CATALINA ISLAND

Descanso Beach Ocean Sports Snorkeling on Catalina Island

Something I have always wanted to try on Catalina Island was snorkeling. It was early spring, and of course, the ocean water was freezing, but amazingly with wetsuits on, it becomes bearable and absolutely fun! I am talking about going 9 AM in the morning with children and not being bothered by the temperature of the water. We were only planning to be out there about an hour but that was not long enough. We didn’t have to go very far to see an abundance of sea creatures right off the coastal waters of Avalon, California! My husband and I both agree that this is our new favorite activity on the island. DESCANSO BEACH OCEAN SPORTS had everything we needed – mask & snorkel, fins, wetsuits for both adults and children, boogie boards, and water shoes (highly recommended because of the rocky bottoms unless you are using fins).

Catalina Island’s Golf Gardens Miniature Golf

One of the activities that we absolutely love to do together as a family on Catalina Island is a round of miniature golf at GOLF GARDENS. It’s inexpensive and fun for all ages. You can easily spend a good hour to two hours here. Four years ago, we introduced the children to mini-golf right here, and ever since then, it has become a tradition on the island! When my children were much younger, I appreciated that the area was enclosed and fenced off so if they ran ahead of me, I could still see that they were safe. They didn’t necessarily follow the rules, sometimes they held the clubs upside … READ MORE >>

Where to Eat on Catalina Island: Ben’s Bakery at the Shops at the Atwater

Headed to Catalina Island and need a quick bite to eat? Avalon, California has a bakery cafe located inside the Shops at the Atwater. We stopped in for a tasting during our last visit to Catalina, and we liked it. Owned by the Catalina Island Company, BEN’S BAKERY offers a casual dining experience with a selection of grab-and-go sandwiches, breakfast items, paninis, wraps, baked goods, soups, salads, and pastries. BEN’S also serves fresh brewed Illy coffee, espresso drinks, iced coffee drinks, frozen blended drinks, hot tea, iced tea, smoothie bar and fresh juices of the day. I listed a sample of their menu below…

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…

Waterfront Dining at Blue Water Grill Avalon

Imagine waterfront dining on your birthday overlooking beautiful Avalon Bay with a spectacular view of Catalina Casino all the while enjoying a delicious seafood dinner – that is what dining at Blue Water Grill Avalon was like. It’s one of our favorite spots to dine on Catalina Island. While we waited, we are taking it all in. Is this a dream? The kids are searching for fish in the water, because we are literally on the water. It really doesn’t get any better than this. Calamari Fritti for starters served with a sweet chili dipping sauce and cajun remoulade. They are great to share! Followed by our entrees. Our favorite item on … READ MORE >>

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