Catalina is a Channel Island 22 miles off the Los Angeles coast - 76 sq mi of mountainous terrain (Mt Orizaba reaches 2,097 ft), two settlements (Avalon at the southeast and Two Harbors at the isthmus), and an 88%-conservancy-protected interior with free-roaming bison (introduced for a 1924 movie shoot and never removed). The Wrigley family bought Catalina in 1919 and turned Avalon into a Mediterranean-style resort village - the iconic 1929 Catalina Casino (never a gambling hall, always a ballroom and movie theater) rises 12 stories from the harbor's edge. For reunions, Catalina is the rare US destination that feels genuinely Mediterranean (Avalon is car-restricted - golf carts and bicycles are the standard transport), with a 1-hour ferry ride from Long Beach or 15 minutes by helicopter. The island is small enough that 3 days covers it; perfect for milestone weekend reunions.
There is no airport - access is by ferry or helicopter only. Catalina Express runs ferries from Long Beach, Dana Point, and San Pedro (1 hour each way, $80-90/adult round-trip). IEX Helicopters operates from Long Beach and Burbank (15 min flight, $250-350/person round-trip). The closest international airport is LAX (drive 30-45 min to Long Beach for the ferry). Lodging: Mt Ada (formerly the Wrigley Mansion, now a 6-room B&B - the milestone-anniversary venue); Pavilion Hotel (74 rooms beachfront on Avalon Bay); Hotel Atwater (a luxury rebuild of the 1920 building, 75 rooms, beachfront); Hotel Metropole (47 rooms); Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel (the author's former Hopi-style mansion, 18 rooms with harbor views); vacation rentals are limited (Catalina has tight STR rules). Two Harbors has Banning House Lodge (12 rooms) and cabin rentals for the off-grid reunion. Peak summer June through August (single highest rates - book 6-9 months ahead). Year-round 60-78°F weather makes shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) genuinely attractive.
Where it is
🚀 With Reunly
Planning a reunion at Catalina Island, California?
Reunly turns this page into a real workspace — pick a date, lock in lodging, send invites, take RSVPs, and split the budget across families. Free to start, no card required.
Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Avalon Harbor & Crescent Avenue
Walkable Mediterranean-style village - Crescent Avenue (the harbor-front main street) has shops, restaurants, ice cream, and the Catalina Casino at the north end. Avalon is car-restricted - golf carts, bicycles, and walking are the standard transport. Free; the grandparent-friendly afternoon.
Official source ↗Catalina Casino
The 1929 12-story Art Deco landmark - never a gambling hall, always a ballroom and movie theater. Avalon Theatre at the bottom (still shows movies), Casino Ballroom at the top (the largest circular ballroom in the world). Tours daily $30/adult. The bucket-list Catalina building.
Official source ↗Descanso Beach Club
Walk-in/swim-in beach club just north of the Casino - sand beach, restaurant/bar, cabanas, kayak rentals, snorkeling. Free beach access; cabana and food extra. The day-anchor for Avalon-based reunions.
Official source ↗Avalon glass-bottom boat tour
Multiple operators run glass-bottom boat tours of Avalon's marine sanctuary - garibaldi (California state fish, bright orange) and kelp forests visible. 40-min tour $20/adult, $13/child. Operates year-round. The reliable easy multi-gen activity.
Official source ↗Avalon snorkeling
Casino Point Underwater Dive Park has the best snorkeling in Southern California - protected marine reserve, garibaldi, kelp forests, sea bass. Walk-in access; rentals at Catalina Divers Supply ($20-30/day). The bucket-list Catalina snorkeling experience.
Official source ↗Catalina Island Conservancy (interior tours)
88% of the island is conservancy-protected wilderness. Jeep eco-tours, hiking permits, the Trans-Catalina Trail (38.5 mi). Bison herds, foxes, eagles. Conservancy tours $90-150/adult half-day. The 'see the interior' reunion day.
Official source ↗Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden
37-acre garden up Avalon Canyon with native Catalina plants, succulents, and the iconic Wrigley Memorial (1934 Spanish-style mausoleum, the resting place of William Wrigley Jr.). $8/adult. The shorter inland-Catalina walking day.
