Swapping Desert Heat for Island Time: My First Season on Catalina Island

As much as my first seasonal job in Arizona was packed with weekend adventures to Zion, riding side-by-sides just outside of Bryce Canyon, and taking trips to Slide Rock, the desert eventually takes its toll. By mid-summer, the average daily temperature was sitting at a scorching 105 degrees. You literally could not leave your house without a Hydro Flask attached to your hip.

I loved the desert, the bonfires, and the amazing friends I made, but I am an ocean girl at heart. Adventure was calling, and this time, it was calling from the Pacific.

The Hollywood Reality Check

I had only ever been to California once before, in April of 2021, just a few months before I made the decision to move there. Because everyone always hypes up Los Angeles, I wanted to see it for myself.

Honestly? It was quite a letdown. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, but I thought being right in downtown LA and Hollywood was the place to be. Instead, I found a city where people were throwing glass bottles out of windows, the streets were dirty, and it smelled terrible. Seeing the Hollywood sign and the Walk of Fame was cool, but the reality of the city was pretty stark. The only saving grace of that trip was Malibu; the beaches and massive cliff sides were absolutely gorgeous.

So, when the opportunity presented itself to take a seasonal job living on an island off the coast of LA, I was a little hesitant. But who turns down the chance to live on an island? Catalina is famous for its incredible dive parks and towering kelp forests, and I had to see it for myself.

The Island Welcome

Once again, I packed up the Jeep, drove across the West, and headed straight for the ferry in Long Beach. I was moving to an island I had only ever seen in pictures.

I was hired by the Catalina Island Company as a bartender at the Avalon Grille, right in the center of town. Thankfully, they let me move into my housing a few days before my shifts started so I could actually learn my way around.

One of the best perks of working for the company is that you get to take their tours for free. I hopped on the Avalon Tour to learn the history of the town, and then took the Ridge Top Tour up to the backside of the island. Spotting the wild bison and the tiny, endemic Catalina Island foxes up in the hills gave me such a deep appreciation for the landscape. Plus, learning all that island history meant I actually had cool things to share with the guests who sat at my bar.

The Hustle and the Kelp Forests

I was so glad I got that exploring out of the way early, because once work started, it did not stop. I was working six days a week through a relentless schedule of summer concerts, weddings, and yes—the actual Catalina Wine Mixer.

But my days off? Pure magic. I completely fell in love with what was beneath the surface of the water. I spent my free time snorkeling through the kelp forests, swimming alongside bright orange Garibaldi and massive sea bass.

An Italian Island with Mexican Charm

What really caught me by surprise was the culture. Visually, Avalon looks like a little Italian coastal town, but it has this incredibly sweet, vibrant Mexican charm.

There is a huge, beautiful Hispanic presence on the island. Many of the families who live there have been on Catalina for generations, with roots stemming from Mexico. I got to immerse myself in their culture, try amazing new food, and experience traditions like their beautiful Day of the Dead celebrations. It gave the island a heartbeat and a sense of community that I wasn't expecting.

Just the Beginning

My first stint on Catalina was short. just from late July through October before I packed up my winter gear and headed off to Steamboat Springs for a ski season.

But Catalina had carved out a very special place in my heart. As my ferry pulled away from the island that October, I knew it wasn't a final goodbye. Spoiler alert: that short stint eventually turned into four years of island living, working at the beach club, and experiencing a whole different side of Catalina... but I'll save those stories for the next time!