The Mention List Guide to Catalina Island

The California island where golf carts replace cars, the water is impossibly blue, and a weekend somehow feels much farther from Los Angeles than 22 miles.

There’s something about Catalina Island that feels slightly removed from reality. Maybe it’s arriving by boat. Maybe it’s the palm-lined waterfront, colorful hillside homes, or the fact that golf carts are a completely normal mode of transportation. Whatever it is, Avalon has perfected the feeling of being away without requiring an international flight.

Catalina is not the place for an overbooked itinerary. You come here to spend too long at lunch, put on a swimsuit before noon, wander around Avalon with nowhere particularly important to be and order another drink because your ferry isn’t leaving until tomorrow.

Here’s how we’d do it.

STAY: Pick Your Version of Catalina

For the classic Avalon weekend: Hotel Atwater

Stay here if your priority is being in the middle of everything. Hotel Atwater is a historic Avalon property just a short walk from the waterfront, restaurants and shops. It feels polished without taking itself too seriously—the ideal home base when you plan on spending most of the weekend out exploring anyway.

For the romantic version: Mt Ada

If Catalina is the trip, not just the destination, book Mt Ada. The former Wrigley family residence sits above Avalon with the kind of harbor views that make leaving the property slightly difficult.

This is the slow mornings, breakfast-with-a-view, special-occasion version of Catalina.

For the beach weekend: Hotel Metropole

Right in Avalon and steps from the water, Hotel Metropole is an easy choice if you want the classic island experience with everything nearby.

Our rule for Catalina hotels: prioritize location and the view. You did not take a ferry to an island to stare at a parking lot.

EAT: Come Hungry, Leave on Island Time

Bluewater Avalon

Start here.

Bluewater sits right along the harbor, meaning lunch comes with boats, ocean views and exactly the atmosphere you came to Catalina for. Seafood is the obvious move.

Order something fresh, get a drink and resist the urge to rush anywhere afterward.

The Lobster Trap

A little more casual and exactly what you want from an island seafood restaurant.

Think lobster, fish, chowder and the kind of dinner where nobody cares that your hair still looks slightly beachy.

Descanso Beach Club

Technically lunch. Realistically an entire afternoon.

Descanso is where you go when you want the Catalina trip you've been picturing: beach chairs, cabanas, cocktails and the Pacific Ocean directly in front of you.

Book a spot, order lunch and stay significantly longer than you originally intended.

EXPLORE: Do Catalina Beyond the Beach

Rent the golf cart

Yes, it’s touristy.

Do it anyway.

Golf carts are practically part of the Catalina experience, and driving up through the hills gives you some of the prettiest views back over Avalon and the harbor.

This is also when approximately 70 percent of your camera roll will be created.

See the Catalina Casino

First things first: it isn't actually a casino.

The massive circular Art Deco building has been an Avalon landmark since 1929 and houses a movie theater and ballroom. Even if you don't do a full tour, walk over and see it.

It’s one of those places that immediately makes Catalina feel like Catalina.

Get on the water

You are on an island. Act accordingly.

Kayak. Paddleboard. Snorkel. Take a boat tour. Spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing on the beach.

Just make sure at least one part of your weekend involves actually getting into that ridiculously blue water.

WANDER: Spend an Afternoon in Avalon

Avalon is small enough that wandering is the activity.

Walk along Crescent Avenue, stop in the little shops, get ice cream, look at boats you absolutely do not own and slowly make your way toward the Casino.

There is no need to optimize this portion of the trip.

In fact, please don't.

Catalina works best when you allow yourself to have nowhere to be for an hour.

ESCAPE: See the Wild Side of the Island

Avalon gets most of the attention, but the majority of Catalina is much less developed.

Take an interior island tour and suddenly the beach-town weekend turns into rugged hills, huge ocean views and—unexpectedly—bison.

Yes. Bison. On a California island.

They've become one of Catalina's most recognizable sights, and seeing the interior gives you an entirely different perspective on the island.

THE PERFECT THREE-DAY CATALINA

FRIDAY — Arrive & Wander

Take the ferry over in the afternoon.

Check in, immediately change into something more vacation-appropriate and walk the Avalon waterfront.

Rent a golf cart before dinner and take it through the hills while the light is good.

Then: seafood, wine and an unnecessarily long dinner near the water.

No itinerary after that.

SATURDAY — The Catalina Day

Coffee first.

Spend the morning kayaking, snorkeling or exploring the island.

Then head to Descanso Beach Club for lunch and make it an afternoon. Get the cabana. Order the drink. Get in the water. Order another appetizer.

Go back to the hotel, shower, put on the outfit you packed specifically for Saturday night and head into Avalon for dinner.

Finish with a walk along the harbor.

SUNDAY — One Last Look

Do not book the earliest ferry home.

Have a slow breakfast, walk through Avalon and visit the Catalina Casino.

Grab one last lunch overlooking the water, buy something unnecessary from one of the shops and then reluctantly head back to the ferry.

The Sunday scaries are unfortunately not included in the return ticket.

THE CATALINA DRESS CODE

Catalina is California coastal with a slightly Mediterranean fantasy.

You want pieces that look good near a boat.

For daytime: linen shorts, easy tanks, striped knits, white sundresses, bikinis, oversized button-downs, flat sandals and a woven tote.

For dinner: a slip dress, linen set, little white dress or something slightly nautical without looking like you're attending a themed party.

Accessories should do most of the work: oversized sunglasses, gold jewelry, a woven bag and a scarf tied somewhere it probably doesn't need to be.

And bring a sweater.

Island nights have a way of making you deeply regret the tiny top you were extremely confident about at 3 p.m.

THE MENTION LIST TAKE: Catalina is what happens when you combine a California beach weekend with just enough European-island delusion. Take the ferry, rent the golf cart, book the beach chair and allow yourself to spend three days pretending you live somewhere that requires arriving by boat.

MENTIONED: Catalina Island, CaliforniaBEST FOR: Long weekends, girls' trips, couples trips & an easy California escapeTHE VIBE: Coastal, nostalgic, slightly Mediterranean, very off-dutyPACK: Linen, swimwear, oversized sunglasses & something for dinner you’ll want photographed