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.

I really enjoyed how they have roller skating, a theater, and other events going on here! Plus, the…read moredifferent views you can get throughout the building, whether of the island landscape or even just the beautiful interior, are just so picturesque and can leave you awestruck in different ways. Overall, I definitely think it's worth visiting and checking out at least once, especially just to take in the views and see the vintage architecture :)

On a one day visit to Catalina Island, there is so much to do, see and eat…read more To start, rent a golf cart or wear good walking shoes because this port is not too big for tourist exploration. There is also a "Circuit" ride share that will take you around the island for $2 per person. Coming in by tender from a cruise ship is great. The docking area is in town and so close to everything. I exited the tender and walked along the waterfront where I passed a few children's playgrounds with a pirate theme. Then on to where the golf carts are rented. I walked to the pier (Green Pier) where there are bathrooms and many small shops all hoping for the tourist business. They carry the typical port souvenirs. After a long walk on this short pier I got to the end where there is many people fishing with poles and the little set ups they will sell you for a few dollars and the bait too. There are plenty of benches to sit and watch the boat come in and out of the harbour. There is a small beach area that has lots of pretty colored little rocks along the shoreline. The walk to the round Casino Building is pretty much the end of the road before a mountainside resort. I passed by some waterfront restaurants that were even crowded on a cloudy day. My walk back to the tender was quick and the ride back to the cruise ship was also pretty nice and calm.

Catalina island interior is the best place to experience nature without having to travel far. We…read morehave toured the interior quite a few times. We booked a tour once to see bisons but didn't get to see animals cause it was raining. The tours we went by ourselves were much better! We saw many wild animals including bisons! The interior vineyard is so beautiful. The trips were very enjoyable but a bit of too much sun for me. Wear sunscreen and a hat to prevent sun exposure! Keep in mind that it takes 20 years to be able to buy a real car on island. Only one golf cart is allowed per residence. There are no spaces for real cars and more golf carts in Avalon. Our family and friends live here so they have a real car to take us to interiors. Yes you will need a real car to do that! Avalon has enough restaurants and bars to hang out. Casino is also a movie theater to show older movies on certain weekend evenings. They offer tours of this historic casino too. They host NYE gala every year. Beach club is great for summer times. Museum is small but still worth taking a tour. Too bad the spa has closed down, we used to go there all the time. This island has so much to offer. It's the best place for a lot of fun just a ferry ride away!

Don't play golf here if you're an amateur. Even if you rent multiple carts and bags you'll get…read morekicked off if you're too slow and get balls hit at you by people behind you.

This is a cool golf club/country club that has a tranquil courtyard that is very serene. We hiked…read moreup the driveway and walked through to check it out. The 9 hole golf course is pretty. There are so many cute golf guys driving golf carts!

Had breakfast at while we were docked in Catalina on our Royal Caribbean cruise Friendly service…read moreand the breakfast was not bad at all. We had the breakfast sandwich, which was very good, and the drinks were on point. I wouldn't mind staying at this hotel if we came to visit for a weekend.

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

Thanks, Omar and Saul. Great service, drinks, views, and fun. TVs to watch sports too, and a short…read morewalk to the boat dock. I will try out the brunch next time!

From the owner: We are located on the second floor of the Catalina Island Conservancy's new welcome center called…read moreToyon Grill at the Trailhead. In addition to a cafe serving breakfast with a specialty coffee program complete with barista we serve lunch and dinner and have a full bar. We also feature an event space for parties up to 110 seated and 250 cocktail style. We are perfect for weddings, corporate and family events and can accommodate any activity or budget

Very private and peaceful! The view is serene and offers an array of cooking peripherals.read more

This place is truly magical. Most photos don't do it justice. One would have to experience in…read moreperson to really understand it's extraordinary quality. Had the pleasure of being invited to a wedding here last weekend. Dropped by for the rehearsal (my husband was a groomsmen) and stayed a second time for the actual wedding. Gosh, this venue is amazing! The mood is ethereal and the vibe is clean, organic, zen and natural. Settings such as these are oh so rare. Pros: - Outrageously beautiful. - Super clean. - Well maintained inside and out. - Spectacular view of the water. Almost panoramic. - Lovely second level outdoor deck with views. - Very cool indoor space on the first level. The open floor plan includes a living/ entertaining area, kitchen with high end appliances, and full bathroom. The bathroom was large and completed with quality craftsmanship and materials. Ideal space to host a bridesmaids pre-wedding breakfast and big enough for all to get ready together. The space itself is large enough to host a good sized bridal party without feeling cramped. Could also be used as storage for wedding reception supplies. - Additional second floor guest bathroom. - Despite the rectangular layout, venue can hold quite a lot of guests. Wedding I attended was around 100. Cons: - Incredibly steep driveway and walkway to get to the location. Those who have issues with walking or stairs will have a hard time walking up to the site. Believe me- I'm born and raised in San Francisco and this baby was ridiculously steep. Some wedding guests had to be driven up and down in golf carts. - Many, many, many stairs. There are more stairs through the private ceremonial entrance than there are through the main entrance (which is the brick staircase in front of the building). Again, for those who have issues with stairs it's something to consider. - Felt a little chilly in February. Overall, I'll never ever forget this special place and I feel blessed to have been invited to enjoy such a whimsical ceremony here. Hands down one of the most unique venues I've ever experienced. Highly recommend!

