Catalina Island
One Day in Avalon, Catalina Island: My Day Trip Itinerary
Catalina Island is one of those trips that feels way farther from Los Angeles than it actually is.
I went in September for a day trip to Avalon, and somehow we managed to fit in a golf cart ride around the island, parasailing, a glass-bottom boat, ziplining, and a drink tour through local bars and restaurants.
Basically, we said “relaxing island day” and then proceeded to book activities for the entire day lol.
But honestly? It worked.
If you want to see a lot of Avalon in one trip without staying overnight, this is how I’d recreate it.
Trip Snapshot
Where: Avalon, Catalina Island, California
When we went: September
Length: Day trip
Trip style: Adventure + drinks + island exploring
Getting around: Walking + golf cart
Best for: Ocean views, adventure, couples, friends trips, and an easy escape from Southern California
Good to know: Book your ferry and major activities ahead of time because a day trip gives you a limited window on the island
Morning: Arrive in Avalon + Golf Cart Rental
Take the Ferry to Catalina Island
For a day trip, I’d take an early ferry so you actually have enough time to enjoy the island once you arrive.
You do not want half of your Catalina day disappearing before lunch.
And give yourself plenty of time before the return ferry too. Missing that boat is not how I want the adventure to end lol.
Rent a Golf Cart
One of the first things I’d do after arriving is rent a golf cart.
Avalon itself is very walkable, but the golf cart lets you get above town and see some of those classic Catalina views without spending half your day walking uphill.
This is one of those activities that sounds simple but ends up being one of the best ways to actually see Avalon.
Stop at the overlooks.
Take your pictures.
Enjoy the view.
There is no need to speed through the route.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
Reserve the golf cart ahead of time if you know you want one.
A lot of people have the exact same idea when they get off the ferry, especially on weekends and during busy travel periods.
Late Morning: Parasailing
See Catalina From Above
Next up: parasailing.
If you have never done it before, Catalina is a pretty great place to try it because once you are up there, you get ocean in every direction with the island behind you.
And the funny thing about parasailing is that the view from the boat makes it look way more intense than it actually feels once you are up there.
It is surprisingly peaceful.
Midday: Glass-Bottom Boat
See What’s Under the Water
After being above the ocean, we went underneath it, sort of.
The glass-bottom boat is a completely different pace from parasailing and ziplining.
You get to cruise around the coast and look down into the water without needing to snorkel or scuba dive.
I liked having something slower worked into a day that otherwise had a lot going on.
Afternoon: Zipline Eco Tour
Zipline Across Catalina
Then we turned the adrenaline back up.
Catalina’s zipline gives you another completely different perspective of the island.
This is one of the activities I would definitely book ahead because you are working with a fixed ferry schedule and you do not want your available tour time conflicting with the rest of the day.
Give yourself enough buffer before and after the experience instead of stacking reservations back-to-back.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
For a Catalina day trip, timing matters more than almost anything else.
You are not just planning activities. You are planning them around a boat that is leaving the island whether you are ready or not.
I would rather leave 30 extra minutes between activities than spend the entire day checking the clock.
Late Afternoon + Evening: Sabores & Stitches Drink Tour
Seven Stops Around Avalon
This was such a fun way to experience Avalon because instead of just picking one bar, the Sabores & Stitches drink tour took us around to several local bars and restaurants to try their signature drinks.
We went to seven different spots, so by the end we had basically turned Avalon into one big progressive happy hour.
One of the drinks that stood out was the Angry Baby at Coyote Joe’s, and at Buffalo Nickel I got introduced to Ocho Tequila, which was really good.
This is the kind of experience I like because you are not just drinking. You are moving around town, seeing different places, meeting people, and getting more of a feel for Avalon along the way.
Eat Along the Way
Especially if you are doing multiple drinks, eat.
That should not require a travel guide explanation lol.
BOOK THE EXPERIENCE → (Use promo code ‘CASTAWAY’)
Before the Ferry: Walk Avalon
If you have time before heading back, do not immediately rush to the terminal.
Walk around Avalon.
Grab something to eat.
Stop by the waterfront.
Browse a few shops.
Sit somewhere and take in the fact that you spent the day on an island and somehow never left Southern California.
That last little bit of unstructured time is what keeps the day from feeling like one long reservation.
If You Have Extra Time
If you are staying longer or want to swap something, I’d consider:
Descanso Beach Club
Catalina Casino
Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden
Snorkeling
Kayaking
Another boat tour
More time at the beach
Staying overnight and turning the day trip into a weekend
These are additions I’d consider, not things I personally did on this particular day trip.
What I’d Prioritize
If I were recreating my Catalina day, these would stay:
Early ferry to Avalon
Golf cart rental
Parasailing
Glass-bottom boat
Zipline
Sabores & Stitches drink tour
Time to walk Avalon before heading home
💡 SHANE’S TIP
Do not overbook this day.
Yes, I somehow managed to fit all of this in lol, but your ferry times are non-negotiable.
Choose the experiences you care about most, book those first, and build everything else around them.
The Bottom Line
Catalina is one of my favorite kinds of day trips because it actually feels like you went somewhere.
One minute you are leaving Southern California on a ferry, and a little later you are driving a golf cart above Avalon, parasailing over the Pacific, looking through the bottom of a boat, flying down a zipline, and drinking your way through local bars.
For one day, we did a lot.
And somehow it still felt like an island escape.
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