Catalina Island -- FREE Catalina Express Birthday Boat Ride to Through 2016

[Sherry E]

I totally agree. If I am going to spend that kind of money (even with 1 free ticket I would be paying for 3 or more fares), I am going over early and staying all day! I'd love to stay a night but I know from booking a hotel for DH etc. that many hotels have a two-night minimum during the summer, and I would need 2 rooms. Cha-ching. So one long day it is, for value.

PHXscuba

PHX -

Two nights for two rooms! Yikes. Even in the old days of my trip-taking to Avalon (where I stayed for weekends and more) I don't think I would have been able to swing 2 rooms.

Yes, you're absolutely right -- there does seem to be a 2-night minimum for the hotels over the summer now. As many of the Island's hotels are beginning to spruce up and modernize, I wonder if the 2-night minimum is also creeping into the off peak season as well? I know that in the past it was possible -- thought not always likely -- to get a room for one night, like maybe if there had been cancellations or something. I recall some friends of mine visiting Catalina for a day trip and then spontaneously deciding to stay overnight while there, but that was a long time ago. They walked up to one hotel and asked if there were any rooms available and there were.

I have to think that -- just as in the case of any hotel -- there are always cancellations at the last minute and people have to back out of their trips. So I would imagine that there are still occasions in which people can walk up and get a room at the last minute, and maybe just for one night, but it wouldn't be advertised or promoted beforehand. I guess it would just be one of those things that you (not you, specifically, but the general "you") "happen to discover" if you seek it out.

I completely agree -- paying the ticket prices for Disneyland or boat fare for Catalina Express almost demands that a full day is exactly that -- a fullllllllll day. Get your money's worth, everyone!

This is exciting! I'm actually going to be stateside on my birthday this year, so I'll technically be able to take advantage of the birthday offer. My birthday is on a Saturday too, and I was thinking of doing something to escape the Saturday crowds at DLR, so something like this could definitely work.

Will just have to see how much extra cost it's going to add by the time we add tours etc. The zip lining, semi-sub and flying fish all sound like great fun (although the flying fish may not be going in September )! We've got more days on our DLR tickets than we actually need, so spending the day there would really not cost us anything.

How would we get to the Catalina Express from the DLR area? We won't have a car for that part of the trip.

Hello, zanzibar138, and welcome!

I'm happy to see that you are considering using the free Catalina Express boat ride on your birthday! I hope you will enjoy it if you decide to go. I think it sounds like a perfect way to escape Disneyland's Saturday crowds.

This offer really is a great value -- frankly, it's such a great value that I cannot believe that they are extending the offer once again, although I still don't know if it is only being extended through the end of this year or into 2015 as well. Some folks will have gotten 4 free trips out of the deal if they choose to use the free ride again this year!

The Flying Fish tour should be over right after Labor Day, which is September 1st this year, so you will most likely miss that one. There are a lot of other tours to consider -- some land-based and some sea-based -- but not all are necessary for a first-time visit. I definitely recommend the semi-sub over the glass bottom boat (even though the glass bottom boat is synonymous with Avalon). If you enjoy architecture and history, the Casino walking tour is nice.

I think there is even some sort of scavenger hunt situation going on now -- I saw it mentioned in the Visitors Guide, if I am not mistaken (be sure to order your free guide -- the link to which is in the first post on page 1 -- or take a look at the digital version of it online). I may have even grabbed a brochure for the hunt (I will check my stash/stack of brochures and find it). I haven't done the hunt yet, but I think that participants have to buy a map and kit of some sort, and then can do the hunt in one of a few ways (via golf cart, via jeep or maybe on foot too?)

Even if you didn't do any of the tours -- or maybe only did one tour -- I think that renting a golf cart is the quintessential thing to do when visiting Catalina for the first time (and, in my case, every time!). If you go to the place that offers the "get 3 hours for the price of 2 hours" deal, you will pay $80 for one cart ($40 per hour), for the 3 hours, and they only accept cash. You may not need the full 3 hours -- and you may only want to pay $40 for one hour -- but if you plan to get out and walk around a bit or stop at certain locations it's good to have that extra hour or two. The golf cart is a good way to get up to certain scenic postcard-worthy spots nestled in the hills. Some of the roads are busier than others -- last year it seemed I kept ending up in front of a giant tour bus on a narrow road, and there was no way the bus could pass me -- and others are quiet and isolated. It's fun!


I think that one good way to get to the Catalina Express boat dock in Long Beach (that's the best terminal to use, I think, and it's maybe 20 or 25 minutes from Disneyland if you get on the freeway when it's not rush hour or something) is to take a shuttle. You could take a taxi as well, though you might not get a fixed rate for a taxi to take you to and from the boat. With a shuttle service you will know exactly what you are paying in advance.

There are many shuttle services that people seem to enjoy and stick with. I know that a few people have been using a service called DK Livery -- I have never used it so I don't have first-hand knowledge, but it has gotten some good reviews.

The shuttle service that I always use -- and I have used it to get to and from the Catalina Express terminal, as well as to and from DLR from home -- is a service called Sav-On Shuttle. It is a very small, no-frills company, but the drivers are prompt, friendly, and treat their customers well. I think there is a way to book on their website, but a lot of the reservations they take are over the phone. I always book over the phone. If you book on the phone you can speak to John -- the owner of the business and one of the main drivers -- to give you an exact rate, which you don't need to pay in advance. Unlike places such as Super Shuttle and similar services that require you to pay in advance, Sav-On Shuttle does not require that you do. I'm sure you can pay in advance if you want to, but they don't ask for it.

