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Visitors to Catalina Island are always amazed. Stunning seascapes, charming streets, rugged terrain combined with awesome activities, unique wildlife and a relaxed pace of life mean that verbal descriptions of a vacation here usually include “AH-MAZ-ING!” What visitors also find amazing is that Catalina Island has escaped the rampant development that covers the Southern California…

Our favorite things to do on Catalina Island in the spring can be summed up in four words. Get out of town. Thanks to generous – and long-overdue – rainfall, Catalina Island has erupted in spring time beauty. We’ve got green hillsides that rival Ireland and a dappling of spectacular wildflowers – but there’s also…

Let’s face it. If you suffer from seasickness and can’t abide the many remedies available, the ferry to Catalina Island is a daunting prospect. Mal de mer, as the French put it, has inspired more than a few people to seek alternative transportation to Catalina. Luckily that alternative has plenty of other benefits. Island Express…

Part of the fun of a Catalina Island vacation is getting here. There are several options for transportation to Catalina Island, including boat and helicopter. The most convenient for central Orange County is the Catalina Flyer, which is operated by Catalina Passenger Services out of Balboa Island in Newport Beach. The Catalina Flyer cruises through…

Are you planning a group trip to Catalina Island? Whether it’s an executive retreat with 10 members of your senior staff, an incentive trip for your top 100 sales staff members or a family reunion with 45 of your closest relatives, a little forethought and planning can help you create a memorable experience for everyone….

A Catalina Island vacation offers something for everyone. Things to do on Catalina range from heart-pounding adventures to relaxing escapades, ensuring that an Avalon getaway will be memorable for the entire family. For those who like to explore the past on their vacation, Catalina Island offers a surprisingly diverse history, replete with smugglers and native…

It all started with a song. 26 Miles Across the Sea, Santa Catalina is awaitin’ for me, Santa Catalina, the island of Romance, Romance, Romance …. When the 4 Preps’ iconic classic hit the airwaves in 1957, it popularized the island’s reputation as a romantic getaway, but Catalina has long been a destination for lovers….

Like the rest of Southern California, Catalina Island has been plagued by a seemingly never-ending drought. The lack of water has parched the island’s hillsides, decimated landscapes and driven residents to an array of creative measures to contend with ever more stringent water rationing. As a result, the slightest drizzle is greeted with glee by…

Gifts for Catalina Island Throughout the country, families and individuals alike are choosing to forego the commercialism of the holidays are opting to give back instead of gift more. On Catalina Island, there are many ways to give back as well as give – here are just a few of our favorites. The Catalina Island…

Catalina Island weather is one of the many wonders of this Southern California vacation destination. Lows rarely exceed 60 degrees in the daytime and even at night temperatures below 50 are a rarity. Even with the mild weather on Catalina, practical activities change – plunging into the sea without a wetsuit can be a bit…

Bison on Catalina Island celebrated on National Bison Day Catalina Island abounds with fascinating animals. Curious Island foxes, playful sea lions and leaping dolphins enthrall residents and visitors alike, and dozens of other interesting species soar, skitter and swim around Santa Catalina. Several of those species have national and statewide significance, including the state’s marine…

With the unending list of things to do on Catalina Island, it is the perfect destination for families with children both young and old. While we had a hard time narrowing it down to just a few, here are our top five Catalina activities for kids. Of course the beach is first: From building sandcastles…