Avalon, CA Homes for Rent

Avalon is the only incorporated city on Catalina Island in California, located a little over 20 miles from the Southern California coast. Known for its proximity to Orange County and Los Angeles County, Avalon draws people from across the region who want a place that feels different from the mainland. Spanish Revival-style condos rise from cliffs above turquoise water, and the Art Deco Catalina Casino stands out in the bay. Housing in Avalon includes pastel and off-white seaside cottages built between 1900 and 1930, as well as condos mostly built from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, many with balconies or patios facing cliff-side buildings or the boat-filled bay. The gated Hamilton Cove community includes amenities like a swimming pool, spa, putting greens, a private beach, tennis courts and 24-hour security. Outdoor things to do range from offshore fishing and diving in the kelp forests to hiking the more than 38-mile Trans-Catalina Trail, playing the nine-hole Catalina Island Golf Course, or using Avalon Skate Park and nearby fitness equipment. Around Crescent Avenue, also called Front Street, beachside shops, restaurants and bars stay busy, with spots like Bluewater Avalon for seafood and Descanso Beach Club for drinks on the sand. Avalon School, part of Long Beach Unified School District, serves K–12 students and has a high rating, with Advanced Placement classes and a hospitality-focused career technical education pathway. Catalina Island, including Avalon, sits in an area with relatively high earthquake risk.