Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [184]
About 1.5 miles inland from Avalon harbor is the peaceful Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens ( 310-510-2595; 1400 Avalon Canyon Rd; adult/child $5/free; 8am-5pm), where you’ll enjoy sweeping garden views from a monument awash in colorful local tile. Nearby is Catalina’s surprisingly challenging nine-hole public golf course ( 310-510-0530; www.visitcatalina.com; $31-36), which meanders along a long and narrow canyon. Wrap up the day with a luxuriant massage, facial or mud wrap at A Touch of Heaven ( 310-510-1633; www.atouchofheaven.com; Metropole Market Place). While you’re getting worked on, your kids can play a round of skeeball, pinball or video games at the arcade in the same complex.
Sleeping & Eating
Rates soars on weekends and between May and September and at other times are about 30% to 60% lower than what’s listed below. For camping information, see www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/camping.php.
Hermosa Hotel & Cottages ( 310-510-1010, 877-453-1313; www.hermosahotel.com; 131 Metropole St; r without bathroom $45-75, cottage with bathroom $65-170) Central, clean, tidy – your only budget pick on the island.
La Paloma & Las Flores ( 310-510-0737, 800-310-1505; www.lapalomalasflores.com; 328 Sunny Ln; cottage $160-240, r $190-250; wi-fi) Choose from Old Catalina cottages or newer rooms with two-person spas and balconies.
Villa Portofino ( 310-510-0555, 888-510-0555; www.hotelvillaportofino.com; 111 Crescent Ave; r $140-390) Comfortable and elegant with gas fireplaces and bay-view sundeck.
Casino Dock Café ( 310-510-2755; 1 Casino Way; dishes $5-10; 7:30am-6pm Apr-Nov) Casual waterfront hangout, good for a beer and a simple meal.
Cottage ( 310-510-0726; 603 Crescent Ave; breakfast & lunch $6-13, dinner $10-23; 6am-10pm Sun-Thu, to 11pm Fri & Sat) Huge breakfasts, sandwiches and American, Italian and Mexican favorites are served here.
Catalina Country Club Restaurant ( 310-510-7404; 1 Country Club Dr; mains lunch $8-12, dinner $20-35) Fine dining on creative California fusion.
Getting There & Away
The following companies operate ferries to Avalon and Two Harbors. Reservations are recommended in summer.
Catalina Express ( 310-519-1212, 800-481-3470; www.catalinaexpress.com; adult/child round-trip $60/46) Ferries to Avalon from San Pedro, Long Beach and Dana Point in Orange County and to Two Harbors from San Pedro. It takes one to 1½ hours, with up to 30 ferries daily.
Catalina Marina del Rey Flyer ( 310-305-7250; www.catalinaferries.com; adult/child round-trip $69) Catamaran to Avalon and Two Harbors from Marina del Rey in LA (one to 1½ hours).
Catalina Passenger Service ( 949-673-5245; www.catalinainfo.com; adult/child round-trip $61/46). Catamaran to Avalon from Newport Beach in Orange County (1¼ hours, once daily).
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SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN & HURRICANE HARBOR
About 30 miles north of LA, right off the I-5 (Golden State Fwy), velocity is king at Six Flags Magic Mountain ( 661-255-4111; www.sixflags.com/parks/magicmountain; 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia; adult/child under 4ft & seniors $60/30; 10am daily mid-Mar–Aug, Fri-Sun Sep & Oct, Sat & Sun Nov-Mar, closing times vary from 6pm-midnight; ), a daredevil roller-coaster park that has had its own financial ups and down lately and almost got sold off to land developers in 2006. Fortunately, operators decided to hang on to it, so for now you can still go up, down and inside out faster and in more baffling ways than anywhere else besides a space shuttle. Parking is $15.
Teens and college kids get their jollies on the 16 bone-chilling roller coasters, including the aptly named Scream, which goes through seven loops, including a zero-gravity roll and a dive loop, with you sitting in a floorless chair. If you