 

[zanzibar138]

Hello, zanzibar138, and welcome!

I'm happy to see that you are considering using the free Catalina Express boat ride on your birthday! I hope you will enjoy it if you decide to go. I think it sounds like a perfect way to escape Disneyland's Saturday crowds.

This offer really is a great value -- frankly, it's such a great value that I cannot believe that they are extending the offer once again, although I still don't know if it is only being extended through the end of this year or into 2015 as well. Some folks will have gotten 4 free trips out of the deal if they choose to use the free ride again this year!

The Flying Fish tour should be over right after Labor Day, which is September 1st this year, so you will most likely miss that one. There are a lot of other tours to consider -- some land-based and some sea-based -- but not all are necessary for a first-time visit. I definitely recommend the semi-sub over the glass bottom boat (even though the glass bottom boat is synonymous with Avalon). If you enjoy architecture and history, the Casino walking tour is nice.

I think there is even some sort of scavenger hunt situation going on now -- I saw it mentioned in the Visitors Guide, if I am not mistaken (be sure to order your free guide -- the link to which is in the first post on page 1 -- or take a look at the digital version of it online). I may have even grabbed a brochure for the hunt (I will check my stash/stack of brochures and find it). I haven't done the hunt yet, but I think that participants have to buy a map and kit of some sort, and then can do the hunt in one of a few ways (via golf cart, via jeep or maybe on foot too?)

Even if you didn't do any of the tours -- or maybe only did one tour -- I think that renting a golf cart is the quintessential thing to do when visiting Catalina for the first time (and, in my case, every time!). If you go to the place that offers the "get 3 hours for the price of 2 hours" deal, you will pay $80 for one cart ($40 per hour), for the 3 hours, and they only accept cash. You may not need the full 3 hours -- and you may only want to pay $40 for one hour -- but if you plan to get out and walk around a bit or stop at certain locations it's good to have that extra hour or two. The golf cart is a good way to get up to certain scenic postcard-worthy spots nestled in the hills. Some of the roads are busier than others -- last year it seemed I kept ending up in front of a giant tour bus on a narrow road, and there was no way the bus could pass me -- and others are quiet and isolated. It's fun!


I think that one good way to get to the Catalina Express boat dock in Long Beach (that's the best terminal to use, I think, and it's maybe 20 or 25 minutes from Disneyland if you get on the freeway when it's not rush hour or something) is to take a shuttle. You could take a taxi as well, though you might not get a fixed rate for a taxi to take you to and from the boat. With a shuttle service you will know exactly what you are paying in advance.

There are many shuttle services that people seem to enjoy and stick with. I know that a few people have been using a service called DK Livery -- I have never used it so I don't have first-hand knowledge, but it has gotten some good reviews.

The shuttle service that I always use -- and I have used it to get to and from the Catalina Express terminal, as well as to and from DLR from home -- is a service called Sav-On Shuttle. It is a very small, no-frills company, but the drivers are prompt, friendly, and treat their customers well. I think there is a way to book on their website, but a lot of the reservations they take are over the phone. I always book over the phone. If you book on the phone you can speak to John -- the owner of the business and one of the main drivers -- to give you an exact rate, which you don't need to pay in advance. Unlike places such as Super Shuttle and similar services that require you to pay in advance, Sav-On Shuttle does not require that you do. I'm sure you can pay in advance if you want to, but they don't ask for it.

Thanks for all the info. I think it may add too much to the cost of our trip TBH. My parents will have to pay the boat fare, plus if we hire a golf cart, it already works out to near $100 each for them. Plus the cost of the semi-sub - I'd really like to do that if we went. Then the cost of getting to and from the dock... We'll be doing heaps of cool sight-seeing the week before we get to DLR, so it might be just as well to stay put.

I don't want to have to make any calls to the US if I can help it, so generally anywhere that doesn't do online bookings doesn't make the cut.

It would be good if we could just see how we felt the day before or something. Do you think for a Saturday mid-September we'd be able to just turn up on the day without making bookings and be able to get on a boat? Would they still accept my birthday code if we did that?

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks for all the info. I think it may add too much to the cost of our trip TBH. My parents will have to pay the boat fare, plus if we hire a golf cart, it already works out to near $100 each for them. Plus the cost of the semi-sub - I'd really like to do that if we went. Then the cost of getting to and from the dock... We'll be doing heaps of cool sight-seeing the week before we get to DLR, so it might be just as well to stay put.

I don't want to have to make any calls to the US if I can help it, so generally anywhere that doesn't do online bookings doesn't make the cut.

It would be good if we could just see how we felt the day before or something. Do you think for a Saturday mid-September we'd be able to just turn up on the day without making bookings and be able to get on a boat? Would they still accept my birthday code if we did that?

zanzibar138 -

You're welcome!

Remember, you don't have to take the golf cart that charges $40 per hour or get the "3 hours for the price of 2 hours" deal. You could get a cart for one hour only, or you could go to the other golf cart rental place in town -- which might be a bit cheaper -- and get a cart for 90 minutes or so. Most carts hold 4 people, though I have seen some around town that seem to be built for holding more. I think that the other rental place in town (not the one with the 'get 3 for 2' deal) might have alternate options for rentals.

You could also skip the golf carts entirely and do a jeep tour, or one of the tours that takes you inland. Or, you could skip all of that completely.

As for whether or not you could do a spur of the moment trip, I think so. Catalina/Avalon basically slips into off-peak season mode right after Labor Day. ( They don't even have a big surge of activity during the holiday season like DLR does.) So, because of the fact that it will be off-peak season when you go (if you go), I think you should be able to get on a boat at the last minute.

