Catalina Island Itinerary Day 3

June 15, 2019

I’ve put together an itinerary of an awesome Catalina Island Vacation. You can find Day 1 here, and Day 2 as well. This will discuss my Catalina Island Itinerary for Day 3, or perhaps for your final day in Catalina no matter how long the duration. Some of this content can be found on other pages of this guide, but I’ve added tips and tricks, and detailed some considerations on the timing and order of activities. I hope you enjoy!

Day 3: Relaxation and Quiet Contemplation

You should always consider starting the day with fitness. The Catalina Island Spa offers a variety of classes that shouldn’t be missed. You can do yoga in the morning most days of the week.

Breakfast Options

I usually just have take out breakfast at Coffee and Cookie Again. I usually just grab stuff to go, I love the view from the Marya room at the Buena Vista and it’s comforting to me to slowly chew on my breakfast sandwich and Advil tablets while peering out over the Harbor.

The Highlight of Your Whole Trip

Descanso Beach Club

You should end your trip by spending the entire day on a loundge chair at Descanso. Here’s why, Descanso opens at 11am and closes at 5pm. You can have breakfast, and then get down with the day drinking. You will be kicked out of your hotel room that you had to check out of at 10 or 11am. The hotel holds your luggage for you, and then you wait for the boat home to happen.

I must admit that I have not seen Step Brothers, and I have not attended the Catalina Wine Mixer—which is now a thing, because of that movie but Descanso is still cool on a regular day. Please note, that you must have Reservations to drink here, or be here, and they can sell out months in advance.

You can eat and drink here all day. Start with a Bloody Mary, progressing through lunch, and snacks, and a lot of drinks, and then wandering over to stand in line for the Newport Flyer is the way that I’ve ended about 4 of my vacations to Catalina. It also appears that if you are taking the Express to Long Beach that you would have time to eat dinner before you returned.

Where else can you get sand-side service of drinks, chips and guac, poke bowls, street tacos, and prime rib sandwiches? Stick your toes in the sand! The view is amazing! Or if you are allergic to the sun, as redheads like me are prone to be, you can hide under the shade of the umbrellas while vigorously applying sunscreen.

I’ve read a lot of great books on this beach!

We Seriously Love Descanso

There are many things I appreciate about Descanso. For example, I love that the wifi is poor, if not nonexistant. It’s like being forced to set your phone down, and appreciate being on a beautiful beach, and watching the waves lap the sand and the boats bob on the water.

I love walking up the pebble cement trail, barefoot, each time I use the restroom. You can watch the descending zipliners. I always stare longingly at colorful sarongs, maxi-dresses and bikini tops and have internal conversations with myself about “If I still want that bikini in one hour, I’ll bring my wallet with me the next time I walk past.” Once you are in that little cove you are isolated from the rest of Catalina. You submit to reading your book, or talking to your spouse.

End Your Trip by Boarding the Boat

Please follow the recommendations about when to line up for your departure time. The Catalina Flyer or The Catalina Express. We hope you visit again soon!