Catalina Golf Carts - Do you need to reserve?

My daughter is excited about the idea of just cruising around Catalina Island on a golf cart. This is a pretty low-key, short trip so I'd like to take a break from planning as much as possible. Will we have any trouble just showing up on the island and grabbing a cart for 4 people?

OK, see what's happening? I have to even makes plans to not make plans. Which is why I need a break from making plans! ;)

No. We have always gotten off the ship around 11 and there was always plenty of carts available.

Are the golf carts recommended for a family of 4 with an 8 and 3 year old? Someone suggested it to me, but makes me nervous.

Thank you. :)

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Are the golf carts recommended for a family of 4 with an 8 and 3 year old? Someone suggested it to me, but makes me nervous.

Thank you. :)

 

 

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We obviously haven't traveled yet so I can't speak from experience, but 'ncovert' posted a video on a different thread that might give you some perspective. There's a little bit of golf cart "traffic" just after the 2min mark:

It may ultimately depend on your kiddos. My older daughter has always been pretty reserved and based on this video would've been fine at any age, but my younger daughter was a jumper at 3 years old and I would have been more nervous about her.

I don't know. As an FYI - If you have never driven a golf cart down hills - you need to give it a little power before applying the brakes. The brakes don't work if you are just coasting down hill.

If you follow the route the rental booth gives you, you will only need the golf cart for an hour. We thought an hour was more than enough time. We didn't go up to the gardens, but everywhere else including Zane Grey's bell tower and making multiple stops.

I don't think it is worth renting a cart if you plan on going to the casino or the up to the gardens. You can walk to the casino and take a trolley (their bus) up to the gardens.

For younger kids, there is a mini golf course (might be challenging for the 3 y.o.) and an arcade in the same area as Coney Island West hot dog stand. At the arcade, there is arcade bowling (a smaller ball is used) and really good pizza.

The Arcade is in the same building as the Hotel Metropole. The bowling is 10pin, not true bowling. The lane is about half as long, pins are on rope and the balls are similar to a Skeeball. It's very fun.

The arcade has very good thin crust pizza and salads.

Check to see if the kids need some sort of car seat for the golf carts.

The semi-sub is also fun.

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Thank you!! :)

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I have been to Catalina many times, both off a cruise ship and going over on the ferry. There are many things to do on Catalina from just enjoying the beach, doing a little shopping, touring the Casino, the'submarine' (sort of like the submarine at Disneyland) where you can see fish, a ride to the interior where you can see bison, gardens, and snorkeling.

A ride on the golf cart is fun and there are many vendors along the main street.

There is Descanso Beach Club, but I have not been there for several years and in checking the recent reviews it is mixed. But there is a large free beach area on either side of the dock that we have enjoyed.

Everything is available when you get there, so you could wait to see what the weather is like before committing to anything in particular. I have found the Catalina Island official website helpful in the past, but have not gone on it lately.