Back in 2020, we put together a virtual happy hour with Cathy Miller from Love Catalina and the team from PubClub.com to talk about what makes Catalina Island special. That conversation - filmed during a time when most of us couldn't go anywhere - reminded us why this island keeps pulling people back. Six years later, we've updated this list with current pricing, new experiences, and a few things we've learned from return visits.
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- The Catalina Express runs daily from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point, with adult round-trip fares at about $94 per person - cheaper than a tank of gas and a hotel room for most SoCal road trips.
- Golf cart rentals start around $50-65/hour and are the main way people get around Avalon, so transportation costs stay low once you're on the island.
- Accommodations range from beachfront camping at Two Harbors (budget-friendly) to boutique hotels in Avalon, so you can match the trip to your wallet.
- The Bison Expedition eco tour in an open-air Hummer is one of the most unique wildlife experiences in California, and it runs about two hours - leaving plenty of time for the rest of your day.
- This is a popular cruise port for LA-to-Ensenada sailings, so if you're already looking at a short cruise, Catalina might already be on your itinerary.
- 15 Things We Love About Catalina Island!
- It Feels Like Another World Despite Being 26 Miles from LA
- The Catalina Express Makes Getting There Simple
- It's a Popular Cruise Stop for LA-to-Ensenada Sailings
- The Buffalo Eco Tours Are Unlike Anything Else in California
- Renting a Golf Cart Is the Best Way to See Avalon
- The Oldest Operating Golf Course West of the Mississippi
- Descanso Beach Club Sets the Right Pace
- Buffalo Milk Cocktails Are a Catalina Tradition
- Luau Larry's and the Avalon Bar Scene
- Backcountry Hiking and the Trans-Catalina Trail
- Snorkeling and Water Sports at Two Harbors
- The Casino Building Isn't What You Think
- Accommodations Range from Luxury Hotels to Rugged Camping
- Glass-Bottom Boats and Semi-Submersibles
- The Zip Line Eco Tour Adds Some Adrenaline
- It's an Ideal Father-Son or Guys Trip Destination
- Why Catalina Keeps Drawing People Back
Catalina Island sits just 26 miles off the Southern California coast, but the moment you step off the ferry it feels like you've left the mainland behind entirely. For a guys weekend, a father-son trip, or even a solo reset, this island packs history, adventure, and surprisingly affordable fun into a destination most people only know from a song.
15 Things We Love About Catalina Island!
Catalina has been drawing visitors since the late 1800s, when the Banning brothers and later William Wrigley Jr. transformed the island into a resort destination. That history shows up everywhere - from the iconic Casino building on the waterfront to the oldest operating golf course west of the Mississippi. But what makes it work for a guys trip or a father-son getaway is the range: you can go from hiking backcountry trails to sipping Buffalo Milk cocktails at a tiki bar in the same afternoon.
It Feels Like Another World Despite Being 26 Miles from LA
The lack of cars, the slow pace, and the clear water make Catalina feel more like a Mediterranean island than something you can see from the Long Beach skyline on a clear day. That disconnect from the mainland is the whole point.
The Catalina Express Makes Getting There Simple
Ferries run daily from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point, with the ride taking about an hour from Long Beach. Round-trip tickets run about $94 for adults, and if you book a few weeks out you'll usually lock in better departure times. Discount ticket sites sometimes bring that closer to $75. No flights, no rental cars, no stress.
It's a Popular Cruise Stop for LA-to-Ensenada Sailings
If you're eyeing a short cruise out of Los Angeles, there's a good chance Catalina is already on the itinerary. It's one of our favorite Coastal California Cruise Ports, and a port day here gives you enough time to hit the highlights in Avalon or book an eco tour into the interior.
The Buffalo Eco Tours Are Unlike Anything Else in California
The Catalina Island Conservancy maintains a herd of roughly 150 American bison that roam wild on the island - descendants of a small herd brought over for a Hollywood film shoot in the 1920s and never removed. The Bison Expedition takes you into the island's rugged interior in an open-air Hummer that runs on biofuel, bouncing through Cape Canyon and along ridgelines while your guide shares island history. Fair warning: the bison are truly wild and free-range, so sightings aren't guaranteed, but the scenery and the ride alone are worth it.
Renting a Golf Cart Is the Best Way to See Avalon
Cars are heavily restricted on Catalina, which means golf carts are the primary mode of transportation. Rentals run $50-65/hour from shops near the ferry terminal, and most places hand you a map with a scenic 12-mile route through Avalon's hillside neighborhoods and overlooks. If you'd rather sit back and learn something, guided golf cart tours with a local run about two hours. Either way, it's a laid-back way to cover ground without rushing.
