Catalina Express

Catalina Island Birthday Freebies

Catalina Island has been one of our annual trips for the past 4-5 years. This year I got all excited because my birthday landed on Spring Break, and I got to ride the CATALINA EXPRESS for free as well as experience firsthand the Island birthday freebies. Most people already know about them, and the tricky part is you can only get them on the day of your birthday (not the week of or the month of). They will want to see proof. With an hour and half boat-ride away from Orange County, paradise awaited us! Here are five birthday island freebies you may or may not have known about in Avalon, California…

CATALINA ISLAND: Inside the Pavilion Hotel – Avalon, CA | @VisitCatalina #Travel #CatalinaIsland

This is a post written by me for Pavilion Hotel. All opinions are our own. Welcome to our Santa Catalina Island Adventure Series. One of the things that we worry about the most when we’re on the island is our luggage. What do we do with our luggage when check-in is not until 3 pm? Do we roll it around with us for the rest of the day? Of course, we could always check it at our hotel, but what if it’s on the other side of the bay? Everywhere in Avalon, California is within walking distance, but when you have kids, traveling light is not an option and you … READ MORE >>

CATALINA ISLAND: Sample 2-Day Itinerary with Kids

Welcome to Part II of our Santa Catalina Island Adventures! We just got back from an eventful getaway exploring the beautiful Avalon, California. We were super active and loved every minute. Here’s how you too can maximize two-full days in Catalina with children. SAMPLE 2 – Day Itinerary with Kids! Note: We departed from Downtown Long Beach with Catalina Express. This is written from our personal experiences and for entertainment purposes only. Activity times are accurate at time of publishing and could change without notice. Please check ahead for most updated information. *Note: This time will vary depending on what port you depart from. DAY ONE 7:30 am* … Arrive … READ MORE >>

Catalina Express Commodore Lounge- What’s Inside

If you’ve been itching to get out of town lately or go on an island vacation, look no further than your own backyard! Catalina Express took us from Downtown Long Beach to Avalon, California in one hour. It’s our own local paradise across the sea! Here’s a look inside the Commodore Lounge which is the VIP lounge on the Catalina Express. I think it’s worth the upgrade! CHECKING-IN If you’ve never been to Long Beach Downtown Landing, you will want to get there at least an hour before your departure. There is a loading zone and a parking structure. (Note: overnight parking is $15 per day.) Their terminal is pretty … READ MORE >>