Top 5 off-campus destinations for Catalina students

Catalina’s best qualities are not only found on campus through the school’s community, academics, and opportunities, but also outside the school’s gates in the beautiful central coast city of Monterey, California. With must-see places like Pebble Beach being a 10-minute drive from school and additional local beaches in your backyard, our location is truly one of the best aspects of Catalina. School should not strictly be a place to study and get good grades, but a place where students can have fun and strip away the everyday pressures of schoolwork. Catalina’s environment is the perfect place for students to thrive. Here are Catalina students’ top 5 favorite off-campus destinations, in no particular order.

Cannery Row

Cannery Row is a street about 10 minutes from Catalina and one of Monterey’s most touristy attractions, full of deep history and charm. You can do some fun attractions, like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is something that never gets old—and this is coming from someone who has been to the aquarium more times than I can count. But what makes this place so popular amongst students is the food! There are bakeries and cafes and other cuisines, and unforgettable clam chowder. But I’m more of a dessert person, so the reason I go to Cannery Row is the Ghirardelli shop, which has the best sundaes and milkshakes. Cannery Row is also a place where you can rent a bike for cheap or one of those big “bike carts” you can try with your friends. Overall, Cannery Row is a hub full of fun things to do and places to eat, and is a great place to go on the weekend!

The Beach

There is no question that one of the best parts of Monterey is being surrounded by the beautiful Pacific Ocean. The beach is the perfect place to have a campfire, host parties and get-togethers, and have picnics. A lot of Catalina girls spontaneously go to the beach after school, and it's the best place to chill after a test or a long school day. Some of the closest beaches are Del Monte and Carmel, and my favorite things to do are play beach volleyball or go tide-pooling. The beaches are teeming with marine life like otters, starfish, sea lions, anemones, and lots of other cool stuff! Even if you are not a big beach person, living so close to one becomes part of your life in the best way possible. And hey, maybe one day you’ll get the courage to jump in the ice-cold water!

DMC

The Del Monte Shopping Center is inarguably the most popular place for Catalina students to go, and for good reason. You can never go wrong with a classic shopping trip (even if you’re just window shopping)! This outdoor mall is just five minutes from campus, and the school provides a shuttle almost every weekend. Some of my favorite things are going to Pizza My Heart, seeing a movie, getting ice cream, or getting Starbucks.

Big Sur

Big Sur is a great place for a day trip because of its gorgeous natural scenery. Big Sur is roughly 45 minutes from Catalina, but the drive alone is worth your while, with big cliffs, pretty forests, and stunning views of the ocean. You can usually find a day student to take you, and you can drive around, go to the gorge, go to the beach, take photos, or go on a hike. It is just such a fantastic place to be overall. Surprisingly enough, despite its distance, it’s a prevalent place for students because of its beauty.

Carmel

Last but not least is Carmel-by-the-Sea. This is my personal favorite because it combines my two favorite things—the mall and the beach—and it is so beautiful and cozy at the same time. The shopping center is so enchanting it looks like you are in the village in a fairy tale. Sometimes, I just go to look at the buildings and pretty houses and don’t even shop. Carmel is also my favorite beach because it has firepits on one end, volleyball courts on the other, and is great to just walk on. Carmel also has an outdoor theatre where you can watch musicals or plays, a big perk if you love theatre. This is my favorite place to go to with friends because of its aesthetic, and is a great place to go to if you want a change of scenery in terms of architecture!

Bonus: Santa Cruz Boardwalk

Here’s a bonus place you can visit on a weekend trip! The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an amusement park with classic roller coasters, carnival games, haunted houses, and the beach. I love going to the Boardwalk because the rides never get old. Who doesn’t have fun at an amusement park? This destination is about an hour away but is a guaranteed great time with your friends. You won’t regret it!