Finally took the time and additional funds to see the inside of the Catalina Casino in Avalon…read moreCalifornia during a shore stop aboard the Quantum of the Sea from Los Angeles. It was a great stop, well worth the money and time. My wife and I have been to Avalon before and the outline of the Catalina Casino dominates the view from the harbor when looking North. I made the obvious mistake of thinking it was a place of gambling and didn't bother going, but later learned that during the 19th and early 20th century, the term 'casino' was used to mean 'a gathering place'. That was the goal of the original owner (William Wrigley, founder of the gum company that bears his name), when he built it in 1929, right during the times when 'talkies' started taking over the movie industry. A massive restoration occurred in 1994. It's walkable from where we got dropped off by the cruise port tender, so I bought two adult tickets online for $21.51 each, for the self-guided tour. There is also a guided tour available that takes a group back behind the stage. We got there right when it opened and the ticket taker already had our names to let us in. The first stop was the main theater on the ground floor, and as we entered it, I couldn't help by saying a long 'Wowwww'. There are 1164 original seats (reupholstered) and we sat in the very back row, admiring the theater and watching a bit of the silent movie that was playing. Cell reception did not work inside, and the free WiFi didn't work well in here either. A little while later, the guided tour came in, and we were able to listen to the guide explain the theater. Some fun facts: -- this was the first theater designed for 'talkies'. However, because it wasn't a sure thing that they would replace the old style silent movies, a Page Theatre Pipe Organ was also installed (which is now one of only three still in its original location...the others being in Indiana). It was broken for a while, but has recently been fixed. -- entire ceiling was covered in silver leaf. -- the acoustics are incredible. As the guided group talked in normal loudness near the orchestral pit in front, I could hear each conversation from the back, just as if the person was right next to me. -- the wall murals was designed by the same artist who did the mural at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. -- architects responsible for the building of Radio City Music Hall in NYC, came for a visit to examine the acoustics, as it was that good. The guided tour ended up going backstage. We then took a winding ramp (there is no public elevator) up to the 2nd floor. Here there was one room where a TV show was on, explaining the history of the island. Another ramp took us to the top floor where the 20,000 square foot grand ballroom is. (The ramps reminded me of a ballparks, and later I learned that it was intentional: Wrigley had requested it based on something similar that he liked from his namesake ballpark). The ballroom has been beautifully restored, with wooden floors and a rotating chandelier. One can roller skate on the floor with rented skates, though nobody was doing it when we were there, thus the floor was empty. There is also a concession stand selling snacks. The height of the casino is equal to a 12-story building, and provides some really great views of Avalon, specifically the bay, from the Romance Promenade that surrounds the ballroom. My wife and I slowly circled it, admiring the views. We did notice the small cove where many snorkelers were admiring the plentiful orange-colored garibaldi. The entire stay lasted about 75 minutes which we felt was about the right amount of time. Would highly recommend if not been there before.

This image is the main thing you notice when you first dock here. The architecture is just…read moregorgeous. We were so looking forward to tour and see this historic spot. We didn't have any luck on Christmas Day as you would expect as most of the town was closed up. But on Friday we were able to get the self tour option. $20, the guided was $40. Wow they have really kept the place up in pristine condition. This place was purchased by the Wrigley/ Family Dynasty, actually they bought the entire island back in 1929. The reason it is called a casino is not because of gambling but for the Italian meaning for a gathering place. This location was one of the first theaters to have "talkie" films. I was very impressed with the way the caretakers have kept the original fixtures, seating, bars and even the restrooms are all kept in the 20's style. The seating on the first level has over 1800 seats. There is an original organ for when they hosted silent film festivals here. This was a place where all the rich and famous celebrities would gather for all sorts of festivals and events. This is a Must visit if you head over to the island. Impressive!

Small but bright, informative, interesting museum on the Island. Lots of local history exhibits…read more They had a looping movie about local history done in a mix of newsreel and TV news styles fitting the era & topic presented. Cool. Surprised to learn about the Island's connection to Marilyn Monroe, Wrigley chewing gum, and the Chicago Cubs. The museum also was hosting several artists' exhibitions. Narsiso Martinez's artwork depicting California agricultural labourers was particularly impressive. Some of the works don't get shown to the public often. One of the museum's docents gave interesting background on the artist and the backstory for some of the art pieces. If on Santa Catalina Island, this museum is worth a visit.

June 26 & July 5, 2025 | Catalina Island Avalon | The Catalina Island Museum is a great way to know…read moremore about the beautiful island, including its history! Experience | It was amazing learning more about Catalina Island: history, the famous people on the island, including Marilyn Monroe, as well as well-known Writers/Authors, incredible art pieces, sculptures, pottery, photography & even the blueprint of the spectacular Casino... and so much more! Lights, Camera, Action | There is also a sit down Theater inside the museum where you can watch a 15 minute movie about the history of Catalina Island! Tickets | $12 | Admission throughout the two-level museum, both indoor and outdoor! Stairs and elevator accessible! Gift Shop | Fun books, postcards, beautiful tiles, souvenirs, jewelry, figurines, Bath & body products ... The gift shop has it all! Overall | I enjoyed every moment at the museum, as Catalina Island Avalon is one of my favorite places! Exploring the museum is a great way to know more about the island and it's history!

Such a fun experience! Definitely something cute to do while on the island. We ended up going back…read morea second time. The gal behind the counter was just the sweetest! You can tell she truly enjoys talking with people about what kind of pearl they get.

We stopped in here because the shop dog, Zoe, lured us in and we are so glad she did! Our boys…read moreended up opening oysters and making necklaces from the pearls and our daughter found a stuffie she couldn't leave the island without. We ended up buying all our souvenirs here and had a great experience, all the kids thought this was a trip highlight. We will be back again soon!

