Berkeley Parents Network: Catalina Island

Berkeley Parents Network

Catalina Island

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Places to Go > Catalina Island

Trip to Catalina with 3 and 5 year olds

May 2000

Has anyone been to Catalina Island, Southern Calif.? We're thinking of going this summer and I'm wondering what it's like in July or August weather wise and water temperature wise. Is Avalon Beach a good beach for 3 and 5 year olds? How about kid freindly hotels, condo, whatever. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

About Catalina, I've been going there every summer since I was a baby; I've been staying in my grandparents' house, so I can't help with hotels, except to say that with kids, you probably don't want one on Front (or Crescent) street. There are crowds at night--not too loud, but still--on the front street and it might bug you. The restaurants on the island are not the greatest, and tend towards the expensive (a captive market!), so if you can find a hotel with a kitchenette (depending on how long you're staying) you might be better off for some meals. The weather in July and August is very warm during the day--tshirts, shorts--and at night you might need sweaters. The island feel is great. There are very few cars (although more now tah nten years ago!), you can go everywhere on foot (you can also take a bus tour ride, but a 3 year old would probably be bored), and the air is balmy in the summer. If you go, definitely go to Descanso beach during the day or at night--on Fridays and Saturday nights they have a salad bar buffet and you bring your own seafood or meat to grill, and sit at big picnic tables on the beach. have fun! Jessica

I spent four or five summers on Catalina at Cherry Valley Cove in Boy Scout camp. The water is COLD -- about 55 degrees -- because the island is far enough off the coast to be smack dab in the middle of the Japan Current, our West Coast anti-Gulf Stream! Since I always chose the water sports programs, the first thing I had to do on arrival was jump off the dock and prove I could swim. That was virtually the only time I went in the water, except for the one time I went diving for numbered rocks in the cove (how dumb can you be?) and came out 20 minutes later blue to the bone. If you like to swim at Ocean Beach or elsewhere in Northern California you might enjoy the waters at Catalina -- otherwise, stay dry or wear a wet (or dry) suit. Timothy

Catalina Island is known for being 10 degrees cooler in the summer and 10 degrees warmer in the winter than the mainland due to the tempering effect of the ocean. Although the interior can get hot, the weather in Avalon is generally wonderful. Avalon Beach has very gentle waves since it faces the mainland. The water is cool, but not freezing like up here. We went there for several summers when I was a little kid, and I loved it. Mimi

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