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Santa Claus’s Five Favorite Things To Do On Catalina Island

a parachute with a body of water

Everyone knows that on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus flies around the globe with his cadre of hard-charging reindeer. What’s not quite so well known is that the jolly gent likes unwinding on the island after his grueling night of delivering presents all around the world. If you’d like to relax like the man in red, here are Santa’s five favorite things to do on Catalina Island.

It’s probably not a surprise that after all the stress of sorting the nice from the naughty, Santa needs some pampering. The first thing he does when he gets to Catalina is have a relaxing morning massage. Once he’s had a chance to unwind, he’s ready for his first adventure — parasailing.

Shhhhh. Let me let you in on a little secret. Those reindeer aren’t always so easy to manage. Prancer and Comet in particular have been known to give Santa a hard time if he’s not constantly keeping them in check. Parasailing on Catalina lets him fly away from it all without worrying about controlling eight flighty deer (nine if it’s foggy).

a person standing next to a body of water

Parasailing is available daily on Catalina Island

Once he’s returned to earth, Santa has worked up an appetite. Keeping that belly like a bowlful of jelly takes constant work – as does that jolly attitude. Santa satisfies his food and drink cravings with a few delightful hours on the Avalon Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour.

a group of people in a boat on a body of water

The next morning, Santa is ready for bit more adventure. One of his favorite things to do on Catalina Island has always been kayaking. Surprisingly nimble for such a robust man – must be all that time spent navigating rooftops — Mr. Claus loves gliding across the surface of the sea and enjoying Catalina’s abundant marine life.

It won’t come as a surprise that wrangling deer, corralling elves and chronicling the misdeeds of the world’s children comes with more than its fair share of stress. Luckily St. Nick has discovered the best way to blow off a little steam on Catalina Island – the Happy Hour Tour. Two hours of cocktails and high-spirited shenanigans is just what Mrs. Claus ordered to the get Santa back in the spirit.

Ali Murtaza, Patrick Prince posing for the camera

While incognito, Santa loves making new friends on tour.

Like many stars who visit the island, Santa is a bit publicity shy: if you see him, please let him have his privacy. As for the reindeer, don’t expect to see them, they hate the temperate weather on Catalina and they stay home.