Official source ↗Two Harbors village (north end)
Catalina's second settlement at the isthmus 22 mi north of Avalon - a 250-person village with one general store, one restaurant (Harbor Reef Restaurant), and the Banning House Lodge. Accessible by ferry from Avalon or directly from San Pedro. The off-grid Catalina experience.
Official source ↗Catalina Island bison viewing
Free-roaming bison herd (~150 animals) descended from 14 introduced for a 1924 movie shoot. Best viewed on Conservancy interior jeep tours or hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail. Distance required - bison are not pet-friendly.
Official source ↗Avalon zipline tour
Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour - 5 ziplines, 3/4-mile span, max speeds 45 mph, views to Avalon Harbor. $130/adult. Reserve 2-3 weeks ahead in peak summer. The teen-friendly splurge.
Official source ↗Avalon golf cart rental & tour
Cars are restricted on Catalina; golf carts are the standard rental. Multiple operators rent 4-passenger and 6-passenger carts ($45-70/hr). Drive the 4-mile loop above Avalon for harbor views. The reliable family activity.
Official source ↗Catalina parasailing & boat rentals
Multiple operators on Avalon Bay - parasailing ($90-120/person), pedal-boats, kayaks, SUPs, glass-bottom boat rides. The summer family-day rentals. Reserve 1-2 weeks ahead in peak summer.
Official source ↗Catalina Casino Ballroom dance event
The Casino Ballroom hosts live music events year-round - the largest circular ballroom in the world has hosted Big Band events since 1929. Check the events calendar 2-3 months ahead. The unique milestone-anniversary reunion event.
Official source ↗Avalon restaurant night
Avalon dining: The Lobster Trap (institution seafood), Bluewater Avalon (waterfront dining), Steve's Steakhouse (upscale milestone), Mi Casita (Mexican family-style), Café Metropole (downtown casual), Catalina Country Club (upscale, on the golf course). Pavilion Hotel and Hotel Atwater have on-property dining. Reserve groups 3-4 weeks ahead in peak summer.
Official source ↗Channel Islands National Park (Two Harbors departures)
From Two Harbors you can charter day trips to the more remote Channel Islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa) - whales, sea lions, sea caves. The multi-day Channel Islands extension for serious nature reunions. Limited operators and seasonal.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your Catalina Island, California reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget - and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Where to hold your reunion near Catalina Island, California
Outdoor pavilions, county parks, fairgrounds, and event grounds within driving distance - places where your group can actually gather, not just visit.
Pavilion Hotel - Event Spaces
🏨 Resort / Lodge74-room beachfront hotel on Avalon Bay with rooftop event terrace, full catering, and walking distance to all Avalon restaurants and attractions. The easy 30-150 person reunion-block anchor.
Reserve / info ↗Catalina Casino Ballroom
🏛 Event CenterThe 1929 Catalina Casino's circular ballroom - the largest circular ballroom in the world. Available for private reunion events, dances, and milestone anniversaries. The unique Catalina reunion-event venue.
Reserve / info ↗Mt Ada (Wrigley Mansion)
📍 VenueHistoric Wrigley family mansion converted to a 6-room exclusive-use B&B with formal dining, gardens, and panoramic harbor views. The ultimate milestone-anniversary or wedding-style reunion buyout venue.
Reserve / info ↗Descanso Beach Club
📍 VenueWalk-in/swim-in beach club with reservable group cabanas, beach-side restaurant, kayak rentals, and snorkeling. The "beach reunion" venue for Avalon-based groups; private buyouts available.
Reserve / info ↗Hotel Atwater - Event Spaces
🏨 Resort / Lodge75-room luxury 1920-rebuild beachfront hotel with on-property dining (NDMK Fish House) and full event catering. The "more luxury" reunion-block alternative to Pavilion Hotel.
