Top Catalina Island Art & Culture

Challenge yourself on the rope ladders, balance beams, and ziplines at the Catalina Aerial Adventure park. Suspended in a eucalyptus grove on Catalina Island, this aerial obstacle course is a convenient adventure destination and is easy to fit into your busy vacation schedule. Plus, it has three different difficulty levels to choose from, ensuring there is something to challenge everyone from kids to athletes.

See the sights of Avalon on a quick tour that takes you along the waterfront, up the hillsides, and through the center of town. The quick, nonstop journey provides views and allows you to get oriented with Avalon and its attractions so you can better enjoy your time on Catalina Island. Learn about the island's history and heritage from a guide as you travel the loop.

Experience Catalina Island’s rugged outback on a 2-hour tour in an eco-friendly 4-wheel drive vehicle. Access the remote island interior as your expert driver-guide takes you off-road into Cape Canyon and along Sheep Chute Road. Keep an eye out for the resident herd of American bison, and learn about other local wildlife from your knowledgeable guide.

See what lives in the Pacific waters surrounding Catalina Island on a 45-minute underwater cruise. As you sit comfortably in a climate-controlled cabin on board a large boat, you'll glide five feet (1.5 meters) below the surface to look for marine life in their natural habitat out of your own porthole. Along the way, listen to live commentary from a guide.

Explore the pristine interior of Catalina Island on a 2.5-hour tour in a rugged open-air vehicle. From your seat in the high truck bed, get great views of the coast, canyons, isolated coves and beaches, and valleys where wild bison roam freely as your guide provides commentary about the native plants, animals, and landscape of Catalina Island. Keep your camera handy for sightings of wild boar, bison, Channel Island fox, and bald eagles during this backcountry tour.

Make the most of your time on picturesque Catalina Island—and explore the major highlights of the Avalon area—on this private golf-cart tour. Pick between numerous tour times, and meet your guide at your preferred local address. Then, hop aboard your golf cart for a fun and zippy way to explore. You’ll see landmarks like the Catalina Casino, will visit Pebbly Beach, will admire the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden, and more.

Experience the thrill of soaring 600 feet above sea level, across multiple high-speed ziplines on this incredible Catalina Island zipline eco-tour. After a safety briefing and equipment fitting, cruise along 1,100 lineal feet of line (335 meters)—close to three-quarters of a mile—and fly some 300 feet (91 meters) above scenic canyon floors. Daredevils and thrill-seekers will love reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour as they take flight on this epic adventure.

Discover the underwater world of Catalina Island during a 45-minute ride on a semi-submarine. The semi-sub allows you to view the marine life of Avalon Bay as you dive six feet (two meters) below the surface at Lovers' Cove. Stay dry as you get a close look at fish feeding around the submarine, then take in views of the island from your vessel's top deck during the return journey to Avalon.

Travel up above the town of Avalon to an elevation of 1,500 feet (457 meters) on this tour of the southeast end of Catalina Island. Aboard an open-air biofuel H1 Hummer, you'll get bird's-eye views of the island and Pacific Ocean on this exploration through 5 miles (8 km) of rugged terrain. Admire the coast and canyons, and journey along a eucalyptus-lined road to return to Avalon.

For those who want to explore Catalina Island's town of Avalon at their own pace, this downloadable app is a great option. Download at your leisure and walk around the town; the commentary will play automatically as you hit each local highlight. The tour will answer all of your questions and provide you with hidden facts and figures about this exclusive island and town.

Go back to the days when bands were big and movies were just starting to talk with a guided tour of the Catalina Island Casino. Dating back to 1929, the casino symbolizes the glamorous era of Santa Catalina Island and is home to art deco murals. Watch a brief film about the building's history and connection to Hollywood and see the 1920s pipe organ inside the Avalon Theatre, which still shows movies on its large screen.

Travel ten miles into the protected wilderness of Catalina Island along the scenic Skyline Drive in a classic 1950s Flxible Bus. Enjoy sweeping views of the canyons, coves and ocean, and perhaps spot the island's resident herd of American buffalo. Visit Airport in the Sky, located at 1,600 feet (488 meters) above sea level, and have time to visit the Catalina Island Conservancy's Nature Center before returning to Avalon.

Join a Catalina local for a pre-dinner bar hop around the island. Pop into several local establishments to sample shots, specialty drinks, and award-winning appetizers—all while making new friends. Glean insider tips from your guide, like which bars serve the best drinks and which bathrooms to avoid. Gratuities are included.

Eat, drink & go touring! This private, guided golf cart tour includes picturesque vistas of Avalon in addition to visiting local hangouts and highlights. It also provides snacks and beverages for 3-4 guests enjoyed with a hilltop ocean view! A great experience for families or friends wanting to see Avalon from the local's perspective plus pamper themselves with a VIP picnic.