With stunning views and bathed in the deep blues of the Pacific Ocean, this quaint small town of fewer than 5,000 residents truly feels like a getaway to the old continent, without spending a fortune or having to deal with the hassle of LAX. Its biggest draws? Mild weather and a wide range of year-round water activities.
For these reasons, the travel publication World Atlas has placed it at the very top of its list of the best weekend escape spots in California.
Small town, big charm
Avalon is the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island, tucked into a crescent‑shaped bay. It began as a settlement known as Timms’s Landing, but in the 1860s developer, George Shatto, laid out streets and built the first hotel. Shatto’s sister-in-law, Etta Whitney, chose the town’s permanent name, Avalon, inspired by Lord Tennyson’s poem Idylls of the King.
Today, the tiny town is home to about 3,000–3,500 residents in roughly 2 square miles of land. Thanks to its unique geography and zoning, Avalon feels more like a walkable Mediterranean cove than a California city, as there’s virtually no car culture here.
How to spend a weekend in Avalon
This stunning town packs a surprising amount of variety into its compact footprint, from leisurely strolls to historic architecture and ocean adventure. A good idea is to start with the Catalina Casino, the town’s Art Deco crown jewel, built in 1929. It houses a 1,200‑seat movie theater and what was once the world’s largest circular ballroom.
For a laid back leisurely stroll you can check the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden, filled with succulents, native plants, and views over the valley below. If you’re looking for some more adrenaline infused adventures, visiting Descanso Beach Club for kayak and sup rentals, is always a must.
But without a doubt, the ultimate activity here is snorkeling or scuba diving. Just off the shore, Casino Point Underwater Dive Park offers crystal-clear waters, vibrant kelp forests, and abundant marine life, including Garibaldi, moray eels, and bat rays.