Best California Islands To Visit
Catalina
Not many people know about the stunning collection of islands just off the coast of California, ranging from clones of the Mediterranean to landscapes resembling the Galapagos Islands!
Many are a quick ferry ride from major cities and easy enough for a day trip or multi-day adventure.
Here’s a great summary of all the California islands you should visit:
List of Islands
Catalina
Get a taste of the Mediterranean by visiting Avalon, Catalina Island with its beautiful harbor dotted with stylish European style homes, fishing boats, and clear water. Only about an hour ferry ride southwest of Los Angeles, this gem is an underrated escape that should be way more popular than it actually is.
Catalina Island was home to Hollywood fame in the 1920’s and 30’s with many celebrities making it their vacation home.
In addition, the island is known for its animal diversity as a wide range like bald eagles, foxes, deer, and even bison roam the area. The marine life here is outstanding as well with dolphins, whales, sea lions, and flying fish among the residents here.
There are very few cars allowed on the island, adding to the ambiance. Most locals get around by foot, bicycle, or golf cart.
Activities:
Dolphin Excursion
Hiking
Glass bottom boat tour
Ziplining
Kayaking
Snorkeling
Dinner along Crescent Ave.
Safari Adventure
How to get here:
Ferry Ride from San Pedro, Long Beach or Dana Point: $74, but free on your birthday!
Helicopter: will run you between $250 - $700, depending on where you leave from in the LA area
Where to stay:
You might like:
Channel Islands
Known as the Galapagos of California, these five islands encompass around 250,000 acres of land and see and are famous for their striking landscapes and biodiversity. There are over 2,000 types of plants and animals along with wetlands, coastlines, kelp forests, and a wide variety of ecosystems.
The islands are uninhabited so if you plan to camp overnight, you’ll need to bring all your own gear, water, food, and supplies. But since the landscape is mostly untouched by mankind, you’ll be able to see a slice of the world as it was thousands of years ago.
Most first timers go for a weekend or multi day trip, but you can also go for a boat tour or day trip to feel things out before coming back on a longer stay.
Here are the five islands:
Anacapa Island
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Rosa Island
Santa Barbara Island
San Miguel Island
How to get these islands:
The only way is by boat or small plane. Public boat service is provided by Island Packers and plane service by Channel Islands Aviation.
Also, check out:
East Brother
There is a pair of islands off the coast of San Francisco called The Brothers. You’ll want to visit the one called East Brother, as it has an old lighthouse that was turned into a quaint bed and breakfast.
The lighthouse only has five rooms, so it makes for a nice secluded experience away from the city. Rooms go for around $300 a night.
You can also make a day trip out of it if you don’t want to stay overnight here. It’ll cost you $20 a person to visit the island.
How to get here:
A quick boat ride from Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor in Richmond takes about 10 minutes.
Where to stay:
Angel Island
One of the largest natural islands in the San Francisco Bay, this is one of the favorites of locals due to the interesting view of the Bay on the island.
You can camp here for about $30 a night and if you book ahead in advance, you can nab one of the larger group sites. Make sure to book ahead in advance since most of the campsites are first come first serve.
If you just want to sail around Angel’s Island - check out these amazing sunset cruise around the Bay Area:
Once you’re here there’s a plethora of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, sunbathing, and kayaking.
One of my favorite things to do is hiking to the top of Mount Livermore for the incredible sweeping views of the Bay.
How to get here:
$15 Ferry ride, which includes the state park admission fee.
Where to stay:
Hotel closest to Angel Island :
Coronado
This beautiful semi-island is connected to San Diego by a thin strip of land and is home to one of the most beautiful and iconic hotels in America called the Hotel del Coronado. This historic hotel was the favorite of many celebrities such as Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, and Judy Garland. It was also one of the major filming sites for the film Some Like It Hot.
For a great guide on things to do in San Diego, check out our guide here.
Activities to do here include:
Exploring Hotel del Coronado
Walk along Coronado Central Beach
Ride a Gondola at the Coronado Cays
Grab Ice Cream at MooTime Creamery
Watch a film at Village Theaters
Kayaking & Snorkeling
Where to stay:
Alcatraz
One of the most famous sites in San Francisco, this notorious prison museum, also known as The Rock, used to house America’s most famous prisoners such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly.
Nowadays you can visit the former prison that includes a fantastic tour including audio commentary from former prisoners.
The only way to get there is via tours that often sell out weeks in advance. On certain days you can even sleep overnight in a cell!
How to Get Here:
The only way is through Alcatraz Cruises, who also offers tours of the island.
Woodley Island
Located in Humboldt Bay near Eureka, Woodley Island is a favorite destination for birdwatchers due to the large variety of birds who call this island home.
There is plenty of outdoor activities to choose from like kayaking, whale watching, and paddle boarding.
How to get here:
Drive over the bridge from Eureka, or take a private boat to the marina.
Where to stay:
Treasure Island
Located right off the Bay Bridge, this interestingly named island is famous for the Treasure Island Music Festival and the monthly flea market.
Otherwise, the view of the city is great from the island and a picnic at Clipper Cove is a great day trip!
How to Get Here:
Drive in via the Bay Bridge or take a private boat in.
Where to stay:
Hotel Zephyr for a great view of the Bay and Treasure Island