I know that DIS'er PrincessInOz got a last-minute boat when she went to Catalina and took the Express a few years ago (not using the free birthday trip, though). Although, due to my own incorrect instructions to her, she ended up at the wrong terminal in Long Beach, which is only a few minutes from the correct terminal in Long Beach -- but I hadn't realized that the terminal she went to was no longer offering service! She got to the correct terminal, walked up and got whichever the next available departure time was on the day she departed.

I am guessing you already registered, but if not then I would register for the free birthday boat ride and get your email confirmation. Print out that confirmation and bring it with you when you head out to DLR and keep it, just in case you decide to go on a whim. Then bring the confirmation with you when you arrive at Catalina Express.

I think that Sav-On Shuttle does take bookings online (did you check that link I posted here yesterday?), but they just seem to prefer people to call. They are also a bit less expensive than other services such as Karmel Shuttle and Super Shuttle, in my experience, so that's how it balances out with the no-frills kind of approach. They are very accustomed to taking people to and from DLR as well as to and from the Catalina Express terminal, and John (the owner) told me that he has had a lot of passengers visiting from all over the world. Sav-On Shuttle has great reviews on Yelp -- which I discovered even before posting my own great review there -- so those reviews will give you an idea of what to expect.

Maybe the other service I mentioned, DK Livery, will work for you if they take online bookings? I know nothing about how they operate, but I know that other people have given them high marks!

Also be sure to order the free 2014 Catalina Visitors Guide online! It's a really pretty magazine-type of guide.

Have you also signed up to receive offers and emails from Earl of Sandwich? You can get a free sandwich or salad on your birthday if you do -- and there is, of course, an EOS at DLR.

Anyway, whatever you decide, I'm here to help if you plan to go to Catalina -- so please feel free to always pop in with questions if they should arise. Hopefully, some of the other Catalina visitors are still out there as well!

(If you end up sightseeing at the Farmers Market, The Grove, the Tar Pits or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art [LACMA], I can help with those too!)

 

[Sherry E]

Don't forget, everyone! Today would have ordinarily been the last day for the 2013-2014 Free Birthday Boat Ride offer through Catalina Express but, as I reported here at the end of March, the offer has been extended through the end of this year.

When last I checked the Catalina Express Facebook page they were telling people in sort of a quiet way that the offer had been extended (no big, splashy announcements yet, in other words), but they did not indicate if it would again carry into 2015. Thus far, it seems that the offer is just through 12/31/14. I have always thought they should reset their "years" to be January - December instead of May - April for these offers, so perhaps that is what will happen in 2015.

If you have a chance, take advantage of the free boat ride -- it's a great value and Catalina is a great idea for a day trip while you're in SoCal for other reasons (like DLR)!

 

[Sherry E]

I'm headed back to Catalina in 6 days (7/21), to once again use the Catalina Express birthday freebie. I hate the sun , hate the summer and hate the heat, but it is, quite frankly, TOO good of an offer to pass up (I am still kicking myself for missing out on it in 2011) -- and I love Catalina, so it's hard to pass up a free ride to a place I love! At least I will have gotten 3 free trips out of it when all is said and done.

If my eyes were not deceiving me, I think I saw that a Casino tour was added onto the list of birthday freebies -- which would be totally new as a birthday freebie this year, and which means access to the gorgeous ballroom inside the Casino (where all the Big Bands used to perform in the old days), and the even more stunning movie theater!

This time the free birthday boat ride offer only extends through the end of this year. I have no clue if Catalina Express will once again offer it next year. There is a new museum being built in Avalon, and there are other projects in the works, so they are definitely trying to lure visitors to the island.

If Catalina feels any sense of worry over Disneyland's 60th anniversary drawing in tons of people next year, Catalina Express might possibly offer the free boat ride again -- or they may give it a rest and take a back seat to Disney. Catalina Express didn't start offering the free boat rides until Disney had finished with its big giveaways, i.e., the Get in Free on Your Birthday promo in 2009 and the Give a Day, Get A Day promo in 2010. When Disney was done with all of that, Catalina Express stepped up to the plate.



Anyway, I will report back after Monday and possibly share a few photos! I'll also pick up a few extra Visitor Guides, if I see any. The ones that are sent from Catalina in the mail are usually mangled, or a page is torn or something!

​

 

[PHXscuba]

Have a great trip, Sherry! Hope it isn't too hot that day. One of these summers I am going to make it back over there too!

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Have a great trip, Sherry! Hope it isn't too hot that day. One of these summers I am going to make it back over there too!

PHXscuba

Thank you, PHX!

So far, good ol' AccuWeather is saying that Avalon will be 74 degrees, but it will "feel like" 81 degrees. Why can't it just "feel like" 74 degrees? Of course, the UV index -- or whatever they call it -- is very high.

The bad thing about Avalon -- for anyone who is extra heat sensitive -- is that there is so little shade. Really, the only escape from the sun is if you hide in a shop or in a restaurant. And all of that water everywhere really attracts the heat.

The good thing about Avalon is that the sea breeze starts to kick in by semi-late afternoon, and suddenly it's cool enough to need a jacket (especially in the area that I like to walk, which is down Pebbly Beach Road and out to Lover's Cove).

I feel I need to take the earliest boat out, which will, again, be the 6:15 a.m. boat. That requires me to be at the boat terminal at 5:15 a.m., which means I have to leave the house at 4:45 a.m., which means I have to wake up at....

I don't even want to think about it!

