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City in California, United States
Photo: By Aaron Logan, CC BY 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Avalon is a resort city on Catalina Island, just off the coast of Southern California. Avalon is the main settlement on Catalina, and home to the majority of the island's permanent population. Avalon serves as the center of activity for most visitors as well as the jumping off point for exploration elsewhere on Catalina.
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1.5 miles (2.4 km) up Avalon Canyon Road from Avalon. Daily from 8AM to 5PM, year round. A memorial to William Wriggley, Jr., founder of the WM Wriggley Jr. Company, renowned for its chewing gum. Mr. Wriggley was also a long-time benefactor of Catalina and was key in assuring that it was protected for future generations. The Botanical Garden features plants that are native to California islands, especially species only found on Catalina Island. Adults: $12, Children under 12: $7.
Art Museum - Casino Point, northwest end of Avalon Harbor. The Casino is an Art-Deco movie palace and ballroom built in 1929 that was once the place to be for the Los Angeles elite. The tour will take you into the movie theater and up the ramps to the ballroom while the tour guide gives information about the history and unique construction of the casino. Adults: $14.50, Children: $7.25, Seniors: $13
On the north side of the casino. A beach front bar and restaurant. Showers, chair and umbrealla rentals and restrooms are available.
Avalon’s only institution devoted to art, culture and the rich history of Santa Catalina Island. The newly renovated Catalina Island Museum includes an expanded museum store, a digital theater, a number of galleries dedicated to the history of the Catalina Island and a new traveling exhibitions gallery. Open daily 10AM - 5PM.
A 2,100 yard, nine-hole golf course with two sets of tees to provide 18-hole play. Call for current prices.
Just a few minutes from the boat landing in Avalon, this cove features giant kelp forests and hundreds of fish.
Just north of the Casino. Rental equipment available.
Casino Point Dive Park
At the edge of Casino Point. At the breakwater with stairs access to a kelp forest and a shipwreck starting at 60'. Lots of Garibaldi's, Calico Bass, Moray Eels and the occasions Black Sea Bass sightings make this a favorite dive destination for many.
Green Pier and Casino Point., . A complete scuba outfitter providing rentals, instruction and guided trips from their 42-foot (12 m) dive boat Cat Dive.
Kayak rentals and tours with experienced guides. Specialty tours such as a sunset tour and an astronomy tour.
Joe's rents kayaks by the hour as well as paddle boards and motor boats.
Avalon Boat Pier., . Kayak and paddle boat rentals. Wet Spot also has another location in Little Harbor.
An annual benefit run from Avalon to Two Harbors and back. Proceeds benfit local charities.
An annual event where scuba divers dive in Avalon Harbor to remove trash and other items from the floor of the harbor. This is the only day of the year that scuba divers are allowed to dive in the harbor.
A 26.2 mile run from Two Harbors to Avalon.
Avalon Casino. A black tie event that includes dinner, big band dancing and silent and live auctions to benefit the Catalina Island Conservancy.
A rubber duck race to benefit the children's theater company.
A silent film screening featuring live musical accompaniment on the historic Page organ in the Avalon Casino's Theatre.
A non-profit marlin fishing tournament to benefit Cataline youth.
A month long exhibition of locally made Catalina tile including walking tours of examples of installed tile.
An art festival that has been running annually for more than 50 years, this street fair is free and features artwork from all over the country. The 2016 fair will be held from September 16-18, from 10AM-5PM each day.
A 3-weekend, nine-night jazz festival held in the Casino Ballroom.
Recreating the Big Band scene of the 1920s and 30s in the Avalon Ballroom.
A half-mile swim in Avalon Bay, a 16K cycle course around Mt. Ada and a 5K run past the golf course.
December 31 - Ring in the New Year in the Casino Ballroom. Reservations are accepted beginning in July.
The clubhouse of the Catalina Country Club golf course. Nice, quiet ambiance on the patio, but the food is pricey and can be lacking in flavor and creativity.
Upscale steakhouse with a full bar just across the promenade from the water. Large patio, low, ambient lighting, not too noisy.
Hip waterfront eatery with fantastic fresh seafood. The baked crab and artichoke dip is outstanding, and the seared scalloped with jalapeño aioli is the perfect mix of savory and spice, with chopped crispy bacon to balance the soft scallops.
Lloyd's is an absolute Avalon classic. They've got all sorts of handmade chocolates and pastries, but are most famous for their creative candied apples, which come in dozens of flavors. Kids enjoy watching the saltwater taffy machine in the window, whirling the homemade taffy to perfection.
Tiki bar and grill with a menu to match. Serves the buffalo milk cocktail. Good spot to watch the waves in the harbor and with live music, too.
Brewpub that serves coffee, beers, and bar food in a cool setting.
Beach restaurant and bar. The strawberry daiquiris are made with real strawberry pulp and are thick, sweet and refreshing. Worth visiting just for the daiquiri. Nachos are tasty and a generous portion.
Sports bar with games like pool and darts with a casual atmosphere.
Longstanding nautical themed bar with live music, pool, and darts. Great service and a cool atmosphere and decor.
Classic California Craftsman style with ocean view rooms. A throwback to Catalina's golden age in the 1920s with decor to match. A jumping off point for Avalon, the surrounding rugged island and waters.
Romantic modern hotel & spa in downtown Avalon.
The 71-room, 2-story Pavilion Hotel, formerly the Pavilion Lodge, is 14 steps from the beach. The new design takes advantage of the garden courtyard area by creating semi-private lanais, or outdoor living areas for most of the ground level rooms. The landscaped garden includes a large fire ring and an open air ocean-view lounge area near the front lobby. There is also an indoor lounge area and hospitality room where guests will find their complimentary continental breakfast in the morning and the complimentary wine and cheese pairing in the afternoon.
Provides vacation rentals in private homes and condominiums in Avalon and Hamilton Cove. A call ahead is necessary to make arrangements for picking up keys and getting directions to the vacation rental.
Around Avalon, the primary mode of transportation is by golf cart. The streets are very narrow and the town is crowded and small so this works out very well.
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Long Beach · International · LGB
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