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round trip travel and lifestyle blog

How to Spend a Day on Catalina Island

January 3, 2018
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Step into the life of the rich and famous on Catalina Island just miles off the coast of Los Angeles.  The moment you step off the ferry from mainland California, a deep blue harbor, quaint shops, hilltop homes and a grand casino nestled on the coast.  Bought by William Wrigley in 1919, this island was the home of spring training for the Chicago Cubs until 1951.  Its beauty and idyllic charm enchanted me, and I’m so excited to share my adventures. Here’s how to spend a day on Catalina Island.

  • Catalina Island Los Angeles Houses
  • Catalina Island Day Trip Travel

Getting to the Island

Although 100% worth it, the journey to the island is a considerable hike.  Be sure to allow ample time to travel to and spend a day on the island.  There are several ports from which you can depart on mainland California: Dana Point, Long Beach or San Pedro.  Unless you are staying on the west side of the island called Two Harbors, be sure to book your ferry tickets to Avalon.  Two Harbors only has a restaurant, bar, snack shop and store — that’s it.  Avalon offers much more to do, and that’s where I spent my day (and where everything in this post is located).

Catalina Island Shop Avalon
Catalina Island Life California
  • Catalina Island California LA Round Trip Travel
  • Catalina Island Avalon Paddle Board

Eats

We grabbed an early dinner at Coyote Joe’s Restaurant and Bar and ate fajitas on the patio.  The complimentary chips and salsa were icing on the cake to this Mexican dive.  Afterwards, we wove in and out of the cute shops lining the main street lining the coast until we stopped at Lloyd’s of Avalon for a spot of ice cream.  In addition to ice cream, this cute little shop was filled with a crazy amount of chocolate and candy.

  • Coyote Joe's Restaurant Catalina Island California
  • Lloyd's of Avalon Ice Cream Catalina Island California

The Casino

The Catalina Casino is the gem of the island, but this $2 million building never been a place of gambling since its opening in 1929.  I took the Discover the Casino tour, a 45-minute guided walk through the massive casino.  This tour provided a great and interesting history lesson as we strolled through the casino’s theater and ballroom.  We learned from this tour that stars from Marilyn Monroe and Harry Houdini to Zac Efron and Nicholas Cage have spent time on this island.  Definitely worth the price and time!  My favorite part was the huge ballroom and the gorgeous views of the island from way high up.

  • Santa Catalina Island California Beach
  • Catalina Island Coast Line California Ferry
Catalina Island Casino Postcard Ocean
  • Catalina Casino Theater California
  • Catalina Casino Ballroom California
Catalina Casino Island Los Angeles
A Trip to Los Angeles California Santa Monica Catalina Island Travel.png

I’d never heard of Catalina Island before this trip, but I fell in love with it during my day-long stay.  Its stunning views and change from fast-paced L.A. make it the perfect getaway.

RELATED ARTICLE: How to Spend a Day in Santa Monica

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  1. Round Trip: The Best Of – round trip says:
    December 1, 2018 at 11:53 am

    […] Los Angeles, California-Another favorite, L.A. has some of the most beautiful sights I’ve laid eyes on and is only a ferry ride away from Catalina Island. […]

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Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
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Hi, I'm Kristin. I'm a content creator teaching English in southern France. I'm all about exploring new places, practicing my French and sharing blogging tips. Allez-viens!
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Want free access to my 30-minute travel budgeting course?

One thing you rarely hear about life abroad: so mu One thing you rarely hear about life abroad: so much dang paperwork and many complicated processes🙈

💰I have several bank accounts in the U.S. and France. I'm paid in euros, but I still have recurring subscriptions on my American credit card. I'm also all about growing my savings and getting those credit card points on my American account.

What👏to👏do?👏

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Have you ever had one of those “it’s a small w Have you ever had one of those “it’s a small world” moments?🌏

☀️Back in 2017, I spent a summer in Toulouse. One weekend, my friends and I went on a road trip to a slew of villages in southwestern France. They were truly some of the best days of my life: we stayed in my friend’s castle🏰(casual), we swam in the river + sunbathed, we drank wine + played games, we explored idyllic villages.

One of my favorite spots with the sweetest of nostalgic memories was in a small village called Laguépie. Population: ~600. Whenever people asked me my favorite place in France, nobody ever knew where I was talking about. It wasn’t in the magazines or travel blogs. (Ahem, it’s on mine!)