(By the way, I am not even going to meet Laurie/DizNee Luver and her family at the Farmers Market on Sunday because I am going to be in a frenzy of preparation activity that day and cannot take the time to meet her, despite the fact that FM is right up the street!)

Also, Monday is the day that I start the 4th Annual Theme Week Countdown in the Disneyland at Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread, so this means I will have to be up in the middle of the night, posting the kick-off theme in the thread before I leave for Avalon!

This is either a good thing or a bad thing, but because this trip is taking place on a Monday this year (as opposed to my two previous day trips on Saturday and Sunday), the latest return time for the boat (Avalon back to Long Beach) is 7:30 p.m. That means I have to basically line up to board at 6:45 p.m. The last two years I was able to stay more than 2 extra hours and leave on the 9:45 boat, which, for some reason, seemed like a lot of extra time. I feel that going on a Monday is depriving me of the extra time, but I have no choice because that's when the boat leaves!

In any case, I will do the free Casino tour, collect my free coffee, free ice cream, free trail map, free CD, maybe eat another "Best Brownie Ever" and take some photos!

One thing I don't like is that many places in Avalon only take cash. I can't rent a locker without cash. If I need to charge a camera battery I can't do it without cash. If I wanted to rent a golf cart (which I think I might skip this time around) I'd need cash. I can't even eat a chili burger without cash! So I have to deal with all of that madness before leaving.

In any case, I keep telling myself that -- sooner or later -- this free boat ride is going to end. It cannot continue on forever. I am determined to take advantage of it until it is no longer being offered!

 

[endy]

I'm so happy for you Sherry.
Really disappointed that I didn't try to make it work again for me. I was in Anaheim in May and we almost went for a day but by the time we thought about going there were no morning tickets left, something was going on that weekend so it was really busy.

So many freebies at least you won't have to spend much.
Have a great mini vacation and be sure to update us when you get back.
Wendy

 

[Sherry E]

Well, much to my surprise and delight, when I called to make my fairly last minute Catalina Express boat reservation for Monday, 7/21, I was told that they added in a later boat at night -- 9:00 p.m.! (They added that in, I believe, because a lot of people who use the free birthday boat trip pass want to be able to do some of the summer-specific, late day/early evening tours, and it's hard to do that when the latest boat back to Long Beach is at 7:30 p.m.)

So this means that I don't have to return on the 7:30 p.m. boat! Not that staying an extra 90 minutes is that much more significant, but it works out better for me. An extra 90 minutes means more time to try to get some sunset pictures and look for dusk appearances by various oceanic critters peeking above the surface of the water.

The locker that I get is an all-day locker. It costs $5.00, but it works for me because I can periodically dump off my various brochures and freebies (as well as store my jacket, extra water and tote bag) throughout the day. A $10 deposit is required in addition the $5.00. If I return my locker key and collect my things by 8 p.m., I will get my $10 deposit back.

If I had been forced to take a 7:30 p.m. boat back home, I would have had to line up for the boat at 6:45, which means I would have had to collect the things out of my locker at 6:30 p.m.

This way, with the new 9 p.m. return time, I can get my things right at 7:59 p.m., to get my deposit back, and then get in line for the boat at 8:15 p.m.



One other thing that's good about taking a 9 p.m. boat back is that I love to sit outside, next to the life vest cabinet (hey, I'm no fool!), amid the wind and sea mist, and stare out at the blackness of the sky and ocean. I pull my hood up over my entire head, bury my hands in my pockets, and cover my bags with plastic so the ocean spray doesn't get to them. It's usually 50-something degrees at that point, and the wind is harsh on one's face and hair!

Not too many other passengers like to sit outside at that time of night, on a boat, so I basically just have to share the upper deck with a few other seafaring souls. If I had needed to take the 7:30 p.m. boat back home, I guarantee that the upper deck would be packed with people returning home because they have work the next day and what not. I'd be lucky to find a seat next to the life vests, or anywhere else.

Now that I have made this little jaunt across the ocean for the last 2 years in a row, I wonder if any faces will look familiar to me on Monday. Surely I cannot be the only person with a July 21st birthday who is taking advantage of the free boat ride for another year. There must be a lot of us doing the same thing, though some folks may have not been aware that the birthday offer was extended through the end of 2014.



Another DIS'er that I know -- pycees312 (who has the thread about the Disneyland Resort hotel concierge lounges) -- just recently went to Catalina too (I don't think it was for a birthday, but she and her friends went there and stayed a few days). It was, I believe, her first time visiting the island and she/they had a GREAT time. I saw some of her photos on Facebook, and they did a lot of fun things, ate a lot of good meals and had an all around awesome trip. They went snorkeling or diving, saw a lot of fish , did the Semi-Sub tour, and I think went zip lining as well. I think they even took a tour that went up into the hills, or rented a golf cart.

The smiles on everyone's faces were huge in every photo I saw from what pycees312 posted on her Facebook page! There did not appear to be one unhappy traveler in the bunch! I'd say that Catalina was a huge success! I will have to see if she'd be willing to pop over to this thread and share her experiences (and, perhaps, photos too?).

​

I'm so happy for you Sherry.
Really disappointed that I didn't try to make it work again for me. I was in Anaheim in May and we almost went for a day but by the time we thought about going there were no morning tickets left, something was going on that weekend so it was really busy.

So many freebies at least you won't have to spend much.
Have a great mini vacation and be sure to update us when you get back.
Wendy

Hi, Wendy!

Thank you for the kind words!

I haven't seen you around the DIS lately -- you may have been in other forums and we just passed each other by!

