Golf Cart Rental on Catalina Island, California

Other posts by MudslideMama

A daytripper, camper, or simple weekend vacation seeker can have a relaxed getaway on Santa Catalina Island. The seaside town of Avalon is imminently walkable, and Catalina Island as a whole is more geared towards feet than wheels. It’s mostly protected by the Catalina Island Conservancy: This nonprofit was created by the heirs to the Wrigley fortune, and as a result, over 80% of the popular island destination in Southern California is conserved as either campgrounds or nature in the wild.

Part of this conservation effort involves a strict limit on the number of cars allowed on Catalina Island; in fact, there’s a waiting list! Golf carts rule the day for those of us less inclined to take big hikes up the hills (there’s a rumor that exercise is a good thing but as far as I’m concerned, jury’s still out). Well, I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 26 – not an interesting story – and I was nervous about driving a golf cart. Do I have to play golf to use it? Does mini-golf count? Turns out I was being silly. It was a breeze to drive to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden, though I’m not sure I broke the sound barrier or anything.

Sure, there were a couple of mishaps along the way – some construction meant detours in Avalon, and there was one time where I thought my On the Move Approved Flip Digital Video Camera was recording when it wasn’t – but that’s just part of an unstructured, fun, and mellow couple of days on Santa Catalina Island.

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March 4, 2009 | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Budget Travel, Destinations, Eco Travel, Girlfriend Getaways 

Comments

12 Responses to “Golf Cart Rental on Catalina Island, California”

  1. Jill Browne says:
    March 4, 2009 at

    Hey, so funny!

    I KNEW how to drive a golf cart one summer. Next summer, first (disastrous) golf game I forgot and had to run across the fairway to ask my friend what to do ;-)

    So proud of you mastering it… driving a golf cart is such a challenge!

    Thanks for your great blog, it’s so much fun following the Mamas.

  2. Kim says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    The first time I drove a golf cart I was a young teenager and I truly believed the instructions said push down on the gas pedal to stop, well, I almost rolled the poor cart.

  3. Best Steakhouse Restaurant Catalina Island says:
    March 5, 2009 at

    [...] waiter to help match your wine and entree selections. It makes for an elegant evening out, on a fun and relaxed island. Share and [...]

  4. Nancy D. Brown says:
    March 11, 2009 at

    Hey the Flip Mino clip worked. Great job!

  5. Catalina Island says:
    March 13, 2009 at

    [...] Golf Cart Rental Catalina Island California | Traveling MamasMost of Santa Catalina Island is preserved by the Catalina Island Conservancy, and people get around by foot or golf cart.Read more [...]

  6. When the Pacific Coast Isn't Far Enough: Catalina Island Getaway says:
    March 16, 2009 at

    [...] There are very few cars on the island, so people get around on foot or on bicycles, or you can rent a golf cart. Avalon Bay and [...]

  7. When the Pacific Coast Isn’t Far Enough: Catalina Island Getaway | iSawNEWS.com says:
    March 16, 2009 at

    [...] Avalon is home to plenty of hotels ranging from cruddy and thin-walled to luxurious, but like everything else the hotels are on island scale, since everything there had to be brought in on a barge.  Just beware that some hotels are specifically NOT for children.  There is also one campground near Avalon, if “camping” to you means “camping.”  There are very few cars on the island, so people get around on foot or on bicycles, or you can rent a golf cart. [...]

  8. When the Pacific Coast Isn’t Far Enough: Catalina Island Getaway | 511enews.com says:
    March 17, 2009 at

    [...] Avalon is home to plenty of hotels ranging from cruddy and thin-walled to luxurious, but like everything else the hotels are on island scale, since everything there had to be brought in on a barge.  Just beware that some hotels are specifically NOT for children.  There is also one campground near Avalon, if “camping” to you means “camping.”  There are very few cars on the island, so people get around on foot or on bicycles, or you can rent a golf cart. [...]

  9. Mike Villeneuve says:
    April 15, 2009 at

    I would like to rent a golf cart for one day/24 hours,the time that we are staying on the island.Is this possable? I have some problems with my leg,and need it to get around.

  10. Manny Palafox says:
    June 16, 2009 at

    Playing on going this Saturday. This will be the 1st time for me, my wife and 2 year old daughter.

    Where can we rent a golf cart?

    Do we need to bring a car seat for my 2-year old on the ferry or is there an option to rent with the golf cart?

    Thank you so much!

    Manny

  11. MudslideMama says:
    June 16, 2009 at

    Hi there Manny! The golf cart rentals are very near the Catalina Island harbor docking area in Avalon, you can walk easily. Because Avalon is small and clustered around the harbor, you can also walk to any of the golf cart rentals from your hotel or B&B.

    Now, I didn’t see any children’s car seats for rent there. Might as well take you car seat; better safe than sorry, after all. Have a great time!

  12. Maggie says:
    November 15, 2009 at

    Where is a great place to stay? Someone recommended Hamilton Cove condos but it’s just my son and me, I’m a single mom, and $500/night is NOT in my range nor do we need a 2000 sq ft condo! I’d like a place w/ a beautiful view or very charming, not big on high rise hotels…want to feel like an islander but not into “roughing it” exactly, on my own!

    Thanks!

    Maggie

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