Picolo recommends · Hotel in Avalon, Catalina Island
Hotel Atwater
A 1920s hotel built by the Wrigley family, now refreshed with light rooms and bright details, one block back from the beach.
Kids in flip-flops heading for the sand, parents following with towels, and not a car in sight. Hotel Atwater stands one block from the beach in central Avalon, in a town where most people get about on foot or by golf cart.
The Wrigley family, who shaped much of modern Catalina, built the hotel in the 1920s. A refresh has given it light rooms and cheerful colours, while the old bones and the location between the shops and the seafront remain.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Hotel Atwater
This is our family pick on Catalina. A choice of room types makes it easier to fit everyone in, and older children can walk to the beach and the ice cream counters by themselves.
By Avalon standards it is a big hotel, so do not expect the personal touch of a small inn. Couples after quiet and character may prefer the smaller places in town.
What you get
- Good for families, with car-free streets
- A range of room types
- A Wrigley-era building from the 1920s
- Beach one block away
- Shops and restaurants around the corner
A day at Hotel Atwater
- Morning
- Pastries and coffee at a bakery on the way to the beach.
- Midday
- A morning on the sand one block from the hotel.
- Afternoon
- A tour of the Casino building, Wrigley's art deco landmark on the bay.
- Evening
- Ice cream on the seafront while the boats come back in.
Location
Avalon, Catalina Island, California, USA
Open in MapsQuestions about Hotel Atwater
Is Hotel Atwater good for families?
Yes. It has several room types, and its central spot a block from the beach makes it easy to get around with children.
Who built Hotel Atwater?
The Wrigley family put it up in the 1920s, while they were developing Avalon. It has since been refreshed.
How far is Hotel Atwater from the beach?
About one block. You can walk to the beach, the seafront and the shops in a couple of minutes.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
How Picolo chooses
Our editors pick every hotel themselves, and most of them we have stayed at. No hotel can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Hotels.com pays Picolo a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.