Reserve / info ↗Two Harbors / Banning House Lodge
🏨 Resort / LodgeOff-grid 12-room historic lodge in Two Harbors with private cove access, hiking trails, and the only restaurant in the village (Harbor Reef Restaurant). The wilderness-Catalina reunion-block option.
Reserve / info ↗👥 With Reunly
Save Catalina Island, California to a real reunion plan
Reunly turns this destination into a workspace — venue picks, guest list, RSVPs, budget split, and a day-of schedule everyone can see. Free to start.
Good for
- Milestone anniversary / wedding-style reunions (Mt Ada, Casino)
- Mediterranean-feeling US reunions without leaving the country
- Multi-gen reunions wanting walkable car-free village
- Drive-from-LA / Long Beach weekend reunions
- Year-round mild-weather reunions
- Off-grid Two Harbors reunions for wilderness-focused families
Practical logistics
- Closest Airports
- No airport on Catalina - access by ferry or helicopter only. Catalina Express ferry from Long Beach, Dana Point, or San Pedro (1 hour, $80-90 adult round-trip). IEX Helicopters from Long Beach or Burbank (15 min, $250-350/person round-trip). The closest international airport is LAX (30-45 min drive to Long Beach for the ferry). Long Beach (LGB) and Burbank (BUR) are closer commercial airports.
- Drive Times
- Long Beach ferry terminal: from LA 45 min, Orange County 30 min, San Diego 1.5 hr, Las Vegas 5 hr, San Francisco 6.5 hr. Dana Point ferry: from south OC 30 min. San Pedro ferry: from LA 30 min.
- Group Lodging
- Pavilion Hotel (74 rooms beachfront on Avalon Bay - the easy reunion-block anchor). Hotel Atwater (75 rooms, beachfront, luxury 1920 building rebuild). Hotel Metropole (47 rooms, harbor view). Zane Grey Pueblo Hotel (18 rooms, the author's former Hopi-style mansion, panoramic harbor views). Mt Ada (formerly the Wrigley Mansion, 6 rooms only - the bucket-list anniversary stay). Banning House Lodge (Two Harbors, 12 rooms). Vacation rentals are limited (Catalina has tight STR rules). Avalon has tents/cabin rentals at Hermit Gulch Campground.
- Rental Companies
- Catalina Vacation Rentals, Catalina Vacation Group, and Catalina Properties are the named local agencies. Vrbo and Airbnb have limited listings due to municipal STR caps. Most reunions use hotel blocks, not vacation rentals.
- House Size
- 2-4 BR is the maximum standard Catalina rental inventory (limited STR market). 5-8 BR rentals are very rare and require 9-12 month booking. Pavilion Hotel and Hotel Atwater can absorb 40-60 rooms in a block. Catalina is best for hotel-block reunions (20-100 people); 100+ is challenging without spanning multiple hotels.
- Peak Season
- June through Labor Day (single highest rates - book 6-9 months ahead). 4th of July weekend (Avalon's harbor fireworks - the iconic summer experience). Memorial Day weekend. Catalina Jazz Trax (early October). Christmas-New Year's holiday week.
- Shoulder Season
- April-May (excellent 65-72°F weather, lodging 25-35% off peak summer). September-October (still warm 70-75°F, lodging 30-40% off peak). January-March (cooler 60-68°F, occasional rain, lodging 40-50% off peak - the value window). Catalina is a year-round destination but some ferry schedules reduce in winter.
- Restaurants
- The Lobster Trap (institution seafood, the milestone-dinner anchor) · Bluewater Avalon (waterfront dining) · Steve's Steakhouse (upscale) · Mi Casita (Mexican family-style) · Café Metropole (downtown casual) · Catalina Country Club (upscale, on the golf course) · Avalon Grille (Pavilion Hotel) · NDMK Fish House (Hotel Atwater) · Original Antonio's Pizzeria (downtown casual) · Eric's on the Pier (breakfast institution). Two Harbors: Harbor Reef Restaurant (the only one). Reserve groups 3-4 weeks ahead in peak summer.
