Avalon, California. There is one restaurant, one general store,
campgrounds, and a recreational center where you can rent bikes, kayaks,
umbrellas, etc. They call it “Two Harbors” because it is a town with not one but
two harbors! If you are looking for a beautiful island getaway where
you can enjoy nature at its finest, consider Two Harbors, California.
We stayed at the beautiful Casa Santa Cruz,
a renovated modern rental home in Two Harbors that’s centrally located with views of both harbors seen throughout the house. It can accommodate 8 comfortably with three
bedrooms (each has a view of a harbor, the master has a view of both
harbors), two full restrooms, a loft with a pull-out bed and DVD player, full kitchen, dining area, a living room, and two patios. Amenities include a full
washer/dryer, dishes, silverware, a BBQ, and cookware.
NOTE: There is no WIFI in the rental, however, there is free WIFI next to the restaurant.
After we played in the water all day, we picked up supplies and ingredients from their General Store to make dinner every night. They had all the tools we needed. It doesn’t get much better than this. How would you like to dine every night with a breathtaking view of Isthmus Cove from your patio?
Kayaking
One of the activities we did on the island was rent kayaks from Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center. We rented two double kayaks and went along the east side of the island. Kids can join too but need to know what to do if they fall in the water. It was self-guided tour, and I really felt that the guided kayaking in
Avalon prepared us for this. We were on our own, and it can be dangerous
kayaking too close to the rocks. You can also rent snorkeling and SCUBA gear, mountain bikes, Skiff Rentals, SUP Rentals (Stand up paddle
boards), fishing rods, and beach rentals like beach
chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, volleyballs, smashball, horseshoe, and
bocceball. 310-510-4272
TIP: If you go on your birthday, you can ride for Free on the Catalina Express!
What To Pack:
- Sunblock
- Bug Spray (and don’t forget to apply it in the evening!)
- Beach Towels (there are towels in the rental but they are white)
- Groceries and cooking ingredients.
- Warm clothing for nightly walks.
- Your favorite DVD’s for movie nights. They have a great selection there too.
- Music. It’s like a party house with plenty of seating throughout the house.
- Laundry detergent. Why wait til you get home? They have a washer/dryer.
We loved staying in Two Harbors at Casa Santa Cruz, because it was comfortable, centrally located, and spacious. Two Harbors is absolutely beautiful, and you can enjoy both harbors in one day, because it’s a short 10-15 minute walk to each one. It is a great way to spend quality family time with several families doing outdoorsy stuff, and it was nice to unplug for a few days to relax. The beauty of the harbors draw you in, and we were anxious to explore the area. The walks were easy and family-friendly. Make sure you apply bug spray in the evening, and stay on the pathway. (I walked through tall grass in the evening and had bug bites.) My family and I want to come back with more family and do it all over again. That’s how much we loved it!
www.catalinavacations.com. For more ideas what to do in Two Harbors, please visit their websites at VisitTwoHarbors.com and VisitCatalinaIsland.com.