Oh, so the boat you wanted to take in May was full? I wonder what was going on that weekend. Maybe the start of the Flying Fish Festival, perhaps? Maybe the Taste of Avalon? It's too bad you haven't been able to get back to Catalina, as I know that you and your son both loved it!

Did you happen to ever make it to the Farmers Market and The Grove? I remember -- maybe a year or so ago, or longer -- you were asking about the Farmers Market in another thread, as you were kind of lining up other activities to do on your next trip out here. I remember that you were going off to look at their websites to see if anything looked interesting.


I am grateful to have at least one more free boat ride to Catalina. This may be the last one. Catalina Express will inevitably stop this promotion at some point. Goodness knows that the round trip boat fare is not cheap, and then once you get there you have to pay for various activities, food, etc. Of course I love it in Avalon, as you know, but I wish my birthday were in the fall! The boat hours would be more limited then too, and certain tours would not be running in the fall, but at least it might be cooler!

I was certain that the free birthday promo that just ended on April 30th would be the last free boat ride offer. I was very surprised to see that it was extended through the end of this year, but for now I don't see it extended into next year.

And then, on top of all of that, the fact that a Casino tour has been added to the list of birthday freebies (the "Birthday Island" list, or whatever it is called) really sealed the deal for me. I have not done the Casino tour since maybe 2001 or 2002, and I would like to have another look at the beautiful ballroom and theatre inside.

Plus, on my last couple of trips over to Avalon I spent a lot of time in the golf cart (which I love) and taking photos, but I didn't do any browsing in the shops, nor did I do much eating. I have a couple of favorite restaurants there -- Antonio's being one of them -- and I really would like to grab a waterside table and eat a nice meal, as I used to do many years ago!

So I am hoping to do that on Monday -- I'll change things up a bit and do something different.

 

[PHXscuba]

Catalina must be the place to be this summer -- I just found out my brother-in-law and his family are going in a week or so for a few days, partly so my BIL and 16-year-old nephew can do a little diving. If they give a positive report of a few days there with teens/tweens might be enough to push me over the top into making a visit next summer. Your pictures already make me want to go back but with the high cost of ferry/hotel I want to be certain it's worth the family's time/money.

Hmm ... maybe we'll go over fall/spring break ... cheaper lodging probably?

PHXscuba

 

[Sherry E]

Here are a few photos of Catalina Island/Avalon (taken in 2012-2013):

Also from 2012 -- HERE.



Trip/Birthday Freebie Update:

Since a free Casino Walking Tour is a brand new birthday freebie for 2014, I called the tour office to find out if I had to make a reservation (I don't have to make one in advance; I just have to go to the tour office when I'm in Avalon). The man that I spoke to actually had no idea that they were even offering a free tour on birthdays (because they haven't been doing it since the birthday promo began)!! He put me on hold, checked with someone or another and confirmed that what I read on the list of "Birthday Island" freebies was accurate.

Apparently, not too many birthday visitors to the Island have been doing the free Casino tour, so we (the tour office guy who answered the phone and I) pondered why that would be. We came to the conclusion that a lot of people are only taking advantage of the free birthday boat ride on Catalina Express, but are not really looking at the Birthday Island freebie list at all.

Also, any returning birthday visitors may assume that the Birthday Island freebie list is exactly the same this year as it was last year, and they may not check to see if anything new had been added in.

I only checked my Birthday Island list to be sure that nothing that had been there last year had been removed from it this year. I didn't expect anything to have been added in, so imagine my surprise when I saw that there was a free Casino tour!

​

Catalina must be the place to be this summer -- I just found out my brother-in-law and his family are going in a week or so for a few days, partly so my BIL and 16-year-old nephew can do a little diving. If they give a positive report of a few days there with teens/tweens might be enough to push me over the top into making a visit next summer. Your pictures already make me want to go back but with the high cost of ferry/hotel I want to be certain it's worth the family's time/money.

Hmm ... maybe we'll go over fall/spring break ... cheaper lodging probably?

PHXscuba

PHX -

I don't know for sure what spring break prices would be, but I have a feeling they might be peak season lodging rates, even though the real peak season in Avalon (Memorial Day to Labor Day) hasn't started yet. I would guess that there are probably a lot of groups who head to Catalina during spring break. I could be wrong, but that seems like it would be a place that people on break would go when the weather was really nice.

When I'm there in 2 days I will ask a couple of the vendors if spring break is considered peak season for them, and if they get hit with a lot of visitors during that time. I will also ask what fall crowds have been like in recent years.

Fall used to be off-season. Although there may be more people headed over there with the free birthday boat ride at this point, I would still tend to think that the general number of people visiting the island during the fall would decrease. Also, some of the tours don't take place in fall, so that would be a reason why some people might stay away.

The last time I did a fall trip to Avalon (it was an October trip) -- way, way, way before the current birthday promotion -- the rates for wherever we stayed were a bit cheaper and there were fewer people milling about town in general.

The holiday season used to be off-season for Catalina too. I'm not sure if it still is. The cold temperatures at night and in the morning, the uncertainty of the weather and the fact that a lot of Avalon residents traveled elsewhere for the holidays made it pretty quiet around town, from what I used to hear. The birthday promo may have attracted more people to Avalon in November - January-ish, but I can't see that it would really be bustling with activity during that time (unlike Disneyland Resort, of course, which is certainly bustling during the holidays!).

 

[Sherry E]

Another free birthday boat trip to Catalina has come and gone.

1. I drank my free coffee;

2. I ate my free ice cream;

3. I got my free island trail map;

4. I hiked up a steep hill and collected my free CD (which is actually a CD of songs from a Catalina movie/documentary); and

5. I took the free Casino tour -- which, at only 30 minutes as opposed to the regular, more detailed 1-hour Casino tour, is a great value and I highly recommend it!

