Top 5 Experiences on Catalina Island

United States TravelCaliforniaFamily Travel

Oct 12

catalina — Top 5 Experiences on Catalina Island California

DO: Eat some local seafood!
DON’T: Only come here for a day-there’s so much to explore!

Over the past year and a half, many people have had to cancel their international trips and are itching to find a destination with that European beachy feel. Look no further-Catalina Island has it all. Right off of the coast of LA, this Mediterranean-vibed island is just a ferry ride away. We got lucky enough to spend 3 amazing days here, and these were our top 5 experiences!

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catalinaisland — Below you will find:

**5 Highlights of Catalina Island**
Day Tours
Places to Eat
Things to See & Do

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catalinagolfcart — **1.Rent a Golf Cart & Take the Scenic Route**

if you do anything on Catalina island, do this! The iconic Instagrammable photos of the aerial view can be achieved by following this route, which takes about 1-2 hours depending on how long you stop to admire the views! We rented a cart from Cartopia (It ran $55/hour) and they gave us a map of all the places to stop! We had a lot of fun riding all around the Avolon area & baby Graham slept the whole time!
*If you’re traveling with a little one, you’ll want to have your carseat to take along on the ride!*

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**2. NDMK Fish House**

We will probably be talking about this restaurant for years to come! We saw the sign for fresh sushi on our way off the ferry and thought we’d try it out. Long story short, we ended up eating here 3 times in 3 days it was so good! We had a torro cut blue fin tuna sashimi, a shrimp appetizer and amazing sushi rolls (probably the freshest we’ve ever had). My mouth is watering just thinking about it! This restaurant had a great casual vibe that we needed and the service was great!

**3. Eco-Tour**

When you go to Catalina, seeing the other end of the island is a must. In fact, many people backpack on the Trans-Catalina Trail (a 37.2-mile trek) from one end of the island to the other! If you don’t have time for that, the Catalina Island Conservancy has the perfect alternative- an Eco-Tour! We couldn’t book the Bison tour because Graham was too young, so we chose this one and were not disappointed. Our guide was so very knowledgeable about the island and we learned some incredible history. A bonus was we were able to spot two bison! Why are there Bison on Catalina island you may ask? See for yourself by taking this fun tour! We did the 2-hour option and it was plenty!
*Note: If traveling with a little one, this is another activity you will want to have your car seat for!*

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**4. Drink a Buffalo Milk @ the Buffalo Nickel**- When we’re traveling, we always meet some really interesting people, and this trip was no different! We met a lady on the ferry who had visited Catalina her whole life! She told us we must go here for the best Buffalo Milk! This yummy tropical cocktail consisting of half a shot of Creme de Cocoa, Half shote of Kahlua, Half shot of Creme de Banana, One shot of vodka & Half & Half, then topped with whipped cream! This place is on the outskirts of town but was a pretty cool venue! If you cant get one here, make sure to try it in one of the other restaurants!

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5. Explore Avalon’s Waterfront Area- There are so many shops and restaurants that are fun to visit while you’re on island time! Along with this, the views from the pier and the walkway towards the casino are breathtaking! They say it feels like you’re in the Mediterranean and we could not agree more!

Honorable Mentions:

Get out on the Water: The Duhls did not do this, but our friends did with their four-year-old & seven-month-old! Their little girl loved seeing the fish & when asked, she said this was her favorite thing on the island! You can book this through Viator! Another option is a glass-bottom boat tour!

The Sand Trap Restaurant: This is a great place for brunch. This is across the street from the golf course & has a definite island vibe. We had a mexican-style breakfast & it was very yummy and filling.