This venue is GORGEOUS and our wedding was beautiful. The low rating is due to the…read moreunprofessional/unorganized people who run the venue. This was the only venue we looked at so I'm not sure if this just a normal experience, but it's a pretty pricey venue and it seemed like what we paid for only got us the air to breathe and tables and chairs that looked like they belong in a retirement home. With $500 here, $400, here, $350 here, etc. we did turn it into a beautiful wedding space. After signing the contract and paying a deposit, there was a total lack of communication in regards to planning the wedding and what the venue needed/when. I was told I would be assigned an official event coordinator would work with our chosen wedding planner 3 months before the wedding date. Obviously a ton of planning needs to happen before then, and during that time I was just being bounced around between 3 or 4 girls who were all very nice, but none of them seemed to know what was going on. I'd have to do several follow up emails/calls to get an answer in the first place, and then the answer would completely vary depending on who was giving it to me. I asked several times about the tasting and how that works and got nothing, until I asked again and was told I needed to do it withing 2 weeks because then the high season starts and they won't hold a tasting then. Additionally, I could only do it on a Tuesday or Thursday between those 2 weeks. We scrambled and made one of those days work and confirmed (I have several emails saying I'm confirmed for that date, how many people would be with me, etc.) Then when I asked a couple questions closer to date about when to be there, I was told that we weren't confirmed for the tasting and they had another event running.... and that it wasn't confirmed because I didn't give them our tasting menu selections even though they never asked for it. I was furious as their catering contract is pretty high priced and it didn't seem fair to miss out on the tasting due to their lack of communication. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and we made it work. Moving forward, I dealt with a lot of the same thing. The only way to get answers or get anything done was to get pissed at them. We did a walk through with our planner (which again almost didn't happen for the same reason as the tasting), and the girl that did the walk through with us barely had any answers for our questions. We asked very normal questions regarding what speakers are provided with the venue, what's the deal with lighting, etc. "I don't know, I'll find out" was the common answer, but she didn't write a single thing down on her paper and I think you can guess whether or not I got those answers from her.... When we were just a week out, she asked me to fill out a template with table assignments. The template only had me provide the number of each type of meals - Example- Table 20: 4 chicken, 3 short rib, 3 fish, 2 veggie, etc. I specifically called my event coordinator and asked if I need to assign the specific seats at each table to my guests and associate the names/seat with their meal choice. She said no, they just need to know how many of each meal at each table and that's it. On my wedding day, I was getting my hair and makeup done and now she's calling me freaking out about not knowing which meal goes with what person and at what specific seat. So annoying! Those are just a few examples of how unorganized and unprofessional they are. As for the price - maybe all venues are like this. But I was just really surprised at how high we paid to just use the venue, but that we had to pay a few hundred dollars for everything else to turn it into a wedding space. $500 to remove lounge furniture that didn't actually need to be moved, $250 for bar tenders (even though the bar packages were expensive enough), first I was told $500, and then $400 to use the projector that lives on the ceiling there (which they didn't even know how to use and almost wasted our time with creating that slide show), $250 for the dance floor, etc etc etc. I wanted one of my best friends who's an excellent baker to bake us a cake. Then just a week before the wedding, they said they needed license/insurance from the baker and for me to sign a waiver (I realize that this may be standard, but why so last minute?) She didn't have license/insurance because the cake would come from her kitchen. So I had to scramble and figure something else out just days before. I was interested in their ice cream bar which they wanted to charge $20/person! On what planet have you seen ice cream that is $20/person? And it was only chocolate and vanilla, probably from Vons! Obviously my guests have no idea how much the whole event cost and how unorganized the venue was, so to them, the wedding was a blast and was beautiful. I had a great time. But I just want other people to know what you're getting yourself into if you do choose to have your wedding here.