Our Casino tour guide was delightful and had a really good energy about her. At one point, after climbing 4 ramps, she told us that we had actually just hiked 7 stories!! (I always find myself schlepping up hills, ramps or steps when in Avalon -- either at the Wrigley Memorial, in the Casino or just on random hills! Good walking shoes are pivotal to the Avalon experience!)

One thing that is interesting to note about the artwork and inside architecture in the Casino -- most of it is original, as it was when the Casino opened in 1929, and has not been replaced or removed, with only a couple of exceptions. This is because there was no smoking allowed in the Casino -- even back when smoking was all the rage in the '30s, '40s and beyond. So the art and architecture have mostly stayed intact, which is incredible (also incredible when you consider that the Casino is right next to the ocean, and all of that sea air can seep in and do damage after a while)!

There is one room inside the Casino that features original artwork done by the lady who did the original Wrigley's Chewing Gum campaign and package design.



Other stuff:

• There were several other birthday freebies that I did NOT do, but they may be appealing to other people -- such as free miniature golf and a free meal at the Buffalo Nickel (which is maybe a 25-minute walk, or a 10-minute ride by taxi).

• I either saw a school of sharks OR a pod of dolphins on the boat ride over to Catalina. I only saw fins, so I'm not sure! I did not get any photos -- by the time I realized that I was seeing multiple creatures in one single spot, it was too late to try to get out a camera and zoom in for what would have been a blurry photo.
  
  What I saw may have been dolphins (those are common to see on Catalina trips), but the only reason I thought the fins could have belonged to sharks is because they seemed to be concentrated in one small circle/area, and they kept ducking under and popping back up, like they were feeding on something (did anyone ever see the movie, Open Water?).
  
  I am fascinated by the ocean because it's always a surprise -- I love to sit there and stare out at it for long stretches of time, until I see something swim by!

• As I always say, I hate heat and sun. That has not changed. Even when the temperature is lower than expected, the sun is still super harsh. Yesterday it was supposed to be 70 degrees in Avalon, with a "feels like" of 77 or something like that. That's better/cooler than what it has been on previous trips...and yet, I ended up with a worse sunburn yesterday than I got on any of my last Catalina or Disneyland visits! I had 3 different types of sunscreen with me -- a scalp spray, a lotion for my face and a lotion for my arms, etc. -- which I applied several times throughout the day. And still, I ended up with a burnt scalp, face, neck, hands, etc.
  
  So that is another important tip (other than wearing comfortable/good walking shoes) -- invest in a hat, and apply sunscreen more often than you think you need to -- even if it seems like overkill.

• The morning boat crowd on the Catalina Express on Mondays is different than the morning boat crowd on weekends. Yesterday morning, I was on a boat with mostly men (very few women, from what I could see), and I gathered that they were primarily fishermen. Possibly divers, but more than likely fishermen.

• The boat ride home was choppy, windy and wet! I like to sit outside and enjoy the night air, and the ocean spray was flying! My jacket (thankfully, a weather-resistant jacket) was covered with water, and part of my hair (the part that was not tucked into a hood) was soaked! Thankfully I had the foresight to cover my other bags with plastic before we set sail, so they were not soaked!
  
  I had noticed that the waves seemed particularly strong before I got on the boat, when I was walking along my favorite path down Pebbly Beach Road, to my favorite bench and "thinking spot." A few times I caught the tail end of some spray from taller waves slamming into the rocks. I guess I assumed the waves would calm down by the time we hit the high seas!

• I was sad to see that 3 of Catalina's longtime eateries -- Joe's Place, Sally's Waffle Shop and Lori's Good Stuff, which had been there for decades -- have closed down. In fact, they closed since my July 2013 visit, apparently. One of the shops (Latitude 33) is expanding, and a brand new ice cream shop -- Scoops -- is going to open in their place.

I didn't take too many photos compared to what I normally take, but I tried to get some. The heat/sun was killing me, so a lot of times I just sat down and waited for a breeze.

Here is a highlight reel o' photos from this year's day trip to Catalina...

Notice how calm and placid the ocean looks. That's a Carnival ship in the distance, and the cruise folks spent the day on Catalina. When they set foot in Avalon, various tour guides and representatives were there to greet them with big signs, so the cruisers could go right to their pre-arranged tours and activities (such as ziplining, the Semi-Sub tour, the Casino tours, the tours that go into the interior of the Island, the Eco tour, etc.)...

The Holly Hill House was under construction when I was in Avalon in 2013, but it is all shiny and fixed up in 2014!

The tiny beach had not yet filled to capacity!

The Green Pleasure Pier had not yet filled to capacity either!

The stacked hillside houses and apartments are reminiscent of Italy, Greece and Spain...

The Via Casino pathway...

I noticed (in many places) that the water was particularly blue and/or green when I was there -- and it was not as blue/green when I was in Avalon in 2012 and 2013. I don't know what happened to it, but it changed color in the last year!

I love this sign!

In Avalon you can expect to hear a lot of classic rock, soft rock, country rock and folk rock played in the bars, restaurants and in the middle of the street. That means Jimmy Buffett. That means The Eagles. That means Van Morrison. That means Jackson Browne. That means Bob Seger. This young fellow was entertaining guests with a repertoire that included "Sister Golden Hair," "Mrs. Robinson" and "American Pie."

I liked the juxtaposition of the red flowers and green leaves against the blue sky...

Inside the Casino. Notice the fish detailing around the perimeter of this light fixture...

