Catalina Island - Worth it? (Long Beach, Torrance: to rent, homes, college)

[ferretkona]

Back in the 70's I lived there a couple years. Avalon dies in the winter without the tourists.
I have returned a few times. If you take the boat over you can bring a bicycle. Last time I went it was one dollar for each bike we brought.

[taraox]

i know this is a stupid question but.. Does anyone know how/where to find a boat to get there? My friends and I were thinking of doing a day trip to Catalina (just for fun) when I move back to OC but we're not sure where you're supposed to get the boat? Do you book it through like a tour company or just show up and pay or...? I would google, but I figured people who've actually done it would know or have better advice on how to go about it

[hamellr]

Thanks all, it seems to be about what I expected.

[roadwarrior101]

I went once for a day trip and really enjoyed it. Yes, the ferry over is expensive, but it is pretty cool being able to do that in SoCal. Avalon is blocked for the fog, due to the mountains to the west, so the beach gets warmer than it may be in Newport. It is true that it probably doesn't make sense to stay a week or so, but I did go to some good restaurants there and enjoyed the shops. It looked like there were a couple quaint inns that would be nice to stay a couple nights and I heard there are some cool places to go camping as well.

I'd say its a nice weekend getaway, that while expensive, would be a lot less than somewhere like Hawaii.

[wrcousert]

The problem with Catalina is that too much of the island is a wild life preservation. There isn't any land left to build on. I wonder if it might be possible to somehow swap land on the island for land near the coast. Catalina gets more land for touristy stuff (and the money that goes with it) and the ecology buffs get more land in OC to save the spotted owl. Could it work?

[goozer]

I have lived in Orange County for a year now and keep thinking I need to make a trip to Catalina too. Everyone I talk to (and on this thread) seems pretty tepid about it. Seems like a pretty prime piece of SoCal real estate. I can't believe that someone hasn't thought of how to make it more of a destination place. Seems like it would be a great place for a Ritz Carlton or some other high end resort or retreat.

[wrcousert]

Originally Posted by goozer

I have lived in Orange County for a year now and keep thinking I need to make a trip to Catalina too. Everyone I talk to (and on this thread) seems pretty tepid about it. Seems like a pretty prime piece of SoCal real estate. I can't believe that someone hasn't thought of how to make it more of a destination place. Seems like it would be a great place for a Ritz Carlton or some other high end resort or retreat.

I don't think they have the land available to build a huge resort.

But could they do it as some sort of pier?

[Hawaii4evr]

Is it worth it...
Decide for yourself:

Paradise.

[Teckeeee]

I have been twice in my life and I would say pass. The only way I would go again, and it's a bit risky, would be to do like a guy I know of hired a student pilot to fly him and his wife to the island. Student pilot over water. The island has a few tourist shops the water is damn cold and polluted. I walked to Wrigley years ago and it was nice, worth the $$$ boat trip nah.

[Boompa]

Originally Posted by armourereric

Before the recession, I went twice a year. I am single, pushing 50, not really looking for action and I'm cheap. Always got a room/boat package from Seaport Village Inn, usually around $220 for 2 nights. Usually go to the SJC Days Inn on Tues Night, take the Wed morning Boat (the $30 to park at Dana, to me, was always the rip-off). Raul will pick you up in Avalon and take you to the Hotel. There is a tour bus terminal with decent tours, I liked the town tour and the tour out to the airport, one day I'd like to take the all day tour out to two Harbors. Food is lame, I always hit the mini golf next to the tour bus terminal. There is a decent waterside restaurant slit between a pizza place and an upscale seafood place, plus there is a second floor, open air restaurant at the 5 points intersection east of the town shopping strip. There is a nightly movie at the casino building, but so far, every time I went, it was a lame B movie. If you go to Seaport Village Inn, make sure you get a front room, the level 2 rooms in the back are like living along a dank back alley, for all their shortcomings I LOVE their in ground hot tub, the view, and the seclusion.

Great response, thanks