A Storybook Getaway to The Avalon Hotel on Catalina Island

By Greg ARAGON

After a 60-minute cruise across the San Pedro Channel, we spotted the rugged island’s iconic round Catalina Casino and a harbor dotted with colorful boats. Our journey began aboard a Catalina Express high-speed catamaran, slicing smoothly through the deep blue water. After disembarking, we walked 15 minutes through town to The Avalon Hotel, finding a property so idyllic and charming it instantly reminded me of a Hallmark movie set.

The hotel blends the charm of a European seaside boutique with the warmth of a cozy bed-and-breakfast, greeting visitors with rich, beautifully hand-carved African teak wood wrapped around the lobby. After a warm greeting from the front desk we checked into suite 206. Inside the room offered a masterclass in efficiency. Built-in storage drawers swallow luggage and a clever desk nook provides a dedicated workspace without crowding the room.

The sleeping arrangements are brilliantly flexible: a big, comfy queen bed anchors the space, supplemented by a fold-down Murphy bed. In the bathroom, old-fashioned black-and-white checkered tile floors add vintage luxury to the bathtub and shower combo.

The ocean view through the balcony door windows is striking. From this vantage point we could see the historic Casino and boats bobbing in the crescent harbor. Some people live right on those anchored vessels, waking up over the water and swimming straight to the beach each day. For a grander view, we climbed up a couple flights of stairs to a hidden rooftop paradise. This guest-only escape offered tables, chairs, complimentary drinks and panoramic views of the entire island.

Location is everything and the hotel sits just one block from the main drag. Like the rest of town, absolutely everything is within walking distance. A quick stroll leads straight to the sand where a roped-off beach area provides a safe haven for kids. We rented inner tubes and the children zoomed in and out of the gentle waves before building sandcastles. For lunch, we walked two blocks to the local Vons market, picked up sandwiches from the deli and enjoyed a picnic right on the beach.

The walk through town revealed one of Avalon’s most unique quirks: its vehicles. Because the city strictly limits the size and number of standard cars on the island – resulting in a decades-long waiting list – residents rely heavily on micro-vehicles. Amidst the sea of golf carts, Japanese Kei trucks stand out.

These tiny, 660cc-engine workhorses are imported directly from Japan. They are prized by Catalina locals because their narrow frames easily navigate Avalon’s tight, steep streets while legally bypassing standard vehicle size limits. My son and I love small trucks and getting to look at them was one of the primary reasons we came to the island.

To make our walks sweeter, we made a daily stop at Lloyd’s of Avalon for ice cream. Centrally located on Crescent Avenue, this legendary sweet shop has been a Catalina institution since 1934. The shop even holds a famous piece of Hollywood lore: a teenage, pre-fame Marilyn Monroe – then still known as Norma Jeane Dougherty – worked a part-time job right behind the counter during WWII. Standing in the exact spot where a future icon once scooped treats made every cone feel like a literal taste of history.

The next morning, we headed down to the hotel’s patio for a complimentary breakfast. In a garden-like setting surrounded by a trickling fountain and a peaceful koi fish pond, we enjoyed fresh homemade pastries, hard-boiled eggs, bagels, juice and hot coffee.

Refueled and ready, we took a glass-bottom boat tour out to Lover’s Cove Marine Preserve, which offered a window into Catalina’s crystal-clear waters. Looking through the viewing panels, the ocean floor came alive with thick, towering amber kelp forests. Bright, neon-orange garibaldi – California’s official state marine fish –darted through the water alongside schools of striped opaleye, silver kelp bass and camouflaged calico bass.

Back at the hotel, the rooftop deck provided the perfect spot to unwind and read up on the building’s history. The Avalon Hotel stands on ground steeped in island lore, built on the site of the original 1920s Catalina Hospital. Reimagined as a boutique hotel, it preserves the classic Craftsman architectural style that defined early 20th century California coastal living, blending historical preservation with modern comfort.

Reading about the island, I learned that chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. bought the island in 1919 and shaped it into a premier destination. He even brought the Chicago Cubs there for spring training. Beyond Avalon’s town limits lies a wild interior managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy, famous for its wild American bison. A movie crew originally brought 14 bison to the island in 1924 for a silent film shoot. When the production ran out of money, Wrigley allowed them to stay. Today, a managed herd of about 150 bison still roams the golden hills. Visitors can explore this rugged side of the island via classic inland motor tour buses or open-air 4×4 Humvee eco-tours that climb up to the 1,500-foot peaks.

Our next adventure was renting a golf cart. This is the island’s primary mode of transportation for locals and tourists alike, making the roads feel like a whimsical, slow-moving parade. Driving up the steep, winding hills reveals beautiful homes precariously perched on the cliff sides, alongside even more hidden tiny vans and utility trucks tucked into narrow driveways. Along the ridges, we encountered mule deer grazing by the roadside. These deer were introduced to the island in the 1930s to encourage tourism and have since completely adapted to the rugged terrain.

The following morning, we said goodbye to The Avalon Hotel and boarded the Catalina Express. Upgrading to the Commodore Lounge granted us priority boarding to skip the lines and sink into spacious, leather-trimmed seats inside the exclusive upper-level cabin. With complimentary drinks and snacks in hand, we relaxed in quiet luxury on the smooth ride back, watching Catalina Island slowly dissolve into the ocean mist.

For more information on staying at The Avalon Hotel, visit The Avalon Hotel or call (310) 510-7070. For more info on getting to the island, visit Catalina Express at Catalina Express or call (800) 613-1212.