The view from an upper level of the Casino...

Recreating a photo I took back in 2001 or so...

This original artwork (in one room inside the Casino) was done by the woman who designed and did the artwork for the first Wrigley's Chewing Gum ads, packaging and campaigns...

Outside the Casino...

Exhibits at the Museum?

...Walking along Pebbly Beach Road, to my favorite place to take a seat!

This rock looks like it has a face!

I don't think I've noticed this time capsule in the past...

I don't know who the girl in this photo is, but she got in my way and is now center stage in my sunset picture!

​

 

[Melissy]

Beautiful pictures, thank you for taking the time to post.

 

[endy]

Great pictures Sherry. Glad you enjoyed yourself other than the sunburn.

Next time I'm in CA I've got to go back. It's such a different world than most of CA.
We didn't do the Casino tour, we did go see a movie tho and I was amazed at the woodwork and the paintings. The rest of the Casino looks incredible and a half hour is likely long enough not to get too bored.

 

[Sherry E]

Beautiful pictures, thank you for taking the time to post.

Thank you, Melissy!

Great pictures Sherry. Glad you enjoyed yourself other than the sunburn.

Next time I'm in CA I've got to go back. It's such a different world than most of CA.
We didn't do the Casino tour, we did go see a movie tho and I was amazed at the woodwork and the paintings. The rest of the Casino looks incredible and a half hour is likely long enough not to get too bored.

Wendy --

Thank you! I had a full day -- but that sunburn and the next couple of days of being ill from 70-degree heat were crazy! It wasn't like it was 90-degree heat. It was 70-degrees, and yet I came back as burnt and as ill as I might have if it had been 20 degrees warmer!

I have figured out that, while I can certainly do Catalina day trips and pack them with activities or take them at a leisurely pace, I definitely prefer staying overnight for at least a couple of nights in Avalon. Just like with a Disneyland trip, it's nice to be able to go back to the hotel room during the day and rest, then go out again with a second wind! It's really no different in Avalon, except for that the types of activities and things to see before and after a mid-day break are different.

The movie theatre in Avalon is gorgeous, isn't it? And most of what is inside the entirety of the Casino as far as artwork and architecture is original -- rarely or never replaced because it has remained intact.

The 30 minute tour was, indeed, good because it wasn't too long. It was just enough time to get a good sense of what the Casino is about, but without getting bored. There is a lot of walking up ramps involved (that's how we ended up climbing 7 stories after only 4 ramps!).

You're right -- Catalina does seem a bit like a different world than the rest of Los Angeles or other areas. It's got that laid back beach vibe to it (like many beach towns do), and the locals are usually friendly and chatty, but it also feels a bit like a step back in time in certain areas as well (with all of the classic rock played around town).

I hope you're able to make it back to Catalina on your next CA visit!

 

[Sherry E]

Today I received an interesting survey from the Santa Catalina Island Co. -- I've never received any surveys about Catalina before -- but this was based on my visit last month (I gave the recap of that trip here, and also posted photos from that visit above^^), and they asked me what I thought about certain attractions they are thinking of adding to the Island.

Some of these attractions will be very, very interesting, indeed, if they are approved and funded, and I think they will boost the Island's attendance a great deal (which is clearly the goal).

Here is what is being considered (I tried to jot down the text quickly, but left out some words here and there):

1. Canyon Swing - It was described as: "A short walk across our canyon suspension bridge leads to a 200 foot cable swing, where you will soar up to 60 mph and hit multiple G's";

2. Zip Line 2 -- A "longer, steeper, faster" version of the existing zip line;

3. Canyon Aerial Park -- "High up in the sky...scenic, thrilling ropes courses of varying levels of difficulty";

4. Vegas-Style Resort Pool - Highlights: "2 acres...1.1 million gallon pool...cabanas...daybeds...bungalows...fitness center...bar and live entertainment";

5. Canyon Alpine Coaster -- "...a leisurely cruise up into Descanso Canyon, followed by a thrilling ride back down in a 2-person tracked coaster"; and

6. Above and Below Catalina -- "...360-degree multi-media movie experience highlights activities and scenes under the sea and within the interior [of the island]."



Pretty cool, huh? It would take them a while to get all of these things underway and built, but I think some of them have potential. I think that the Canyon Alpine Coaster and the Canyon Swing would be big hits!

 

[dizneefan13]

Some of these proposed attractions do sound cool, but I am afraid they might detract from the charm and beauty of Catalina as it is now....I think its perfect! Hubby and I just returned from three days there and fell madly in love with the place. Your wonderful reports were part of the reason we made the journey after we left DLR.

 

[Sherry E]

Some of these proposed attractions do sound cool, but I am afraid they might detract from the charm and beauty of Catalina as it is now....I think its perfect! Hubby and I just returned from three days there and fell madly in love with the place. Your wonderful reports were part of the reason we made the journey after we left DLR.

Hi there, dizneefan13!

For some odd reason I didn't receive any kind of email notification that you had posted here -- those notifications/subscription alerts seem to be very hit or miss -- and so I wouldn't have thought to even check this thread. I only ended up here today because I was trying to find another thread (a totally different one, from years ago). I clicked on a link from an old notification for what I thought was that old thread in the SoCal forum, went to the main forum page and then I saw this thread and noticed that you had posted here in the not too distant past!

I'm so glad to hear that you recently visited Avalon/Catalina for a few days and loved it, and that the reports were of some influence! Where did you stay in Avalon? Any good meals or activities that stand out?!

