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    1. Campus By The Sea

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    Avalon, CA

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    Campus By The Sea

    4.7 (20 reviews)
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    Christine C.

    Amazing family camp! We brought our three teen children for the first time last summer and it was truly unforgettable. My husband attended Campus by the Sea family camp as a child and wanted his children to have the same experience. We plan on going again this summer and are bringing his parents with us! If you want to create memories with your children that will last and lifetime and build a legacy of godliness that will continue to your grandchildren, the I highly recommend registering for Campus by the Sea!

    5/2019
    Jen S.

    UPDATE as of OCT. 2019 Updated details are quoted corrections as requested by the business owner and they're details to better help anyone else planning an excursion. --Transportation is not provided by Catalina Express - it is a research vessel operated by the Long Beach Marine Institute. That's why your voyage was a little rougher. But LBMI's vessel, "Challenger," does have touch tanks on board for the kids to examine sea life sampled from the ocean's floor. Weather may have been too rough to allow this for your group. --In-house we refer to OTS as "Opportunity To Serve" --CBS is just the host facility for The Long Beach Marine Institute which provided your transportation to the camp and all the instructional and supervision elements of your experience. Campus by the Sea provided the meals, lodging, care for facilities and snack shop. *Readers might want to know that they initiate the Long Beach Marine Institute to line up a similar event. https://www.yelp.com/biz/long-beach-marine-institute-long-beach ----------------------------------- INITIAL REVIEW MAY 2019 Advice for future Catalina campers if you visit here in May: TAKE DRAMAMINE/ Motion Sickness Medicine if needed. Our boat ride to the island was VERY choppy and wet!!! Waves sprayed on the top deck. DRESS IN WARM & COMFORTABLE LAYERS When it got windy and cloudy it was pretty COLD BRING A WARM SLEEPING BAG BRING WATER SHOES (rocky beach) BRING EXTRA SOCKS & Clothes (at least 2-3 extra outfits) PUT YOUR NAMES ON EVERYTHING (Sooo much was left behind on the cabin floors, the ground, shower stalls, pj's dropped on the way to the showers, etc. BRING A RELIABLE FLASHLIGHT!!! No lights at night. They ran out of lanterns. ALSO a good idea to have shower items in easy to carry bag and another bag to keep clothes dry once in the restroom/shower. BRING BUG SPRAY/LOTION/CHAPSTICK (very dry air) SNACK BAR HRS after meals or during free play. Snack shop had chips, candy, ice cream, souvenirs, sweatshirts, hats, flip flops NO CELL PHONES We had lost phones (in the water)&chargers, so to avoid losing them don't bring them. Kids have a phone within reach, at their use at any time during the day and there was plenty of downtime to make calls home. WATERPROOF cameras advised or have one of those clear pouches attached to a necklace so kids can keep their hands free while they're exploring. STAFF are first-aid-trained. They ring a bell to cue the next activity.They may or may not give the kids a heads up, so they should just always be ready for the activity coming up. I'm sure each camper's experience is different, but here is the gist of our 3- day 7th Grader Itinerary with about 120 middle school kids and our chaperones. EACH DAY's DETAILS ARE NOTED IN MY INITIAL REVIEW FEOM MAY 2019

    Daniel C.

    A place to rejuvenate and be spiritually fed. I've been coming her on and off since 1996 and have enjoyed every moment. I have fond memories of this place.

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    13 years ago

    A wonderful place. Staff makes it their mission to serve you. Well maintained and always improving. Best camp food ever.

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    Review Highlights - Campus By The Sea

    We have been attending CBS as family campers for a week each summer for the last 15 years or so.

