sea but can’t bear to get wet? Check out the Undersea Expedition or the Glass Bottom Boat Voyage.
Get Patriotic: There’s nothing like a small town on the Fourth of July, unless it’s a small town on an island on the Fourth of July. Avalon goes all out – and then some – for Independence Day. Start the day with a golf cart parade down Crescent Avenue and end it with fireworks reflected in the water of Avalon Harbor. It’ll be a fourth you’ll never forget.
Be nostalgic: Charles Phoenix is an icon of Americana kitsch and he brings his unique take on pop culture to Catalina Island on June 10, at a special presentation in the Avalon Casino Theatre. Presented by the Catalina Island Museum, Catalinaland will include a slide show and performance by the humorist. Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members and the show starts at 2 p.m.
Take a tour: Whether it’s your first visit or you’ve lived here for decades, there’s a tour that will expand your horizons and bring you closer to this enchanting island. Need a few ideas? You can’t go wrong with the Journey to Frog Rock Kayak Tour, the Avalon Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour or the Catalina Tile Experience.
