Catalina Island Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I get to the city of Avalon?
To get to Avalon on Catalina Island you can take the Catalina Express Ferry. The Catalina Express is the best way to get to the island and is even dog friendly! Starting with only one boat and one phone, 40 years later Catalina Express is the leader of marine transportation to Catalina Island. During both trips, I got the ferry from Long Beach and the trip took only about an hour. I recommend booking your round trip ticket in advance on the Catalina Express website. I also suggest arriving to the port at least 30 minutes before departure.
Is Catalina Island Dog Friendly?
Yes, you can bring your dog with you to Catalina Island via the Catalina Express Ferry. The ferry takes about one hour to get from Long Beach to the town of Avalon on Catalina Island. Once on the Island, there are a few restaurants and hotels that are dog friendly. A complete list of dog friendly hotels is listed on the Love Catalina website. In addition to restaurants, the city of Avalon recently opened a small dog park at People’s Park on Avalon Canyon Rd. In addition, Bluewater Grill Restaurant and Toyon Grill both allow dogs on their outdoor patio.
What hotels are on Catalina Island?
The city of Avalon has several hotel options for your trip. Below are the ones that I have stayed at and would recommend.
- Hotel Atwater Address: 125 Sumner Avenue, Avalon, CA 90704. This is one of my favorite hotels on the Avalon side of Catalina Island. It’s located in a central location on Sumner Avenue, which is off the main street of Crescent Ave.
- The Bellanca Hotel Address: 111 Crescent Ave, Avalon, CA 90704 . Instagram:@bellancahotel . The hotel is located right off the main Crescent Avenue and has an on site restaurant called The Naughty Fox.
- The Catalina Island Inn Address: 125 Metropole Ave, Avalon, CA 90704 Instagram: @catalinaislandinn . This is a quaint small inn on the island, perfect for someone looking for a simple accommodation.
What Should I Wear On A Catalina Jeep Tour?
If you saw my instagram post or read my things to do in Catalina Island list then you know an Eco Tour is a must! For this tour it’s best to wear closed toe shoes and comfortable layers as you will be sitting in an open sided jeep for two or three hours.
Can you stay on the Two Harbors side of the island?
Yes, there are a small number of hotels and other accommodations in Two Harbors. Some of which are Villa Santa Cruz, Banning House Lodge, and Villa Santa Rosa
Where should I eat on Catalina Island?
Two popular waterfront restaurants on the island are Descanso Beach Club and Bluewater Grill. Both are dog friendly and have lots of outdoor seating. Bluewater Grill restaurant does not take reservations so be ready to wait if its a busy weekend. The Lobster Trap is another local favorite recommended to me by several locals. They don’t have outdoor seating but we ordered our lobster rolls to go and it ended up being our favorite meal on the island!
For a complete restaurant rundown, check out my restaurant guide on where to eat on Catalina Island!
Have more questions after reading these Catalina Island Frequently Asked Questions? Feel free to email me or message me with any additional questions and I’ll add them to the list! Also be sure to check out these other posts on Catalina Island below!
- Guide on What to Do on Catalina Island
- Catalina Island Day Trip Getaway Guide
- Restaurant Guide on where to eat on Catalina Island!
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