Taking a boat tour to see the flying fish of Catalina is a must when visiting the island…read more Afishionados is not only the best pun ever but a great boat your company as my friend and I really enjoyed our evening ride with captain john during my last visit to Catalina. The rides are around $35-40 and the only way to see these famous fish which literally Hop and skip above the waves in the early evening as the sky falls. They do a 50 percent discount on your birthday which I hope to take advantage of soon when I return.

Flying fish tour!!!…read more I was so against doing this at first. My friend talked me into it since our kayaking tour was canceled due to high wind =(. I am so glad we went though. There are two flying fish tours available on the whole island. This one I went on was $45 per person. That's $10 more than the other location. On our tour, we got the chance to see the our flying fish tour and I am sooooo glad we went on this one inside. Our captain was an awesome friendly guy named Lance. He was very knowledgeable and stopped our catamaran at the best places for us to watch the flying fish. They gave us strong flash lights that we can shine into the water to attract and see the fish. We ended up seeing sea lions, various sea creatures and a ton of the fishing fish. We also got to see the beautiful starry sky. It was a lot of fun and I definitely recommend. As for the other tour boat... it was funny seeing them zip quickly by. They don't even stop their tour to let you see the fish. They also didn't give out flash lights. They had a "main" light that would just scan the ocean. It was funny a pretty sight. We bought tickets at the Afishinado store. It was definitely worth the price. We also brought our own flash lights which I recommend.

We both enjoyed our stay at the Bellanca. Our reservation was for three nights and four days and…read morethey performed maintenance efficiently. They offer perks for paying guests: free bicycles and private sun deck for hotel lodgers. It's located to the left of the desk front but, feel free to inquire information from the clerk or hostess on shift

I loved this hotel so much! The staff were super friendly and helpful. It's super close to…read moreeverything and has a beautiful balcony for a beach view! I also loved that they have free bikes for a little cruise around the town :)

Brittani is a gem. She arranged my wedding bouquet exactly as I described. She even walked over to…read moremy hotel to hand deliver it herself! About my bouquet, I chose flowers that reminded me of loved ones who passed away: sunflowers for dad, roses for my grandma and lilies for my Aunt Lily. Because my husband was allergic to lilies, she removed part of it so he wouldn't be a sneezing mess haha. As for the store, there were lots of good quality items from clothing to accessories. I can tell the store had a lot of history behind it as evidenced by pictures of her family along the walls. I was pleasantly surprised to know Brittani was a USC alumni like me. Go Trojans! Please come by this store and meet this lovely lady. You'll feel right at home!

Such a cute store in Avalon. The owner, Brittany was so nice and helpful. I purchased a really cute…read moresundress and the most fragrant candle! Definitely check it out for some cute island style clothing and accessories while on the island!

This review is based on my honest experience after staying at this hotel for one night…read more When we arrived at Catalina Island, we called the hotel and they sent a golf cart to pick us up from the ferry terminal. The ride to the hotel took about 7-10 minutes. The hotel is located on a hillside, which gives it beautiful views of the island. One thing I really appreciated was the complimentary shuttle service. The hotel provides golf cart transportation between the hotel and downtown Avalon from morning until 10 PM. They have designated pick-up locations, making it very easy and convenient to get around. There is no charge for the service, although you can tip the drivers if you'd like. The hotel is definitely on the expensive side, but considering the views, atmosphere, and level of service, I think the price is reasonable. We stayed in the Historic Deluxe King room, which overlooked the mountains behind the hotel. However, the real highlight was the rooftop viewpoint. After walking across to the building opposite ours and heading up to the rooftop, we were rewarded with an absolutely incredible view. It was breathtaking and honestly much better than I expected. I couldn't believe a hotel could offer views like that. Cons: * I'm not sure whether the golf cart shuttle service would be enough during busy weekends when there are more visitors on the island. I visited on a weekday and had no issues at all. * If you choose to walk from downtown back to the hotel, be prepared for a fairly steep uphill climb. Pros: * Amazing views * Quiet and peaceful atmosphere * Friendly staff and excellent service * Very clean property Overall, I had a wonderful stay. If I ever return to Catalina Island, I would absolutely stay here again on my next

Hmmm... Where to start? The Zane Grey was really great. People seem to love it or hate it here on…read moreYelp. Mark me down for love it. This was one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed in. Also one of the most expensive. But here's the thing, most of the other places on Catalina required a two night minimum. So technically more per night it worked out perfectly for us because we didn't have the time to commit to three days on the island. I've stayed in hotels all over the world, and the room didn't have physical problems like almost 100% of other stays. By "physical problems", I mean: something dirty, something broken/damaged, or in need of updating. I can attest to what other Yelpers are saying, the amenities are lacking. There is an unheated pool, and that's about it. If there was a hot tub overlooking the bay that would have been rad. I might have been disappointed in the amenities if we were just going to be be hotel-bodies. But Catalina beckons you to be outside. The golf cart shuttle was a great touch. We were picked up after getting off the Catalina Flier, and driven over to the Zane Grey. Our room was already available so we got to check in early. The the day we left the Flier wasn't leaving until 4:30pm, but they let us leave our bags at the hotel and then brought them to the pier for us. All the staff we encountered were super kind. Complementary breakfast was delicious! Made-to-order omelets & French toast, bacon, potatoes, etc. Nice way to start the day, instead of dropping cash in town for breakfast. I would totally stay here again.

Yes great service. Good prices easy to have it delivered to wherever you're at within Avalonread more

Waste of time, the requirement of a medical card should be the first thing you see on the website.read more