- Kid Friendly
- Avalon Beach (lifeguarded), Descanso Beach Club, the glass-bottom boat tour, snorkeling at Casino Point, golf cart rides, Avalon Pier with kid-fishing, the Catalina Casino ballroom tour, and pedal-boat rentals all work for ages 4-15. Older teens enjoy the zipline tour, parasailing, snorkeling/diving, and Conservancy interior jeep tours. Younger kids do well at Avalon Beach and the pier.
- Accessibility
- Avalon village is largely flat and walkable - sidewalks and Crescent Avenue waterfront are wheelchair/stroller accessible. The Pavilion Hotel and Hotel Atwater have full elevator and accessible-room access. Mt Ada has limited mobility access (historic mansion). The Catalina Casino is wheelchair-accessible (elevator). Descanso Beach Club has accessible cabanas. Conservancy interior tours and hiking trails are not accessible. Ferry boats are wheelchair-accessible.
- Weather Window
- Year-round 60-78°F days, 50-65°F nights - mild Mediterranean climate. Summer 72-78°F days, 60-68°F nights. Winter 60-68°F days, 50-58°F nights. Rare rain November-March. Ocean water 58-70°F (coldest March, warmest September). May Gray / June Gloom marine layer (morning fog) clears by 11 AM in most weeks.
- Park Fee
- No park entry fee. Catalina Express ferry $80-90 adult round-trip ($75-85 child). Catalina Casino tour $30/adult. Wrigley Botanic Garden $8/adult. Catalina Island Conservancy interior tours $90-150/adult. Glass-bottom boat $20/adult. Zipline $130/adult. Golf cart rentals $45-70/hr.
- Official Site
- https://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/
When to go
June through August for peak summer - 72-78°F days, lifeguarded beach, full programming, single highest rates. September-October is the locals' secret - still 70-75°F, no marine layer, lodging 30-40% off peak. May for the early shoulder - 65-72°F, lower rates. Avoid November-February if you want full restaurant hours (some shut down or reduce hours in winter). 4th of July weekend has the iconic Avalon Bay fireworks.
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
10-25 fits at Mt Ada (6 rooms exclusive-use, the milestone-anniversary play) or 8-12 rooms at Pavilion Hotel, Hotel Atwater, or Hotel Metropole.
Medium group · 25–60
25-60 should book a Pavilion Hotel or Hotel Atwater room block (30-50 rooms) or split across multiple Avalon hotels.
Large group · 60+
60+ groups are challenging on Catalina - the largest single hotel block is ~75 rooms at Pavilion or Atwater. For 80-150 person reunions, plan to span 2-3 hotels in Avalon. 200+ reunions are not realistic on Catalina due to limited room inventory.
💰 With Reunly
Split the cost across families fairly
Reunly's budget tool tracks who paid for what and splits the bill per-family or per-adult automatically. No more Venmo group-chat math.
Sample 3-day Catalina reunion (peak summer)
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Friday - Ferry & Casino
- 10:00 AM Long Beach Catalina Express ferry terminal arrival
- 11:00 AM ferry to Avalon (1 hour)
- 12:30 PM check-in at Pavilion Hotel or Hotel Atwater
- 2:00 PM lunch at Café Metropole or Avalon Grille
- 3:30 PM Catalina Casino tour (book 1 week ahead)
- 5:30 PM golf cart ride above Avalon for harbor views
- 7:00 PM group dinner at The Lobster Trap (book 4 weeks ahead)
- 9:00 PM ice cream on Crescent Avenue
Saturday - Beach & Snorkel
- 8:00 AM breakfast at Eric's on the Pier
- 9:30 AM Descanso Beach Club - cabanas, kayaks
- 11:00 AM Casino Point Underwater Dive Park snorkeling
- 1:00 PM lunch at Descanso Beach Club
- 2:30 PM Avalon Pier - parasail or glass-bottom boat tour
- 4:30 PM Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden walk
- 7:30 PM group dinner at Steve's Steakhouse (book 4 weeks ahead)
- 9:30 PM Casino Ballroom event if available
Sunday - Conservancy Interior + Goodbyes
- 8:00 AM breakfast at the hotel
- 9:30 AM Catalina Island Conservancy interior jeep tour (book 2-3 weeks ahead)
- 12:30 PM goodbye lunch at Bluewater Avalon
- 2:30 PM pack
- 4:00 PM ferry back to Long Beach (1 hour)
- 5:30 PM travel home (LA/OC)
📅 With Reunly
Build the Catalina Island, California reunion schedule in minutes
Drag the sample itinerary above into Reunly's Schedule, add per-event RSVPs, and share one link with the whole family. Rosi (our AI) fills in gaps from your group size and dates.