My daughter just had her wedding here and it was beautiful. The venue overlooks the ocean creating…read morethe perfect backdrop for our event. She got married on the sand at Descanso Beach and had the reception in the new banquet hall. The place was perfect with its open floor plan for the wedding.

We had a server named John we told him our ferry was leaving soon and made sure he got us what we…read morewanted in time! Shoutout John :)

I've been to the Carlsbad location of Bluewater and decided to eat at their Avalon location during…read morea recent trip to Catalina. It's located right on the water and in the center of all the activity Catalina has to offer. I like Bluewater because it's a safe option for larger groups and has enough variety that everyone can find something to eat. There were a few of us so we ordered beer, virgin coladas, regular coladas, calamari, fish tacos, fish and chips, a Caesar salad, and of course had several servings of their delicious sourdough bread with whipped butter. We were seated right up front on the water and under umbrellas so we didn't burn in the sun. The food came out at a nice pace with our favorite being the calamari. I enjoyed the mix of peppers and calamari. The fish and chips were good, though one of the pieces seemed a little rubbery and I thought it might've been the way it was cut before fried. We hung out for a couple of hours since it wasn't overly busy, were taken well care of by the staff onsite, and enjoyed the views and our meal.

We had a wonderful stay at the Pavilion Hotel on Catalina Island, and one of the highlights was the…read moreexceptional customer service we received from Matthew. From the moment we arrived, he was warm, welcoming, and genuinely eager to make sure our stay was perfect. Matthew went above and beyond to help with every question and request, always with a friendly smile and a positive attitude. It's rare to find someone who takes such pride in providing outstanding hospitality, and his kindness and professionalism truly made our visit even more enjoy enjoyable. The Pavilion Hotel is fortunate to have someone like Matthew on their team. He made us feel like valued guests rather than just visitors. Thank you, Matthew, for making our Catalina getaway so memorable. We look forward to returning! DJ

This is a high-end resort hotel located on Catalina Island, California…read more The benefits of staying at this hotel are many. You get to enjoy an oceanfront view and be within walking distance of the beach, shopping areas, and restaurants. Furthermore, the location offers many scenic views. A 20% off at the hotel gift shop and a 15% off on some tours. Of course, the daily breakfast buffet and an evening wine tasting reception are included as well. All the rooms have two refillable bottles not only for your convenience but also to save your wallet and be eco-friendly. My husband and I liked the wine tasting the best. On the contrary, my father-in-law enjoyed the blueberry muffins a lot, the discount on the tour, and also the hotel gift shop discount. My parents-in-law don't drink wine. Overall, the family was very pleased with our four-day-three-night stay at the Pavilion hotel. The front line was very attentive and helpful. The housekeeping did a great job. The room was tidy and comfortable. We would like to give a special thanks to the front-line staff who worked and received our request to bring more blue muffins on August 19th around 9:15 am right before breakfast ended. Your understanding of everything we needed was very kind and hospitable. You are amazing and a valuable asset to the team and to the hotel.

We walked there from the boat dock and it was an enjoyable walk. Took approximately 1 hour because…read morewe made many stops along the way. The Nature Center is located towards the most distal part of the Island, so if you walk there, you will have the opportunity to do a lot of things such as sightseeing, playing at parks (if you have children), sitting down in the shade, seeing wild animals such as deer, birds, and squirrels. There are also at least three public bathrooms on the way and an interesting "Bird Park" that seemed to be closed. If you did not make any stops, you could walk to the Nature Center from the dock easily in 20-30mins. My 7 year old daughter easily made the walk without any complaints. Nature Center: free. Small and doable in about 15 minutes. There are also clean bathrooms inside and someone working at the front desk to answer your questions. They sell stuffed animals and some little souvenirs that were a little more expensive than the items found on the Green Pier. There was a coloring station that consisted of a small table and two little chairs, pictures and coloring pages were provided. There was a digital microscope and we spent some time placing everyday objects underneath for viewing (dollar bills, hands, nails). There were also some interesting facts and an iPad connected to a large screen TV...wasn't operating the day I visited but I think it was supposed to be display a short video. Afterwards, we did not want to visit the Wrigley Monument nor the Gardens, so we took the bus back to the Pier. Bus cost $2/person and arrives every 20 minutes. The stop was situated less than a one minute walk from the Nature Center. Overall, it's a quick place to stop if your'e visiting the Island. Something fun to add to the itinerary for the day.

We actually really liked this place. It is small, but it's free to go inside and there are a…read morenumber of informative boards for those of you who like history and nature. You can get to know a little bit more about the island, and also, clean bathrooms. We stopped here on our way up to the Wrigley Memorial during our walk. You can also get hiking permits here. There's also a little table for kids, with children's books and coloring too.