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    Parsons Landing - BeacH FronT CamP

    Parsons Landing

    4.6(19 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    This is an amazing beach campsite. We stayed at #7, which I recommend for three reasons: 1. sandy…read moreground makes for better tent options, 2. there's more space here. #6 to the south is farther away and you only have the residents of #8 to the north passing by. 3. This site is a bit elevated from the water, which makes the dolphin and seal watching a bit easier. A lot of people recommend site #1 which is a cool site because it's in its own secluded cove, but it's very rocky there and views of the water are limited. We were there in early January and witnessed hundreds of dolphins diving and splashing in the kelp forests off shore. I have never seen anything like it. You will want to get a locker of water and wood for each day you are there. So two days, two lockers. Be sure to stop at the office in Two Harbors to get the lock codes for those lockers before you set out. Very special. I have also posted this in my review of the Trans-Catalina Trail, but be forewarned that if you want to take the trail to Parsons from Two Harbors, which goes over the mountains, it's VERY difficult and steep and not for anyone of below average fitness. That said, the views are incredible. The other option is to take the coastal road, which is farther in distance, but much flatter and easier. Enjoy!

    We ended up doing a day hike instead of a single over night. After this hike we have a better…read moreunderstanding of what we need for this location. - you definitely need mats to sleep on! The beach is very rocky. - USE THE FOOD BOX at all times! We learned quickly. And good thing I had taken extra food for lunch or we would've been hungry - check the vacant camp site food boxes. We found fire wood, water, camp soap, pots, pans and utensils in our food box. We ended up leaving a brand new bundle of firewood and an unopened water container for the next campers. - definitely take an extra lighter lol you just never know We started our hike to Parsons Landing from the Banning House at 8:30am. The 2 hr hike was breathtaking. Beautiful, sunny, cool day in December. Couldn't get any better. We arrived and at Parsons Landing and explored all the sites since only one another site was occupied. Every sites has a gorgeous view, fire pit, food box and fairly easy to distinguish. We walked over to our secluded site... best site in my opinion. I look forward to camping out for a few days next time.

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    Parsons Landing - Day trip to emerald bay

    Day trip to emerald bay

    Parsons Landing - Chemical toilets and lockers

    Chemical toilets and lockers

    Parsons Landing - Site Map from http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com

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    Site Map from http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com

    Catalina Backcountry

    Catalina Backcountry

    4.7(38 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    Aaron and Jess were life savers! When we realized we had the wrong size tent at BlackJack, Aaron…read morenot only lent us a larger tent, but set it up with 2 cots, and a cooler of ice cold water that was waiting for us at Little Harbor. When we arrived, my wife had 9 blisters so there was no way we were going to make it to 2 harbors the next day. Aaron saved the day by giving us a ride the next morning! He made the whole experience a joy despite all of the other mishaps! They provide a great service!!

    Jess and Aaron are incredible humans. If you are planning a trip to Catalina to stay anywhere…read moreoutside the civilization of Avalon you need to know about them and I'd recommend utilizing their services. They take packs and humans to each campground along TCT. We learned about them as we were dangerously hot near mile 9 of TCT and found they generously provided ice water. Our crew of 7 were so grateful. The next day after a long hike into little harbor we decided we would like to get our packs taken for us so that we could continue to hike the TCT but without the toll of a 25lb pack on our backs. Jess was so kind and helpful. Immediately booking the transaction taking our bags from LH to Parsons. Sadly shortly after my daughter started throwing up and we decided we needed to cut our trip short. I asked Jess for help on recommendations how to get a ride out. She quickly made adjustments to her schedule and said "we can take you". Aaron was there early to ensure we had plenty of time to get on the boat while providing tour level information about the island during the drive. We can't say thank you enough! These people are gold and backpacking Catalina, while beautiful, is no joke. I wish I knew about their service before starting TCT. I highly recommend connecting with them to help you with your trip.

