Disclosure: We received a discounted rate. All opinions are our own.
Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island is much different than
Avalon, California. There is one restaurant, one general store,
campgrounds, and a recreational center where you can rent bikes, kayaks,
umbrellas, etc. They call it "Two Harbors" because it is a town with not one but
two harbors! If you are looking for a beautiful island getaway where
you can enjoy nature at its finest, consider Two Harbors, California.
For three days, we played on the beach, took naps to the sound of the ocean, dined with a view, kayaked, enjoyed views of both harbors from our rental, took evening walks, and had family movie nights. It was relaxing and pure bliss.
Casa Santa Cruz
We stayed at the beautiful Casa Santa Cruz, a renovated modern rental home in Two Harbors that's centrally located with views of both harbors seen throughout the house. It can accommodate 8 comfortably with three bedrooms (each has a view of a harbor, the master has a view of both harbors), two full restrooms, a loft with a pull-out bed and DVD player, full kitchen, dining area, a living room, and two patios. Amenities include a full washer/dryer, dishes, silverware, a BBQ, and cookware.
NOTE: There is no WIFI in the rental, however, there is free WIFI next to the restaurant.
After we played in the water all day, we picked up supplies and ingredients from their General Store to make dinner every night. They had all the tools we needed. It doesn't get much better than this. How would you like to dine every night with a breathtaking view of Isthmus Cove from your patio?
Two Harbors General Store
You can find much of your needed supplies at the General Store like ice, groceries, fishing supplies, bait, and camping supplies, but beware, the prices are higher than usual, because they only receive one shipment of supplies per week. It is also a gift shop and an ice cream shop. 310-510-4217
MY TIP: If you need water, pick it up at the restaurant for 50 cents versus at the general store. It's cheaper! Also, if you want to save money and plan to cook, pack non-perishable ingredients from home. Something like cooking oil could be a sticker shock so plan your meals ahead of time.
Kayaking
One of the activities we did on the island was rent kayaks from Two Harbors Dive & Recreation Center. We rented two double kayaks and went along the east side of the island. Kids can join too but need to know what to do if they fall in the water. It was self-guided tour, and I really felt that the guided kayaking in Avalon prepared us for this. We were on our own, and it can be dangerous kayaking too close to the rocks. You can also rent snorkeling and SCUBA gear, mountain bikes, Skiff Rentals, SUP Rentals (Stand up paddle boards), fishing rods, and beach rentals like beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, volleyballs, smashball, horseshoe, and bocceball. 310-510-4272
We saw Garibaldis (California's state fish), Bat Rays, a harbor seal, and two bald eagles along the cliff. As suggested, you want to go against current first then when you get tired, the trip back will be easier with the help of the current. You'll also want to take breaks often. We were hoping we we didn't have to work hard on the return, but the current kept pushing us back out when we stopped paddling.
MY TIP: Pack water bottles and snacks. Rest and fuel up before you head back.
Harbor Reef Restaurant
There is ONE restaurant in Two Harbors. Although I thought the food at the restaurant for lunch was a little pricey, the food was really good. It is a casual dining experience, and in the evening, the backside of the restaurant serves dinner and has a bar. We dined there for breakfast our last morning after check out, and the breakfast sandwiches were good too. (We made dinner every night so didn't get to try the restaurant at dinner time.) 310-510-4215
How to Get There:
The only way to get to Two Harbors is on the Catalina Express out of Port of San Pedro, California. It is about an hour and 15 minute ride. You'll want to get there one hour before departure. If you're hungry, the Catalina Bistro and Express Grill offers several options while you wait to board. Parking is $16 per day. I like that they also have a shaded area with benches for boarding. There is a two bag per person allowance, and it's open seating.
TIP: If you go on your birthday, you can ride for Free on the Catalina Express!
What To Pack:
- Sunblock
- Bug Spray (and don't forget to apply it in the evening!)
- Beach Towels (there are towels in the rental but they are white)
- Groceries and cooking ingredients.
- Warm clothing for nightly walks.
- Your favorite DVD's for movie nights. They have a great selection there too.
- Music. It's like a party house with plenty of seating throughout the house.
- Laundry detergent. Why wait til you get home? They have a washer/dryer.
We loved staying in Two Harbors at Casa Santa Cruz, because it was comfortable, centrally located, and spacious. Two Harbors is absolutely beautiful, and you can enjoy both harbors in one day, because it's a short 10-15 minute walk to each one. It is a great way to spend quality family time with several families doing outdoorsy stuff, and it was nice to unplug for a few days to relax. The beauty of the harbors draw you in, and we were anxious to explore the area. The walks were easy and family-friendly. Make sure you apply bug spray in the evening, and stay on the pathway. (I walked through tall grass in the evening and had bug bites.) My family and I want to come back with more family and do it all over again. That's how much we loved it!
For more information about Casa Santa Cruz in Two Harbors, please visit Catalina Island Vacation Rentals' website at www.catalinavacations.com. For more ideas what to do in Two Harbors, please visit their websites at VisitTwoHarbors.com and VisitCatalinaIsland.com.
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