Reunion organizer tips
Book 6-9 months ahead for June-August. 9-12 months for 4th of July weekend or Memorial Day. 3-4 months for shoulder seasons (May, September-October). Mt Ada (6 rooms only) books 12+ months ahead for peak summer. Pavilion Hotel and Hotel Atwater take group-block deposits 6-9 months out.
Pick the right base. Pavilion Hotel: beachfront on Avalon Bay, easy 30-60 person reunion-block, walking distance to all dinners. Hotel Atwater: beachfront luxury (1920 building rebuild), the milestone-anniversary block. Mt Ada: 6-room exclusive-use option for milestone anniversary or wedding-style reunion (the bucket-list option). Banning House Lodge in Two Harbors: 12-room off-grid option for nature-focused reunions.
Book the ferry early. Catalina Express runs ferries from Long Beach, Dana Point, and San Pedro - reserve 4-6 weeks ahead for peak summer weekends to ensure consistent departure times for the whole reunion. $80-90 adult round-trip; $75-85 child. The 1-hour crossing is most pleasant in calm-weather mornings (afternoons often rougher).
Or consider helicopter for big-budget reunions. IEX Helicopters from Long Beach or Burbank - 15 min flight, $250-350/person round-trip. The 'this is special' reunion arrival.
Avalon is car-restricted. Golf carts, bicycles, and walking are the standard transport. No need for a rental car - the village is 6 blocks. Golf cart rentals $45-70/hr from multiple operators. The car-free village is part of Avalon's charm.
Plan one Casino tour. The 1929 Art Deco Catalina Casino is the bucket-list Avalon building - the Avalon Theatre at the bottom (movies still shown) and the Casino Ballroom at the top (largest circular ballroom in the world). $30/adult, 90-min tours. The 'we did the iconic Catalina thing' reunion-day photo.
Group dinners 3-4 weeks ahead in peak summer. The Lobster Trap (institution seafood, the milestone-dinner anchor) needs 4-6 weeks for peak summer. Steve's Steakhouse and Bluewater Avalon are the upscale options. Mi Casita and Original Antonio's handle 15-25 groups for casual nights.
Stock the rental from Vons Avalon (Crescent Avenue). The island has one full grocery; prices are 30-50% higher than mainland. Many reunions ferry-over groceries in coolers for the week.
Reunly's tools handle the rest. Use the budget tool to split lodging by family size; the polls feature works for picking which 2 paid attractions to commit to (Casino tour is mandatory; pick from glass-bottom boat / Conservancy interior tour / zipline / snorkeling at Casino Point).
Catalina Express has same-day round-trip option for non-staying family. Cousins or grandparents who can't stay overnight can ferry over for a day-trip and back. The 'we all spent the day together' option.
Casino Ballroom events are the unique Catalina experience. The 1929 ballroom has hosted big-band events since opening - check the calendar 2-3 months ahead for live music events overlapping the reunion. Tickets $30-80/person.
Two Harbors is the underrated off-grid option. 250-person village at the island's isthmus 22 mi north of Avalon. One restaurant, one general store, dramatic hiking, kayak/SUP rentals. Accessible by ferry from Avalon (1 hour) or directly from San Pedro. Banning House Lodge (12 rooms) is the lodging anchor. For wilderness-loving families, Two Harbors is a 3-day Catalina alternative.
How Reunly helps you plan it
Reunly is the all-in-one app made for family reunion organizers. Free to start. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
Smart guest list
Drop in any spreadsheet - Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch - with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists - auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
Stuck on a reminder email? A budget? A timeline? Click Rosi anywhere in the app - she drafts it from your live data.