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    Catalina Backcountry
    Catalina Backcountry
    Catalina Backcountry

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    Camp Catalina Whites Landing - fall asleep to the sound of ocean waves

    Camp Catalina Whites Landing

    4.3(7 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    My family of 4 (2 boys, ages 6 and 8) loved it and can't wait to go back! We went over Memorial Day…read moreweekend 2026. Morning overcast burnt off by around 12 each day. Nights were cool but the comforters provided were sufficiently warm at night. Comfortable beds and pillows. Pay for the bedding/towel package in advance so they can make the beds for you. We'd like to go back in the summer months when it's warmer. We packed our own snacks, food to grill on the community grills, and more than enough stuff to make all meals on site. Everything u need to cook comfortably is provided, except maybe 1 or two things that I'll list below. We got the 4 person full size hut. We were towards the back of the camp but conveniently located next to bathrooms/sinks. Our hut faced the ocean so we were fortunate to have great views. The grounds are private and large enough for kids to explore but small enough that parents can let older kids roam free. The beach is perfect for little ones, and the communal spaces included a lot of outdoor activities and games. No wifi in the huts/yurts/etc. You have to go to the large communal building (where food is served for those who purchase the add-on meal package (95.00 per person per day; you can't select individual meals, it's all or nothing)). Meal planning is critical if you plan on cooking for yourself. We took too much but were happy that we chose to make our own food. There's a dishwashing station with hot water, sponges, dish soap. The huts have large bins to take your dishes over to the washing station. It was easy enough to do that after every meal. Advice- purchase ferry tickets AND water taxi when you book. You likely will not go back and forth to Avalon during your stay. Water taxi time slots are limited and not cheap. We each had our own backpacks, one large suitcase, a tote (for toiletries), a cooler and a dry goods bag. It was all manageable because we had it rigged up on wheels. u can also take a collapsible wagon on the ferry. The camp offers wagons on site to take belongings from the water taxi to your hut. That wagon came in handy, we used it often. We got in early on Saturday morning and left early Monday from the camp to hang in Avalon for a couple of hours. Avalon was cute but very touristy. Food there is just okay and expensive. Things to consider packing--If you take your own food to the camp site- I suggest you pack paper towels (none provided) and a cutting board. They provide a french press, so taking ground coffee is the way to go. They provide each site a burner and propane tank to boil water, cook, etc. We took a 60 qt cooler and a bag with dry goods. They provide a very large cooler to transfer your stuff into as well as ice packs that you can swap out as needed. We should have packed a table cloth for the picnic table outside our hut. We used a camping blanket and it worked out fine. The camp provides small rechargeable lanterns that were useful. Water refill stations in the communal building. Bring water bottles to refill. We took a beach blanket and a camping chair to use at the beach, both came in handy. We should have packed a smaller packable cooler for the beach. We also should have packed a wet clothes bag for wet/sandy stuff, and a dirty clothes bag. Bathrooms are individual stalls in an out house type setting that feels open and cold at night. Showers are the same. The shower stalls are open from the top so although the water gets warm, the stalls are cold because they are open. I showered midday while the sun was out and in my swimsuit. There's no changing area in the showers, so unless u want to get dressed in a wet stall, you should either take a robe and dress minimally or walk back/forth in a swimsuit and get dressed in your hut. Shower shoes are a must. The setting is ideal for large groups/familes. We want to go back with friends! There's a kayak/paddle board rental company on-site. We kayaked midday but the wind made it impossible to enjoy ourselves. If it's windy, don't bother. Mornings and evenings are the best time to kayak. Margot was our on-site host and was incredibly sweet and helpful. Our boys loved her. She hooked up s'mores and evening fire pits (u can't make your own fires there). They didn't have any organized crafting activities because it's slow season, but Margot mentioned that she could bring out the materials if kids were interested. The vibe is very chill and go with the flow. Staff was super friendly and always down to help.

