Catalina Island sits just an hour off the Southern California coast, but its main town of Avalon feels worlds away from the mainland. Palm trees sway along the harbor, colorful hillside homes overlook the bay, and golf carts outnumber cars on the narrow streets below. But one of the first things you notice on Catalina Island is what’s missing.
No fast-food chains. No endless stretch of corporate storefronts. Instead, Avalon feels like the kind of beach town Southern California used to have more of. Walkable, charming, slightly chaotic during the busy season. Filled with small businesses, local bars, and people who actually seem to know one another.
The ride over on the Catalina Express, which departs from San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point, was smooth sailing, literally. My partner and I upgraded to the Commodore Lounge, a smaller section of the ferry tucked above the main cabin where passengers are offered complimentary drinks, snacks, and a more comfortable trip.
Catalina ExpressCourtesy of Love Catalina Island
Avalon, the island’s only incorporated city, measures just under three square miles. Vehicle permits are so heavily restricted that residents can face a waitlist stretching nearly 30 years just to bring over a car or golf cart from the mainland. Most people get around by foot, golf cart, bicycle, or the tiny Circuit rides that shuttle passengers around town for a couple of bucks a trip.
At night, Crescent Avenue — known locally as “Front Street” — glows beneath string lights and fountains. Near the bars and restaurants, things become a little louder and rowdier as the night goes on, in the way beach towns inevitably do when drinks are flowing. But walk just a block away and everything quiets down. The loudest sounds are usually birds nesting in the trees or soft waves brushing the shoreline.
Avalon beachCourtesy of Love Catalina Island
Catalina Island has lived many lives. The Tongva people traveled between the mainland and the island by canoe for thousands of years before Catalina became a playground for silent film stars, sport fishermen, and summer tourists. In the early 20th century, William Wrigley Jr. — the chewing gum entrepreneur behind the Wrigley Company and former owner of the Chicago Cubs — invested heavily in Avalon and helped shape the island into a SoCal getaway many Californians have visited, or always wanted to.
The iconic Catalina Casino, despite its name, was never actually used for gambling, something I admittedly didn’t realize until this visit. Instead, the massive circular art deco landmark became a gathering place for films, dances, concerts, and community events. Nearly a century later, the building still anchors island life. Visitors can catch movies inside the historic Avalon Theatre, roller-skate beneath the grand Wrigley Ballroom, or even take ghost tours exploring the Casino’s reportedly haunted hallways and backstage spaces.
Walking along the scenic Casino Point path, watching bright orange Garibaldi fish dart through the water below, it’s easy to understand why Catalina has remained such a beloved Southern California getaway for generations.
I first visited the island as a kid during a school trip to Catalina Sea Camp. My dad came along as one of the chaperones, which initially felt horrifying in the way only middle school embarrassment can. But my group ended up getting a kick out of him, and by the end of the trip, I was glad he came along. I still remember snorkeling through glowing plankton at night beneath dark skies filled with stars. It remains one of the most memorable field trips I’ve ever taken.
Our home base for the weekend was Catalina Canyon Inn, nestled into the hills above Avalon. The hotel offered free shuttle rides into town, canyon views, and a quieter escape from the busier waterfront below. It wasn’t flashy or overly luxurious, which honestly suited the island perfectly. Everyone we encountered throughout the trip — from hotel staff and shuttle drivers to bartenders and restaurant workers — was genuinely warm and welcoming.
Catalina Canyon InnCourtesy of Love Catalina Island
After checking in, we wandered over to The Sandtrap, a laid-back local favorite known for excellent tacos. The $2 tacos and $6 house margaritas on the happy hour menu easily earned approval from two opinionated Southern Californians who probably take tacos more seriously than we should.
Later that night, we checked out Chi Chi Club, Avalon’s only nightclub, where locals and tourists mixed together on the dance floor. Afterward, we played pool and drank cheap cocktails at the Locker Room, a beloved neighborhood sports bar. And when we stumbled outside near closing time, we finally found our people.
Jade Delgado (L), with partner Yosselyne Ibarra (R)Courtesy of Jade Delgado
A small group of queer locals invited us to hang out near the beach, where we spent the next couple of hours talking about island life. They shared stories about growing up on Catalina and coming out in a town where everybody seems to know each other.
Catalina doesn’t have dedicated gay bars or specifically queer spaces, but every person we spoke to emphasized how welcoming Avalon has always felt. If they want big queer nightlife, they hop on the Catalina Express and head to Long Beach or West Hollywood. Catalina launched its first large-scale Pride celebration only a few years ago. Taking place June 12-13 this year, it began as a small parade before growing into a weekend of drag performances, beach parties, live music, and community events.
The next afternoon, we checked in for Catalina’s Zipline Eco Tour, which I booked without fully understanding how wild it would actually be. After a safety briefing, our guides drove us high above the canyon before clipping us onto zip lines stretching between 300 and 600 feet above sea level.
Catalina’s Zipline Eco TourCourtesy of Love Catalina Island
Stepping off that first platform felt crazy. But by the final two lines, I had stopped bracing for impact and started actually enjoying myself. Watching my partner glide across the canyon ahead of me, laughing the entire way down, made it easier to lean into the fun of it all.
Between zip lines, our guides pointed out native plants, wildlife, and conservation efforts across the island while teaching us more about Catalina’s ecosystem and history.
Afterward, we headed to Descanso Beach Club, one of the island’s most picturesque stretches of coastline, where cabanas and lounge chairs overlook calm turquoise water. Lunch there felt well-earned after spending the previous couple of hours screaming over canyons.
That night we had dinner at The Lobster Trap, a longtime local favorite known for seafood and clam chowder. It felt like exactly the kind of satisfying meal we needed after all our exhausting island adventures.
One of the best parts of the trip was letting loose on the first night, making unexpected friends, and wandering back through Avalon afterward, feeling carefree in a way that adult life rarely allows anymore.
There’s still plenty of Catalina left for us to explore. Next time, we’d love to make it to Two Harbors, the quieter, more rugged side of the island known for camping, hiking, and tiny coves. Or maybe try the jet ski excursion from Long Beach to Catalina, which sounds pretty awesome — and a little bit scary.
For a place so small, Catalina leaves plenty of room to breathe.
This trip was hosted by Love Catalina Island Tourism Authority, Catalina Island Company, Catalina Express, and Catalina Island Conservancy.
This article is part of OUT’s July-Aug 2026 print issue, on newsstands July 7. Support queer media and subscribe — or download the issue now through Apple News+, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.
Hunter Doohan on the cover of\u00a0Out's July/August 2026 print issue www.out.com
