I have been living in Southern California for about seven years now, and the first time I heard of the island was just a few years ago.

It's located southwest of L.A., and it's a gorgeous beach town that can only be reached by ferry.

This was my first time riding the Catalina Express, and I departed from the Long Beach port.

The ride was roughly an hour and a round trip ticket cost about $75, and if you're bringing your fur baby, they can ride for free.

I happen to go on a weekend that had a lot of rain in the forecast, but despite the on and off showers, I actually found plenty of things to do, from beaches to hiking.

Here are my top 8 things to do on Catalina Island.

Number 1, Avalon Beaches.

It's no surprise that you will have plenty of beach options in Catalina.

Descanso Beach is a private beach with public access that is just beyond the world-famous Catalina Casino.

This beach is part of the Descanso Beach Club, which offers a restaurant, bar, and Cabana rentals.

Middle Beach overlooks the center of the harbor and this is where the majority of the town's shops and restaurants are located.

Number 2, Descanso Canyon.

The Canyon is situated just 600 ft above the Descanso Beach Club, and there are plenty of activities at the area of Adventure Park.

None of the outdoor activities are pet-friendly, so I parked here and took Zoe to the grassy area where she had plenty of space to herself and she really enjoyed running around the area.

Number 3, Catalina Casino.

I initially thought the casino was a Vegas-style gambling venue, but it's actually a massive theater and event space, and you can't miss this building as its structure dominates the island.

Number 4, Green Pier.

If you're looking for things to do on the island, the visitor center is located here, so it's a great place to stop and get visitor information if you're keen on diving and safari tours.

Number 5, take a scenic drive.

If you want to drive around the island, you can rent a golf cart and easily explore the mountain terrain.

I spent about an hour driving around the island, which was plenty of time to cover the one-square-mile island.

Number 6, Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden.

The drive of the mountain to the Botanical Garden was gorgeous and I spotted several deer along the way.

I wasn't aware that dogs weren't allowed inside the garden, so I wasn't able to enter the premises; however, the guy suggested dog-friendly hikes in the area.

Nonetheless, I enjoy the scenic drive up and hope to return to the garden someday.

Number 7, Downtown Avalon.

There are plenty of shops and dining options in Downtown Avalon, and it's a pleasant area to walk around.

We had dinner on our first night at Bluewater Avalon where we had the best views of the Green Pier.

Number 8, The Metropole Market Place.

Across the street from Bluewater Avalon is the Metropole Market Place, which is an adorable cobblestone village.

I purchased a cup of coffee and a couple of fresh baked cookies at the Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co.

I really enjoyed my time on this island even though I didn't have the best of luck with the weather.

Of course, there are still plenty of things you can do on the island, but this gives you an idea of how much the island has to offer.

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