The Oldest Operating Golf Course West of the Mississippi
The Catalina Island Golf Course was originally built in 1892 as a three-hole course and now features nine holes winding through a narrow canyon toward Avalon Bay. Tiger Woods played here at age four. The Bobby Jones Invitational Tournament called this course home from 1931 to 1955. If you're planning a guys weekend, a round here costs less than most mainland courses and the views are better than almost all of them. Club rentals are available at the pro shop.
Descanso Beach Club Sets the Right Pace
This is Catalina's version of a beach club - lounge chairs, cocktails, and a shoreline that catches afternoon sun. It's walkable from the ferry terminal and works as either a full afternoon destination or a place to decompress after a morning hike or tour. When money's tight, even just grabbing a drink and posting up on the sand for an hour is worth it.
Buffalo Milk Cocktails Are a Catalina Tradition
Every bar on the island has its version of the Buffalo Milk - a blended cocktail made with vodka, Kahlua, crème de banana, crème de cacao, and cream. It sounds like a dessert, it tastes like a boozy milkshake, and after two of them you'll understand why people make a point of ordering one every trip. Consider it your initiation.
Luau Larry's and the Avalon Bar Scene
Luau Larry's is the island's signature tiki bar, loud and unapologetic about it. El Galleon offers a more mellow scene with harbor views. The whole Avalon waterfront is compact and walkable, which means you can hit multiple spots in an evening without planning logistics or splitting Ubers. For a college buddies reunion or a bachelor party pre-game, the simplicity of just walking between bars is underrated.
Backcountry Hiking and the Trans-Catalina Trail
The 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail crosses the entire island from Avalon to Two Harbors and beyond, passing through terrain most visitors never see. You don't need to commit to the whole thing - shorter sections offer serious backcountry hiking with ocean views and a real chance of spotting bison, island foxes, and bald eagles. If your group wants a physical challenge with actual payoff, this is it.
Snorkeling and Water Sports at Two Harbors
Two Harbors sits on the island's quieter west end and offers kayak, paddleboard, and snorkel gear rentals from the Dive & Recreation Center right at the pier. The water clarity here is excellent, and the kelp beds are full of garibaldi, bat rays, and the occasional leopard shark. This is where a father-son trip really shines - spending a day on the water together with zero distractions.
The Casino Building Isn't What You Think
The landmark Catalina Casino has never been a gambling hall - "casino" is the Italian word for gathering place. Built in 1929, it houses a beautiful art deco movie theater on the first floor and a massive ballroom upstairs that once hosted big band legends. Tours run regularly and the history here is legitimately fascinating, especially the stories about Hollywood's golden age on the island.
Accommodations Range from Luxury Hotels to Rugged Camping
Avalon has boutique hotels and historic inns for groups who want comfort after a day of activities. But the real range shows up at Two Harbors, where you can camp on a bluff overlooking the Pacific at Two Harbors Campground or go primitive at Little Harbor and Parsons Landing along the Trans-Catalina Trail. The Banning House Lodge, a craftsman-style B&B built in 1910, offers something in between. File the camping option away for when you're ready to plan something more adventurous - a dad's weekend away with your son, gear on your backs, sleeping under the stars on an island.
Glass-Bottom Boats and Semi-Submersibles
Not everyone wants to get wet, and that's fine. The semi-submersible Nautilus lets you cruise five feet below the surface in a climate-controlled cabin, watching kelp forests and marine life through massive viewing windows. Glass-bottom boats offer a similar experience from above. Both depart from Avalon and run under an hour - an easy add to any port day or afternoon.
The Zip Line Eco Tour Adds Some Adrenaline
Five lines spanning Descanso Canyon give you aerial views of Avalon and the surrounding hills while guides share natural history along the way. It's not extreme, but it's enough of a rush to break up a day of walking around town, and the guides keep it entertaining with challenges and island trivia.
It's an Ideal Father-Son or Guys Trip Destination
Among California guys trips, Catalina stands out because of the combination: you can hike backcountry trails in the morning, tour the interior looking for bison in an open-air Hummer after lunch, play a round on the oldest operating golf course west of the Mississippi, and close the day with Buffalo Milks at a tiki bar - all without a car, a complicated itinerary, or breaking the budget. For dads looking for a first real trip with an older son, the mix of outdoor adventure, history, and low-key exploration hits differently than a theme park or a crowded resort.
Why Catalina Keeps Drawing People Back
Most guys who visit Catalina come back. The island rewards return trips because there's always something you didn't get to - maybe it's the Trans-Catalina Trail, maybe it's an overnight at Two Harbors, maybe it's finally seeing the bison up close after they were grazing on the far side of the island last time. The Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden alone is worth a dedicated visit, sitting at the top of Avalon Canyon with views and plant species you won't find anywhere else on earth. Book the Catalina Express a few weeks out, grab the guys or your son, and go see what 26 miles of ocean can do for your perspective.
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