The How’s and Why’s of Exploring Catalina Island

Long known as a celebrity getaway for everyone from Hollywood legends like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe to modern celebrities like Taylor Swift, Catalina Island is also a surprisingly accessible spot to visit from Newport Coast. The southernmost of the Channel Islands is only an hour-long ferry ride from Newport Beach and several other SoCal locations, and its relaxed atmosphere and gorgeous vistas make it a worthwhile day-trip.

Courtesy Love Catalina

Explore by Hiking

Catalina offers more than 150 miles of trails and walking paths — visitors must secure a permit to traverse the trails outside of Avalon, the island's only city, but the process is relatively painless and gives access to some stunning sights. A few hikes that are tailor-made for day-trippers are the Garden to Sky Walk, a 2.8-mile round trip that starts with a stroll through the island's Wrigley Memorial and Botanic Garden, and the Ben Weston Canyon Trail, a 2.4-mile walk through a gully to Ben Weston Beach.

Take a Jeep Tour

To glimpse some unexpected wildlife, consider a guided tour by Jeep®. In the 1920s, The Vanishing American and The Thundering Herd were films shot on Catalina — legend has it that the bison imported for the shoots were never sent home. Today, more than 100 bison live on Catalina, almost entirely on protected land. Jeep tours through the island terrain can yield some fun sights (though, for your own safety, skip the bison selfies).

You also might spot any of one of 60 species that can be found on the island and nowhere else, including the Catalina fox, the orange-tipped butterfly, and the Catalina California quail. Even if the animal kingdom is napping, the stops overlooking different harbors and beaches are awe-inspiring.

Courtesy Love Catalina

This Town Is Made for Walking

Before, after, or even instead of any nature encounters, don't miss the chance to stroll around Avalon. This is a town designed for pedestrians. While there are cars on Catalina Island, visitors are not allowed to bring one over, and there are only a handful of privately registered vehicles. (For anyone with mobility issues, rental golf carts are available).

You can tour the circa 1929 Catalina Casino (named when a casino was a place for entertainment and not for gambling), still in operation today with a movie theater and a ballroom. Restaurants like Luau Larry's and The Lobster Trap are casual favorites, while The Naughty Fox is a touch more upscale. And there are plenty of places to pick up souvenirs, local art, and clothing, including boutiques like Catalina Blue and Latitude 33.

Courtesy Love Catalina

Wrigley's "Playground for All"

Starting in 1919, chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. began acquiring large swaths of Catalina and popularized it as a "playground for all." His Chicago Cubs used Catalina for spring training from 1921 to 1951, and he constructed the casino, among other noteworthy buildings. The Catalina Island Company, which controls much of the island's commercial land, is still owned by descendants of Wrigley. His influence on the island is a prominent part of the exhibits at the Catalina Museum for Art & History, which opened in 1953 and includes art, photos, films, and artifacts from the 1880s to the present.

Where to Stay:

Southern California is calling you to a place of beauty. Newport Coast is a place where celebrities and citizens go to relax and get away from it all. When you stay at Marriott’s Newport Coast^® Villas, you’ll discover the area’s natural beauty from the comfort of your villa. Take advantage of the California sun as you swim and sunbathe in front of three resort pools. And what better way to relax poolside than with a drink from the adjacent bar? For even more relaxation, visit the spa for a massage or body treatment. 

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