Catalina Island, California – Just 22 miles off the coast near Los Angeles, there is a small island that can reach other countries.
As the only resident of the Channel Islands, the natural beauty of Catalina Island surprises with turquoise waters beneath the cliffside homes, evoking the charm of Italy’s Amalfi coast. It is believed to be one of California’s most beautiful small towns and a secret exclusively to locals for viewing, but if the event is being held, the 76-square-mile island can also explode.
There was an opportunity to witness the island’s pulse with energy due to the popular event that launched the Catalina Wine Mixer, which is the summer season.
If the name sounds familiar, you’ve probably heard it from the 2008 hit comedy Step Brothers, featuring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. The fictional event was welcomed in the film as “the biggest helicopter lease event in the Western Hemisphere,” and was a turning point where two middle-aged characters travel from the head to the bond. It reaches its peak in the final scene of the film.
To say it has become a symbolic event on the island, it is just a celebration of that decade and is a bit of an understatement. “The real Catalina wine mixer was the idea that the Catalina Island company had as a tongue-respect for the hugely popular Step Brothers movie 10 years ago,” Hunter Rusac, chief operating officer of the Catalina Island Company, told USA Today in a statement. “It started out as a fun way to bring visitors to the island and grew into an annual celebration for cult fans of the film.”
Over 3,000 travelers have descended to Catalina this year to win an actual wine mixer. An event was held around the only city in Avalon. All weekend, people proudly wear custom-made t-shirts recording the faces of the two actors in the film and the most famous lines. Others simply sipped a variety of wines against the background of Mount Orizaba, the island’s tallest mountain peak. The wine mixer is intended for pure fun, boosted by the island’s solar-washed environment.
Whatever travelers want, whether fun or relaxation, the idyllic island offers a refreshing break from the daily grind. And it’s a simple one-hour ferry ride from the land of Los Angeles.
This is the charm of Catalina Island.
What is Catalina Island?
Catalina Island is located on the island that lives at the southernmost tip of the Channel Islands, an archipelago made up of Channel Islands National Park, but Catalina Island is not part of it. The island’s first inhabitants were Gabrielino natives, and since the 1800s, the island has changed ownership until Gum’s massive Magneit William Wrigley Jr. bought under the stewardship of his descendants, and the Catalina Island company offers a guest experience at dining facilities as the island’s premier resort operator.
With pastel coloured 20th century bungalows and white Mediterranean villas on the mountainside, the island combines the atmosphere of a European resort town with the coastal charm of Southern California. The island’s only homes are two towns, Avalon and two ports, with the rest being killed by the Catalina Island Reserve.
Facing a harbor filled with yachts, Avalon is the island’s main tourist hub and is where most tourists stay, from hotels such as the old-fashioned Hotel Atwater to Airbns. Travelers also have several campsites around the island, some can be more secluded and adventurous. Front Street is lined with boutiques and restaurants such as FLX Biergarten, Avalon Grille and Waterfront Pier 24.
If travelers want to explore more, there are also a variety of hiking and activities, including camping, outdoor hummer tours, zip lining, diving and snorkeling. Catalina’s pace is slower, with most of them relaxing and active outdoors. (In nature, you can find one of the island bisons brought in to film “The Vanishing American” in the 1920s.)
To maintain a peaceful atmosphere, the island limits the number of vehicles allowed. The longtime residents have become grandfathers. Otherwise, newcomers will need to join a 25-year waiting list to bring the vehicle in. If electric transport is required, travelers can ride a golf cart. The city is completely easy to walk in and takes about 20 minutes to cover.
What is the Catalina Wine Mixer?
A wine mixer takes place around Avalon and encourages guests to get to know the island. (Shuttles are also available to transport guests.) Starting Friday evening with a VIP reception at the Catalina Country Club. Later, during the screening of “Step Brothers” at the historic 1920s Catalina Casino, audiences cite the entire film to cheer with stubborn fans. Saturday afternoon is the main event featuring wine tastings from over 15 wineries along the California coast on the grass of the Descanso Beach Club, reminiscent of Europe and live music. There is also a VIP lounge nearby for a break from the sun and food is included.
The wine mixer was held in September, but is now being shown in the summer. “A few years ago, we moved the event to late May as a springboard to the busy summer season,” Rusack said. Tickets for the Catalina Wine Mixer range from $139 for general admission to $499 for VIP.
How do you get to Catalina Island?
Although you can actually lease a helicopter to Catalina Island like a movie joke, taking a ferry from ports around the Los Angeles Angels, such as Long Beach, Dana Point, San Pedro, and Newport is the easiest and most cost-effective way to do so. There are two options: the Catalina Flyer or the Catalina Express.
I took the Catalina Express from Long Beach and took that large, fast catamaran to get to Avalon. There are multiple departures until 6pm for a quiet experience, and the private lounge on the second floor is charged an additional fee, but the wider seating is more comfortable. One-way tickets cost adults $42 in June and are sold out so we recommend getting yours in advance.
The visit during the wine mixer felt particularly lively, but I was still fascinated by the beauty and laid back atmosphere of Catalina. The view from the Deskanso Beach Club was amazing. Knowing that I’m on a short ferry from Los Angeles, I’m already thinking about coming back to experience more of what the island has to offer.
(This story has been updated, with new information added and headings updated.)