    Nice little camp ground if you want to be away from Catalina city. We came unfortunately there was…read morea large group of kids- which would have been fine but their adults were not supervising them, they were up past 10 screaming, filled our rental canoes with sand and just left the place a mess but that is not the camp's responsibility. I had my four kiddos so I understand kids and how they can be but these kids were well spoiled seeming. The land itself is nice it's a camp ground on an isolated part of Catalina. The little camp ground sells a few items - sort of random items. Ice cream, lollipops, basic sodas, etc then they have a few items for microwaving like fancy brand cup of nooodles they also sell Annie's Mac n cheese and nicer Italian pasta to boil and cook at your camp site. Each campsite has a kitchen kit with pots n pans and a little camp stove free to use which was nice They also have a buffet which no one told us about! $95 per person at the time of leaving this review for all the meals, I only had breakfast by a. Ident thought it was included lol The meals smelled amazing and looked great! They have a salad bar and fresh options for their meals next time we will do this option The tent was freezing we piled the blankets and huddled together. Could have been the time of year (Late april) beautiful spacious tent with a full bed and a sleeping cot The beach has rentals like kayaks and paddle boards with little caves and coves to explore. We didn't snorkel because it was so cold but there were a few scuba divers out. Because it's so remote if the weather isn't good I wouldn't come. We enjoyed our stay

    Photos
    Camp Catalina Whites Landing - The dock for whites landing you can fish but you can't keep or cook them. They love bread we brought squid and got no bites

    The dock for whites landing you can fish but you can't keep or cook them. They love bread we brought squid and got no bites

    Camp Catalina Whites Landing - Inside our tent. the red igloo is ours, the long one next to it was provided. small area to hang coats/backpacks.

    Inside our tent. the red igloo is ours, the long one next to it was provided. small area to hang coats/backpacks.

    Camp Catalina Whites Landing

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    Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour - Tour guides Megan & Matt

    Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour

    4.9(1.9k reviews)
    1.7 mi

    If I could give this tour 10 stars, I would do it in a heartbeat…read more Before we buckled into our harnesses, my group--especially myself--was a collective ball of pure, unadulterated anxiety. Stepping off those platforms on Catalina is no joke, and a couple of us were genuinely considering faking a sudden illness to get out of it. Enter KB and Felix. These two are not just incredible tour guides; they are part-time stand-up comedians and full-time therapeutic geniuses. Here is why you have to request them for your Catalina zipline adventure: * The Ultimate Hype Guides: From the second we met them, their energy was infectious. They had us laughing so hard we forgot to be terrified. * The "Nervous-Nellie" Whisperers: They read the room instantly. Instead of rushing us, KB and Felix were incredibly patient, deeply reassuring, and knew exactly what to say to ease our racing minds. They validated our fears while completely dismantling them with humor and expert safety checks. * Safety But Make It Fun: You can tell these guys know their stuff inside and out. Their absolute professionalism hidden behind incredibly witty banter made us feel 100% safe. By the third zip, the person who was literally shaking at the start was screaming with joy, and trying to go faster. They turned what could have been a terrifying experience into the absolute highlight of our entire trip. They didn't just guide us down a mountain; they gave us an unforgettable memory and a massive confidence boost. KB and Felix, if you're reading this: you guys are absolute rockstars. Thank you for keeping us safe, making us laugh, and giving us the ride of our lives. If you go to Catalina, do not just book a zip line--book it and pray you get these two!

    We wanted to do something different for my sons' birthdays (14 & 16), so we decided to celebrate by…read morezip-lining on Catalina Island. It was the first time for all of us, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip! Our guides, Abby and Elias, were fantastic. They made everyone feel safe, explained everything clearly, and kept the experience fun from start to finish. The tour lasts about two hours and includes a safety briefing, a ride up the hill, and five exciting zip lines that gradually take you back down the canyon to where you started. The views are incredible, and the whole operation is extremely well organized. If you're visiting Catalina and looking for a fun adventure, I highly recommend adding the Zip Line Eco Tour to your itinerary. It was worth every penny and created a memory our family will always have.

    Photos
    Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour - Incredible Zipline tour in Catalina with our exceptional guides Megan & Matt

    Incredible Zipline tour in Catalina with our exceptional guides Megan & Matt

    Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour - Check out that view!!!! It was so magical!!!

