Catalina Island - Casino Building

The Catalina Casino building is not a casino, it is an entertainment center that dates back to 1929. Through the 1930s and 1940s the Casino Ballroom was a favorite venue for many of the Big Bands.

The Casino Art Gallery, Avalon Theatre, and Catalina Island Museum are also located in the Casino Building.

This glorious Catalina icon is as tall as a 12-story building.

Catalina Island Day Trip - California

The boat ride from Marina Del Rey to Saint Catalina Island takes about 2 hours. Depending on the weather, it can be a rough voyage. But the beauty and majesty of the sea-life you may encounter on the journey is worth taking the chance of motion sickness. On a clear day in early August we saw scores of dolphins and a couple of enormous blue whales.

Once you arrive on the island, you can kick back and relax on the beach, snorkel, scuba dive, rent a boat, rent a golf cart, or take a tour.

When you get hungry there are lots of cafes, pubs and restaurants to choose from.

Catalina day-trippers from Marina Del Rey have to be ready to leave the island by 5 pm