SoCal's Hidden Gem: Catalina
Easily, without a doubt, the most underrated place in America goes to Catalina Island (Sardinia is the most underrated place in the world, in case you were wondering). Twenty-two miles off the coast of California, but a world away, here's how you can thrive, island-style.
Arrive
There are two options for getting to Catalina: ferry or helicopter. I did the helicopter once for my mom's birthday a few years back, and if you don’t care for the price, it makes the entire process vastly easier and more efficient ($70 r/t on a ferry, versus a few hundred bucks with the chopper). Honestly, the ferry is *usually* a relaxing a scenic way to get to the island, and only takes an hour from Long Beach, San Pedro, Newport Beach and Dana Point (*occasionally the waters are rough, in which case relaxation is not an option). Don't bother upgraded to first class on any of these ships, not worth double the price at all in my opinion.
Arrival in Avalon
Stay
Catalina prides itself on not having any chain brands, which means all hotels are boutique, family run hotels. I love this about the island because it adds such a genuine character and charm, really making you feel distant from the brand-heavy region of Southern California. My personal favorite of the hotels on the island is the Pavilion Hotel. It is right on the waterfront boardwalk, just steps from the beach, with a cute courtyard and wine night every night (so basically every night is a guaranteed great night). Rooms aren't very large, but they get the job done, not to mention with super comfy beds. This time, we didn't stay overnight, so can't comment on any other hotels for the time being.
Do
The day trip was with a couple of my high-school buddies, and we milked everything the island had to offer. After barely making our boat and passing out on the ride over, what else would three guys in their twenties do other than get a few flights of beer at 10:30 in the morning? We got 4 beers each, and they were all solid (we had the waitress surprise us with the options so couldn't tell you which beers we ordered). This place was on the boardwalk, which is sectioned off as a pedestrian street (as if the golf carts were too intrusive anyways-the island limits cars extremely strictly). It's a nice area for a stroll, grab a bite to eat, hop down to the man-made beach, and just hang out in general. The Green Pier is the hub for any boat tours, including the submarine tour which delighted my 20-year-old girlfriend a couple years back. There's also a few food places to munch at, which to be honest, I've never tried.
Ready for take off
The best thing to do on the island is to rent your own gold cart for an hour. It's $45, and you can go around the city of Avalon with time for a few pit stops. Rental places will provide you with a map of the island and where to go. Stopping on the hills around the city give you fantastic views of the bay, coming down and driving through the valley to the Wrigley Memorial and Gardens provides interesting insight to the island and region's flora and fauna, and driving over to Descanso Beach Club for a quick drink and some chips and guac is always a good idea.
View of Avalon Bay from the golf cart route
For a bit more of an adventure, Catalina offers safari tours through the center of the island. Back in the day, Hollywood was shooting western films on the island, so they brought over dozens of buffalo. Long story short, the island is filled with buffalo roaming around everywhere. If you're lucky enough, you can see one of these massive animals on the tour.
Mini-golfing is my shit. And the mini-golf course here is one of the most entertaining and difficult I have ever played on. It's a great activity for kids and adults alike, and it's just a 2 minute walk from the boardwalk area.
Eat
Catalina has more food options than one would think on this small island, so here are the best in my humble opinion:
Best Ice Cream:
Olaf's is a Catalina staple, and never disappoints. Dozens of flavors make for a great treat while strolling through the quaint streets on a summer day.
Best View:
Head over to the other side of The Casino building to Descanso Beach Club, where you can dine al fresco right on the beach. Descanso does a solid job at recreating a truly tropical atmosphere here, and while the food is generally standard (I recommend the ahi tuna sandwich though), the views make it absolutely worth it.
Descanso Beach Club view on a gloomy December day
Best Food:
Avalon Grille takes the cake on this one (the chocolate cake is amazing). The most upscale dining option on the island, Avalon grill does not disappoint. And being right on the boardwalk makes it a convenient option as well.