    Check out that view!!!! It was so magical!!!

    Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour - This adventure is exhilarating!!!

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    This adventure is exhilarating!!!

    Catalina Sea Camp - Beachfront

    Catalina Sea Camp

    4.3(11 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    To improve, 1.when you say the class schedule is going to be emailed on Friday then send it…read more Instead, told on Friday will get it when we arrive. We asked when we arrive to drop off still no list of what they are doing and when. 2. Just pretend that Jacque might care when kids are bullying your child. He went to her the first day and said he needed a new cabin because the kids were mean and the counselor in the cabin and she refused. Pretty much said handle it. After that he did not want to go to any of the classes he signed up for because there was always one of the kids from the bullies in that class. Then it was hard because there was no direction on the classes for a kid with dyslexia. I could go on and on but I'll just say unless your child or teen is going with a friend find a different camp.

    Both my sons went to Catalina Sea Camp one week session. My 9 year old has adhd I was told by Jaqui…read morethat they are not counselors or therapists so they cannot accommodate him. My 11 year old was accused of cussing at a camper and jaqui made him sit out for the last day of camp. I spoke to my son and he told me he didnt cuss and I believe him when I asked him how camp was he told me he wasn't having fun and that Jaqui was mean to him based off of her connection with the other camper. I thought my kids were going to have a great experience instead it was the total opposite when I asked to speak to my son jaqui hung up the phone. I called back and asked to speak to a supervisor. Spoke with a gentleman named Paul I will say that Paul was respectful and very understanding and willing to fix the situation I think they should fire Jaqui to be honest. Ruining a child's summer experience based off hear say is totally not fair. Just want to give parents a heads up before they send their kid.

    Catalina Island Conservancy - Garden flowers

    Catalina Island Conservancy

    4.3(77 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    My wife and I visited this place when we were on a cruise in May. We stopped in on our way back to…read morethe tender. There are many informative books and maps. They also have a lot of merchandise for sale. Some of the proceeds help support the conservancy and other parks. My wife liked a book on bison that she saw. Unfortunately we didn't purchase it and later she regretted doing so. I contacted the conservancy and spoke to Yesi. She was very nice and helped me to purchase and mail the book to our address. My wife was very surprised and happy to receive it. Yesi took ownership of the purchase and followed through to make it happen. If you are on a cruise or just taking the ferry over to the island, stop by the Catalina Conservancy. It's only a couple of blocks from the docks where the tenders are. Not only is it a worthy cause to support, but they have some great information and merchandise. You won't be disappointed.

    We booked several items through the conservancy. First I will let you know that we are members,…read moreand it has some nice benefits. One day we went to the botanical gardens and the Wrigley Memorial. With the level of membership we have, we saved ourselves the entrance fee to the botanical gardens and memorial and our shuttle up to the gardens was complimentary. If you aren't a member the fees are nominal and it helps the conservancy. John was our driver and he gave some great information and history of the island on our way up and back. We didn't know what to expect from the botanical gardens and we loved it. We walked up to the memorial which was really interesting. There are plaques that explain the history of the memorial to Wrigley. As we walked back down we took all the various trails throughout the garden and some some interesting plants, insects and ended at the little amphitheater where we watched a couple of the films they have on the island and the gardens. I have read that others found the gardens to be boring and they only spent a short time. Everyone is different, and the time you spend is dependent on your interests. We took the 10:15 am shuttle and came back at 11:45 am. We found that to be plenty of time, but not too much time, it worked out well for us. It was fun! We also booked our shuttle up to the Airport in the Sky for a hike and lunch through the conservancy. It was great. Our driver was so friendly and explained so much about Catalina's backcountry.

    Photos
    Catalina Island Conservancy - Interior

    Interior

    Catalina Island Conservancy - Cute Fox

    Cute Fox

    Catalina Island Conservancy

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    Campus By The Sea - campgrounds - Updated July 2026

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