Inn at Mt. Ada on Catalina Island

Catalina Island, as seen from the hillside and Inn on Mt. Ada. Part of the #SoCalPhotowalks series by Jefferson Graham

The old Wrigley mansion sits atop the hill above Avalon, the main city on Catalina Island, and for years it’s been open to guests looking for the most luxurious place in town to stay. Room rates for the Inn at Mt. Ada have averaged between a hefty $500-$700 a night, but we know a great secret to enjoy the Inn at a bargain price. Have lunch on the patio, for just $30 per person. The food is great, and you get the best view in town. The hike to the 1921 inn is just 1.1 miles from town–yes, it’s uphill all the way, but will only take about 30 minutes. You want to work for your lunch, right? Folks who rent golf carts in town can cruise up the hill at their own pace–but at we always prefer the walk. You see much more that way. Ada was Mrs. Wrigley, by the way. If you want to stay up on the hill, the Inn has 6 guest rooms, and rates come with breakfast and lunch, a golf cart, free access to tennis courts at the Catalina Country Club, green fees at the Catalina Island Golf Course and the Island Spa. For $700 nightly, you’ll also get picked up at the dock for free. To get to the island, we left Manhattan Beach to board the Catalina Express boat in Long Beach, a short one-hour hop 26 miles across the ocean to the magical island. (We stayed at the more affordable Hotel Atwater, $150 nightly) The Inn at Mt. Ada is scheduled to close at the end of the year for remodeling, so if you get to the island this summer, be sure to stop up for lunch. You’ll need to call ahead for reservations. The number: (310) 510-2030

Catalina Island, part of the #SoCalPhotowalks series by Jefferson Graham

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