What used to happen a lot in the past is that I would bring friends over to Catalina (in the '80s or '90s) and most of them would end up being 'bitten by the bug' and either falling in love with it enough to go on our annual trips, or they'd return to the Island and bring their boyfriends or families. Very rarely did I bring anyone there who did not enjoy it. I don't think I have ever been there -- either by myself or with a group of friends -- when I didn't wish that I could stay longer or come back soon. I always want to stay longer.


Over the years it seems that a lot of people have lost interest in Catalina to a degree. While it is never lacking in visitors (especially during the summer), I think a lot of folks just got bored with it, especially when places such as Disneyland Resort are really so dominant in terms of SoCal attractions to visit.

I guess that's a large part of the reason why Catalina is undergoing this push to refresh and renew, adding in new attractions and offering the free birthday boat ride since 2011 -- they are trying to re-introduce Catalina to the masses, I suppose. They have managed to add in new shops and new restaurants, while still hanging on to some older favorites. There is still a good blend of modern establishments and the 'slightly weathered' establishments run by people/families who have lived in Avalon for decades.

I agree that some of the ideas for possible new attractions would probably be too much and would probably detract from the charm of Catalina. I want them to maintain the character and personality of the town without trying to go too 21st century on us!

I think that Catalina is a gem -- and people either "get it" or "don't get it." It's not the same as DLR, nor is it run and operated the same as DLR, so people have to actually seek out their own entertainment and activities. That's why a Catalina trip could either end up being boring for some folks, or action-packed for others. It can be relaxing and laid back, or it can be totally go-go-go the whole time. It could be just enough for a day trip, or it could be just right for a weekend visit. A trip to Catalina is really what we make of it.

I have to try to get DIS'er pycees312 to venture over here and post a recap of her late spring/early summertime trip to Catalina -- I saw her photos on Facebook as the trip was happening, and she had a blast!

 

[dizneefan13]

Catalina was on our wish list of places to visit during our SoCal trips for many years and this year while we were still in Anaheim I stopped thinking we should go sometime and made it the time. So glad I did!

It really is easy to get from Disneyland to Long Beach, where we took the Express. We had driven from Seattle area so we had our car and left it in the very convenient parking garage just across the street from where you get on the boat.

We stayed at the Hotel Metropole. We loved it. Great location and just a very nice, modern hotel. The ground floor courtyard and shops were a plus. Nice to go down for coffee, window shopping or a quick snack.

Our favorite restaurant was the Lobster Trap. We love seafood and the Oysters Rockefeller were to die for, best we ever had. Their clam chowder was good too. We like the Bluewater too, especially for its location right on the shore.

We only stayed two nights. Next time we hope to stay the better part of a week. I agree. You either get Catalina or you don't. Its charm is like no place I have ever been before. Oh and also love the history of the place. Very interesting.

Thanks again for all the great information and pictures. It really did help me make the decision to visit Catalina during our last trip.

 

[Sherry E]

​

I just found out a wonderful bit of news!

Even though we are still in 2014, registration has just opened up for the Catalina Express Free Birthday Boat Rides to Catalina Island... for 2015!!!!! The link to sign up is -- HERE.

I just signed up for 2015 and got my confirmation email within seconds.

​

That's right -- Catalina Express is (quite generously and surprisingly) extending its Free Birthday Boat Ride for a 5th year (the offer first began in 2011)!!!

Even if you have taken advantage of this free offer in the past (in 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014), you can still sign up again! That's the most amazing thing -- it's not a one-shot deal, where you are only allowed to use it one year and never again. You can keep signing up each year! I've had 3 free trips at this rate, and I would have had 4 free trips if I had been able to go in 2011!

The only real 'catch' is that you have to travel on your actual birthday, and there are no consolation prizes or substitutions if you can't -- no exceptions. It's a "use it or lose it" situation.

​

It seems like every year I say that I can't believe the free birthday boat ride offer (which is at least a $73 value every year) keeps getting renewed. As if the boat ride itself were not a great enough deal, there are other freebies thrown in the mix too, such as a free meal, free ice cream, free coffee, free miniature golf, a free map, etc.

This past July I got a free CD and took a free Casino tour (which was a great deal!), and in 2012 I got a free (giant) poster. Plus, there are discounts for the birthday people as well.

This ongoing promo has obviously given a huge boost to Catalina Island's business. They started it after Disney Parks ended its own free admission promos (first for birthdays and then for Give a Day, Get a Day), and I have to believe that the Catalina people saw an opportunity to attract some of the SoCal visitors to Disneyland Resort with a similar birthday offer.

​

Because there is a new museum being built on the Island, and they apparently have other plans for new things to go up, I thought (once again) that the free birthday boat ride offer would be discontinued because they have already gotten a lot of new customers over the last few years. I have to think that -- because 2015 is Disneyland's 60th birthday and there will probably be all sorts of special events happening at DLR during the year (especially from Memorial Day on through the end of 2015) -- instead of taking a back seat to DLR's activities, Catalina decided to hang in there and run the free boat ride offer again, as a bit of competition.

I think that the free birthday boat ride offer is a deal too good to pass up -- and it's especially good if you go solo, if you go for a one-day trip and if you don't need to spend a lot of money while on the Island. If you stay in a hotel with other people and spend several nights on the island, a free boat ride won't bring your cost down that much.

But if you are a day tripper who doesn't mind keeping things simple, the boat ride is especially valuable because Catalina Island is a charming gem (and picturesque, too -- as you can see in the photos posted earlier on this page) -- and it's a good place to visit/alternate thing to do on a non-Disneyland day! Long Beach (the terminal that I recommend) is within 30 minutes from Anaheim.

​