With one ferry daily at 9 a.m., you pull into Avalon Harbor 75 minutes later. During the trip over you have many different seating options. For wind protection, inside is good, but the action, sun, wind and adventure starts outside, so I highly recommend that.
The round-trip ticket runs $70 with discounts for 60+ Boomers and kids under 12. Check Groupon, especially off season, for even better deals.
The location is ideal for dropping your bags if your room is not ready, and you can do likewise when you leave, since your return voyage does not push off until 4:30 p.m.
The Pavilion recently started offering a special group package for $25 for two which offers some great perks, including a tram trip up above the city for magnificent views; a Casino Tour (a must), plus free miniature golf, boat ride to Two Harbors, and food delivery from two local eateries. Oh, plus a free bike rental for an hour. All these together are worth over $120, so this is a no-brainer.
Jaws: The Art of Fear in Filmmaking exhibit is based around the movie “Jaws” and may make you question if it IS safe to get into the water! This display is from the personal archives of Joe Alves, the Production Designer for the film, and is first ever museum exhibition that allows audiences to trace the creative processes and challenges that shaped the making of the film.
Another feature upstairs is a display called Destination Paradise and highlights marketing efforts over the last 100 years to get visitors to the island.
For more information: visitcatalinaisland.com.