Solo Female Trip: 1-Day Catalina Island, CA Itinerary

After seeing a few blog posts promoting birthday freebies on Catalina Island, CA, I decided to investigate and see for myself. It was Friday the 13th, and I had the day off so I debated whether to stay home on a well-earned PTO day or be brave and take my first solo trip to Catalina Island for 3.5 hours. I knew I'd regret wasting a day at home, so I booked the 2pm ferry to Avalon, CA and I was on a mission to see how many things I could redeem on my birthday. Turns out, I debunked a few of the freebies. 

Watch my video below and come along with me for my first solo female adventure: 

Getting to Catalina Island, CA from Long Beach

The ferry I used was Catalina Express and we set sail from Long Beach. I booked the Commodore Lounge ticket ($132 round trip) with priority boarding, a complimentary drink and snack, and upper-level seating. I got to the port an hour early, as recommended by Catalina Express. 

Upon boarding the ferry, you simply scan your QR code before boarding the ship and then scan it again to get into the Commodore Lounge seating area. The ferry ride was smooth and I was relieved I didn't need motion sickness pills (Dramamine).

During the 1-hour 15-minute ferry ride, it was cool sitting on the top deck drinking a free spicy Bloody Mary. while enjoying the ocean views. I even saw some dolphins.

Disembarking in Avalon, CA

Once I arrived in Catalina Island, aka Avalon, I immediately started walking towards the main area filled with golf carts, restaurants, souvenir shops, and the pier. It was a brief 10-minute walk to get there from the ferry port. 

1-Day Itinerary Activities

Get Ice Cream at Scoops or Lloyd's of Avalon

The first thing I wanted to do was check out whether I could get a free scoop of ice cream at Lloyds of Avalon. Unfortunately, I was told by the workers there that they stopped giving away free ice cream a few years ago. I still ended up treating myself to a scoop of $6 Espresso ice cream and ate it while at the beach. 

While I ate my ice cream, a stranger walked up to me and asked if he could sing a song on his Ukelele called, "Aloha." I was like, "only if I could record you for my vlog, and he obliged." Figured he wouldn’t dare try anything shady while on camera. Then, he rode away on his bike and thanked me for listening. Was I wary, YES.  

Visit the Catalina Island Museum for Art and History

Unfortunately, gone are the days of free admission on your birthday. I wanted to check out the exhibit and gallery, so I paid the $18 adult admission fee. I learned about the history of Catalina Island and its role during Pearl Harbor. 

Stay tuned for my next video as I spent 30 minutes exploring the museum. 

What I learned about Catalina Island's Literary Legends: 

"Over the years, many authors have found inspiration or respite on Catalina Island.

Jack London visited while working on his "Smoke Bellew" tales. 

Novelist-sportsman Zane Grey was a fixture in Avalon, summering here from 1914-1927. Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of the Tarzan and John Carter characters, visited the island regularly, often fishing with Zane Grey. Gene Stratton-Porter, one of the best-selling authors of the early 20th century, had a 14-room vacation home on Catalina Avenue called "Singing Waters." Before earning the Nobel Prize in Literature, William Faulkner worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, frequenting Catalina to hunt boar with film stars and industry notables. Science Fiction author L. Ron Hubbard also briefly called Avalon his home after WWII. It has even been rumored that in 1929, while fishing for swordfish with members of the Tuna Club off the coast of Catalina, Ernest Hemingway conceived the idea for The Old Man and the Sea, which he would pen over 20 years later."

What I learned about The Filming of Mutiny on the Bounty

"Few movies were anticipated with as much enthusiasm as MGM's adaptation of the popular novel, Mutiny on the Bounty. The film was the most expensive movie ever made up to that time, taking over two years to produce and costing over $2 million.

The studio absorbed the cost of location shooting and filmed much of the movie on Catalina Island. MGM built six Tahitian villages around the island, and accommodated more than 600 cast and crew.

Eventually, the film required over 3,000 costumes. But when the film was released, a few studio heads were certain they had a stinker. The story was not standard Gable fare and failed to concentrate on Gable's inevitable onscreen romance with a beautiful starlet. MGM even marketed the film under the banner: "A Thousand Hours of Hell for One Moment of Love." The public, however, embraced the historicism of the piece, its adventure and exotic locales. It became one of the top-grossing films of the 1930s, and few movies have ever earned more Academy Award nominations. The film won the Oscar for 1935's Best Picture. Clark Gable, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone were all nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role establishing a record for the most Best Actor nominations. The film's director Frank Lloyd was nominated as Best Director, and the movie was also nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Score."

Get a Complimentary Birthday Coffee at Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co.

I was so relieved when I got a free iced coffee from Catalina Coffee & Co. It was strong and delicious. 

I didn’t try any of the cookies since I was on a sugar high from the ferry cookies and the ice cream from Lloyd’s.

Visit the Avalon Cave

Not too far from the shops and restaurants is a photo opportunity area. I didn't have enough time to check it out but it looked cool, from Google Maps. 

Enjoy Descanso Beach Club

If you're interested in waterfront dining, this beach club is the place to go. I plan on visiting when I return.

Check out the Casino (No Gambling)

The Avalon Casino isn’t actually a gambling hall. Built in 1929, it was designed as an entertainment venue, featuring a world-class movie theater and a grand ballroom on the top floor, where big bands played in the 1930s and 1940s.

Rent a Golf Cart to Get Around 

You can rent a golf cart for 1 hour. Since I was by myself, I wanted to get my daily 10k steps in. 

Rent Bikes 

I saw a few people riding around on their bikes and this is something I'll have to do when I return to Catalina Island.

Take a Tour or Enjoy Zip-Lining

There are several tours from Get Your Guide 

Overall, there's a number of things you can do on a day-trip to Catalina Island. The ferry tickets were a bit pricey because I went with the Commodore Lounge tickets at $62 each way. It was worth it in my opinion, especially for my first solo day trip. I feel unstoppable and I’ve gained a newfound confidence from taking this trip alone. My next task is to try out of state travel and slowly gain my confidence to go international. 

Have you been to Avalon aka Catalina Island, CA? Let me know in the comments. 

Are you a female solo traveler? Share your tips for a beginner like me! Let me know in the comments.

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Trip Resources

If you’re planning a road trip, here are some helpful sites that I use. Note, below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for every booking, with no extra cost to you. Thanks so much, in advance!

Booking.com - Anytime we need a rental car, we use this site to find deals. 

Expedia.com - I like to use this site to explore upcoming cruises that I'd like to take. I also refer to it to compare hotel prices, flights, and car rentals. 

GetYourGuide.com - Book things to do, attractions, tours and discover new food. 

VRBO.com - When we’re not staying in an AIRBNB, we’re in a VRBO rental. We use this option when we want to enjoy a full house with individual bedrooms, a kitchen, backyard and other amenities. 

TripAdvisor.com - Anytime I want reputable reviews, tips, and overall advice about a vacation area, I leverage this site. 

Viator.com - Looking for cool tours in your vacation area? This site has a number of options.