➡️Fast forward to 2020. I’m preparing to leave for France and am keeping a close eye on my teaching program’s Facebook page. An American girl posted in the group about her time in Marseille, and we began messaging. She helped me with a million and one things during my move to France, and we’ve stayed in touch and become good friends.

Earlier this month, I visited Albi to see her along with her French boyfriend, who’s from a small village. He never told me the name, but as we were sipping wine and eating saucissons, he said something about Laguépie.

“WHAT?! Did you say Laguépie? I’ve been there and fell in L O V E!” He said, no, we can’t be talking about the same place, no one ever goes to my hometown😂 But after showing him my photos, including ones the village’s castle @chateau_louvielcastel reposted, it was one and the same.

Can someone queue “Invisible String” because what a small world this is that we’re all connected. Do you have any wild stories like that? Tell me in the comments⬇️

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What do you like searching for on Pinterest?📌 What do you like searching for on Pinterest?📌

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Currently kicking myself for not getting on the Pinterest for Business train sooner because this site is truly a game changer. I went from a personal account with a wedding board and gluten-free board with recipes I’d never tried to a bustling business board with more than 400,000 monthly visitors. And most of that is not from advertising.

📈I took a free @jennakutcher webinar on how to use Pinterest for Business and saw massive growth. And the best part? You can schedule out content for an entire week in just 30 minutes to an hour. 

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Best day trips from Nice No. 4: Èze🏰 This med Best day trips from Nice No. 4: Èze🏰

This medieval village enchanted me so much so I almost teared up as we left because I just didn’t want to go. If there are castles, sea views and charm, I’m so there. And Èze checks all these boxes✅ 

😍This medieval village is a labyrinth of cobblestone and windy paths, but the steps are worth it. There are shops and restaurants along the way to the top where you get sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. 

🌵Once you make it to the top, you have to pay to enter the Jardin Exotique d’Èze, and I can't recommend it enough. (Be sure to ask about the combo deal that includes both the garden in Èze and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild nearby.)

🚗🛤️Distance from Nice: 30-minute drive or 15 minute train ride

Craving more photos + day trip ideas from Nice? Head over to link in bio ❤️

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How's your sense of direction?↪️🗺️I am th How's your sense of direction?↪️🗺️I am the queen of getting lost — and not on purpose😂

When I lived in Toulouse in 2017, I took a day trip to a nearby town to visit a friend. Wanting to get the best deal, I booked the 6 a.m. train. Unfortunately, I didn't think it all the way through🙃

I left my apartment on time, but when I got to the metro, it hadn't started running yet. I was nervous about getting to the train station on time, but if I hurried, I could make it.

Alas, I made it to the metro stop where I was supposed to switch metro lines. I had one job, and I failed🙈

⚠️I went the wrong direction, and once I realized it, I quickly got off the next stop and ran up to the street. I was unbelievably lost, and the sun hadn't even come up. Eventually, I made it to the train station but had completely missed the train.

And defeated, I sat down in the bakery, cried and FaceTimed my mom. Some kind French girl saw my tears and approached me to help me book a new train.

Since then, I've gotten lost many more times😆 But it's taught me to not be so hard on myself because getting lost is part of the journey. (And if it's not a good time, it's a good story, eh?😜)

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Have you ever dreamed about making money from your Have you ever dreamed about making money from your hobby?✨

I remember when I first decided I wanted to make money from my blog. I thought to myself, I’m not qualified and no one is going to buy this. I’m just a 19 year-old girl! 

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Best day trips from Nice No. 2 and 3: Menton and R Best day trips from Nice No. 2 and 3: Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin

🚦Mal and I really only had time to drive through Menton and Roquebrune Cap Martin, but they were both stunning as ever. In Menton, we walked along the beach and watched the windsurfers in this quaint town.

🍋This spot is known for its lemons as is commemorated every February by Fête du Citron, or Lemon Festival. This event attracts more than 200,000 attendees and boasts 180 tons of citrus fruits.

🚗🛤️Distance from Nice: 12 miles (20 kilometers) or about a 30-minute drive or train ride to Menton

Craving more photos + day trip ideas from Nice? Bop over to link in bio!

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