Open in Reunly →Plan your Catalina Island, California reunion with Reunly
Free to start. Build your guest list, share an RSVP link, track payments, and print name tags - no spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
What's the best week to book Catalina for a family reunion?
June through August for peak summer - 72-78°F days, lifeguarded beach, full programming, single highest rates of the year. September-October is the locals' secret - still 70-75°F, no marine layer (June Gloom is over), lodging 30-40% off peak. 4th of July weekend has the iconic Avalon Bay fireworks. May is the early shoulder - 65-72°F, 25-35% off peak. Avoid November-February if you want full restaurant hours.
How do we get to Catalina?
Catalina Express ferry from Long Beach, Dana Point, or San Pedro - 1 hour each way, $80-90 adult round-trip. The most common access. IEX Helicopters from Long Beach or Burbank - 15 min flight, $250-350/person round-trip. The luxury arrival. There is no airport on the island. Book the ferry 4-6 weeks ahead for peak summer to ensure consistent departure times for the reunion.
Should we stay at Mt Ada, Pavilion Hotel, or somewhere else?
Mt Ada (the Wrigley Mansion, 6 rooms only) for the milestone-anniversary or wedding-style reunion - the bucket-list exclusive-use venue. Pavilion Hotel for beachfront 30-60 person reunion-block on Avalon Bay with restaurants in walking distance. Hotel Atwater for the luxury 1920-rebuild beachfront option. Banning House Lodge at Two Harbors for the off-grid Catalina experience. Most reunions use Pavilion or Atwater.
How big a group can we host on Catalina?
Up to about 75 in a single hotel block (Pavilion or Atwater can each absorb 40-50 rooms). For 80-150 person reunions, plan to span 2-3 Avalon hotels. Catalina is not realistic for 200+ person reunions - the entire island has fewer than 1,500 hotel rooms. Most reunions on Catalina are 20-80 people - it's a small-island destination.
What's the closest airport to Catalina?
No airport on the island. Long Beach (LGB) is closest to the ferry terminal (5 min drive). Burbank (BUR) is closest to the helicopter terminal (15 min drive). LAX is the closest international airport (30-45 min drive to Long Beach for the ferry). John Wayne Orange County (SNA) is 30 min from Dana Point ferry terminal.
Is Catalina kid-friendly for a multi-gen reunion?
Yes - Avalon Beach (lifeguarded), Descanso Beach Club (cabanas, kayaks), the glass-bottom boat tour, snorkeling at Casino Point, golf cart rides, the Catalina Casino tour, and pedal-boat rentals all work for ages 4-15. Older teens enjoy the zipline, parasailing, and the Conservancy interior jeep tours. The car-free village makes it unusually grandparent-friendly - everyone can walk anywhere.
How much does a 3-day Catalina reunion cost per family?
Peak summer (mid-July through August): $2,500-4,500 per family of 4 (ferry + lodging + groceries + 2-3 attractions for 3 days). Shoulder (May, September-October): $1,800-3,200. Winter (January-March): $1,200-2,400. Mt Ada exclusive-use buyout (6 rooms) for 4 nights is $30,000-50,000 - the milestone-anniversary splurge. Restaurant prices run 30-50% above mainland.
Do we need to rent a car or golf cart on Catalina?
No car needed - Avalon is car-restricted and walkable in 30 minutes end-to-end. Golf cart rentals ($45-70/hr) are popular for the 4-mile loop above Avalon with harbor views but not necessary for in-village transport. Bicycles work for some - the village is hilly. Most reunions skip the rental and walk or use the Avalon Trolley.
Other reunion-friendly spots nearby
Helpful planning guides
The complete family reunion checklist
12-month, 6-month, and day-of checklists organizers actually use.
Read the guide →Family reunion budget guide
How to estimate, track, and split costs without spreadsheets.
Read the guide →Family reunion on a $2,500 budget
A real budget breakdown for a destination reunion under $2.5K.
Read the guide →