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Family Time : Catalina Express

Family Time

A family overlooking Avalon bay on a golf cart.

It’s often hard to unplug and spend quality time with the entire family when everyone has busy schedules. Let Catalina Island provide the perfect place to reconnect off-the-grid!

A group of kids making potter at Silver Canyon Pottery.
Two guys riding bikes around Avalon.
Two girls enjoying ice cream from Lloyd's

Day 1

Morning

Once the family has all arrived in Avalon, take a dive into Catalina history and architecture with Silver Canyon Pottery. Discover Catalina Tile is a unique activity that will provide the family with a learning and hands-on experience. Your family will each have the ability to create their own Catalina tile to take back home.

If your family is interested in a more active experience, Brown’s Bikes is a great opportunity to explore the hills of Avalon. Hop on rented bikes and ride to some of the best overlooks on Catalina Island. Brown’s Bikes can be reserved for a daily rental or hourly on a walk-in basis.

Afternoon

Take a rest from activities with a bite to eat from Eric’s on the Pier, located right on the Green Pleasure Pier. Try Catalina Island’s famous Bison Burger, or their clam chowder in a bread bowl for a seafood dish. Right next to Eric’s on the Pier is Joe’s Rent a Boat for your family’s next activity. Rent a motor boat or pedal boat for a close-up water adventure.  For more of a challenge, rent kayaks or stand-up paddle boards to paddle around Avalon bay.

Evening

Family style dinner calls for an Italian meal at Antonio’s Pizzeria & Cabaret. Enjoy a pizza pie or pasta platter to share with a choice of family-style appetizers. After dinner, stop by Lloyd’s of Avalon for a delicious dessert. Choose from their wide selection of sweet treats like the world-famous salt water taffy or tasty caramel apples.

A kid playing miniature golf at Golf Gardens.
An interior tour of Catalina on a jeep.
A father and son high fiving at Three Palms Arcade

Day 2

Morning

Rise and shine on Catalina Island at the Original Jack’s Country Kitchen for family breakfast. Indulge in a home-style breakfast at the place that brought back elements depicting a country diner in the 1950’s. Once you’ve finished breakfast, put your golfing skills to the test on Catalina Island’s Golf Gardens. Play a game of mini golf and swing to see who will score the best shots in the family. 

Afternoon

Discover the interior of the Island with the Catalina Island Conservancy Eco Tour. Led by a knowledgeable guide, you will be taken through parts of Catalina that are hard to reach. Look for any wildlife or bison on this adventurous tour! To end your family trip, have some game night fun at Three Palms Arcade. Check out their menu at the Catalina Pizza Kitchen for some delicious food while winning prizes and playing Island-style bowling.

Stay 

Make Catalina Island your home away from home at the Catalina Canyon Inn. This hotel is perfect for families looking for a comfortable, luxury stay and includes a family room with bunk beds. Catalina Canyon Inn is one of the only hotels with a pool on the Island, perfect for the kiddos to take a swim!

Travel Tips

Did you arrive early to the Island? Ask a front desk agent at the Catalina Canyon Inn where you can store your belongings if you arrive before the 4pm check-in or past 11am check-out time. Many hotels on the Island provide luggage storage before check-in or after check-out.

Looking for a picnic area? The Love Catalina Visitors Center has maps of Avalon where you’ll see three free small parks marked with picnic tables where you can take your kids.

A group of kids making pottery at Silver Canyon Pottery.

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Silver Canyon Pottery 

22 Pebbly Beach Rd. 

310.499.8799

CatalinaTileExperience.com 

Two people riding bikes around Avalon

2

Brown's Bikes 

107 Pebbly Beach Rd. 

310.510.0986

CatalinaBiking.com

The front of Eric's on the Pier

3

Eric's on the Pier 

Green Pleasure Pier  

310.510.0894

LoveCatalina.com

Joe's rent a boat

4

Joe's Rent a Boat 

Green Pleasure Pier

310.510.0455

JoesRentABoat.com

The view at Antonio's Pizzeria & Cabaret

5

Antonio’s Pizzeria & Cabaret

230 Crescent Ave.

310.510.0008

VisitCatalinaIsland.com

 

Two girls walking out of Lloyd's of Avalon

6

Lloyd’s of Avalon

315 Crescent Ave.

310.510.7266

CatalinaCandy.com

 

Breakfast plate from Original Jack's Country Kitchen.

7

The Original Jack’s Country Kitchen

118 Catalina Ave.

310.510.1308

CatalinaHotSpots.com

 

A family playing mini golf at golf gardens.

8

Golf Gardens

10 Island Plaza 

800.778.8322

VisitCatalinaIsland.com

 

An interior tour of Catalina on a jeep.

9

Catalina Island Conservancy Eco Tour

708 Crescent Ave.

310.510.2595

CatalinaConservancy.org

 

The bowling alley at Three Palms Arcade

10

Three Palms Arcade

225 Crescent Ave.

310.510.0967

ThreePalmsAvalonArcade.com

 

A room at the Catalina Canyon Inn

11

Catalina Canyon Inn 

888 Country Club Dr. 

310.510.0352

CatalinaCanyonInn.com

A map of the family time itinerary

For a printable PDF of the Family itinerary, please click here

Daily Boat Trips To Catalina Island

Discover paradise on Catalina Island with daily ferry trips to and from the island. More than one million travelers choose Catalina Island as their getaway each year and Catalina Express' large fleet of boats make the trip in about an hour, operating every day, year round from three mainland ports - Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point.

Escape To Catalina Island

Leave the hustle and bustle of the "mainland" behind. Catalina Island is the perfect place to take a break from the demands of daily life. With so many activities to choose from, your visit to Catalina Island can be adventure-packed or filled with rest and relaxation. With its year round Mediterranean climate, it's the ideal place to enjoy ocean air and sunshine.