Official Language:
English
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Currency:
US Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 3,500 people call Catalina Island ho
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Catalina Island:
The climate is dry in the summer with moderate temperatures in the winter. January highs are generally in the low to mid. 60s °F/15°C and summer highs in the mid-70s °F/21°C.
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Catalina is so different from the mainland that it almost seems like a different country, remote and unspoiled. In 1915, William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum magnate, purchased the island, planning to develop it into a fashionable resort. To publicize the new vacationland, Wrigley brought big-name bands to the Avalon Ballroom and moved the Chicago Cubs, which he owned, to the island for spring training. His marketing efforts succeeded and Catalina soon became a world-renowned playground, luring such celebrities as Laurel and Hardy, Cecil B. DeMille, John Wayne, and even Winston Churchill.
In 1975, the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy -- a nonprofit operating foundation organized to preserve and protect the island's nature habitat -- acquired about 88% of Catalina Island, protecting virtually all of the hilly acreage and rugged coastline that make up what is known as the interior. In fact, some of the most spectacular outlying areas can only be reached by arranged tour. Catalina Island may be only 22 miles away from mainland Los Angeles, but you'll feel as if you've entered another world as soon as you step ashore. Whether you fancy a stroll through Avalon, Catalina's main city, or a more adventurous hike through Catalina's Isthmus at Two Harbors, the island offers a breadth of diverse activities.
The island is only 21 miles long and 8 miles wide. Unlike anywhere else in California, automobiles are looked upon with disdain. As a matter of fact, there are restrictions for the amount of vehicles allowed on the island at any one time.
For at least 7,000 years, Catalina has been inhabited. The original residents of what was then known as the island of Pimu were the Pimungan Indians. Because the island's climate was not conducive to plant life diversity, the Pimungans set up a vast trading network with tribes on the mainland. After the Spanish colonization of Catalina, the Pimungans began to disappear due to disease and disruption of trade. Catalina enjoyed a brief time as a booming mining town when silver was discovered in the mid-19th century. Squatters and miners from all over the country made their way here, and their names are forever etched in the island's history as geographical points (Ben Weston Beach, Johnson's Landing, and so on).
The feel of the island could not be more different than its neighbor 22 miles away. Catalina's mountain views are reminiscent of the panoramic views of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. The quaint, village type atmosphere is seemingly worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.
Catalina offers a wide variety of activities in a small amount of space, the perfect place to take a day trip. Bird watching, snorkeling, all manner of water sports, and fine dining are just some of your myriad options on the island of Catalina. The bike trails afford beautiful vistas, if you're willing to sweat a little on the uphill climb. Crime is not even an issue here, so feel free to walk anywhere you please.
Cruise ships dock in the Port of Avalon, on the southeast side of the island. From here, you will be within walking distance of most of the tourist attractions in Avalon, Catalina's main city. The best way to get around Catalina is by walking. Most attractions in Avalon are easily accessible on foot. Taxis are available though, if you are so inclined. Call The Catalina Cab Company (tel. 310/510-0025) and one of their minivans will pick you up in a matter of minutes. Golf carts are a common form of transportation around Catalina. For $40 an hour at Catalina Auto and Bike Rentals (tel. 310/510-0111), you can rent a six-person golf cart. Bicycles are another common mode of transportation, particularly around Avalon. For only $5 an hour, Brown's Bikes (tel. 310/510-0986) will have you on your two-wheeled way.
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Attractions |
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For a good overview of everything there is to do in Catalina, stop by the Visitor's Bureau (tel. 310/510-1520) for some maps and tourist brochures. Most visitors to Santa Catalina come for the fantastic watersports, including diving, snorkelling, sea kayaking, ocean rafting and sailing. There's also some great hiking, horseback riding and bicycling trails. Catalina has plenty of hotels and resorts, as well as four campgrounds, but most are fairly expensive. You can get to Catalina on one of the regular cruises from Long Beach, San Pedro, Redondo Beach or Newport Beach, or you can take a (very pricey) helicopter tour with Island Express Helicopters (tel. 310/510-2525) offers aerial tours of the island. You can choose from tours that cover just the city and harbor area to tours that cover the entire island.
What to See & Do in Avalon:
Walk along horseshoe-shaped Crescent Avenue, past private yachting and fishing clubs, toward the landmark Casino building. You can see the Art Deco theater for the price of a movie ticket any night. Also on the ground floor is the Catalina Island Museum (tel. 310/510-2414), See 7,000 years of history come alive. Which features exhibits on island history, archaeology, and natural history.The museum has a contour relief map of the island that's helpful to hikers. Admission is $1.50 for adults, 50¢ for kids under 13; it's included in the price of Discovery's Casino Tour. Around the point from the Casino lies Descanso Beach Club (tel. 310/510-7410), a mini-Club Med in a private cove. While you can get on the beach year-round, the club's facilities (including showers, restaurant/bar, volleyball lawns, and thatched beach umbrellas) are only open from Easter to September 30. Admission is $1.50.About 1 1/2 miles from downtown Avalon is
Guided tours:
Will allow you to enjoy everything there is to see around Catalina beyond Avalon. Catalina Adventure Tours (tel. 310/510-2888) offers many different kinds of tours, both by land and by sea.
Catalina Island Conservancy :
The interior of the island is protected from any future development. This virginal terrain is home to bald eagles, buffalo, and animal species that only exist here in Catalina. The Conservancy covers an expanse of territory, and one of the best ways to see it all is by taking a Jeep Eco-Tour (tel. 310/510-2595 ext. 0).
The Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens :
It is a 1.5-mile walk up Avalon Canyon Road. It costs only one dollar for admission, and you'll be able to see beautifully preserved gardens, including six plants that can only grow on Catalina Island. The gardens, a project of Ada Wrigley, showcase plants endemic to California's coastal islands. Open daily from 8am to 5pm. (tel. 310/510-2595)
Holly Hill House:
This 1890 cottage is the third oldest residence on the island. It is privately owned.
Bird watching:
is a popular pastime on Catalina Island. A small community of bald eagles has made Catalina home, and is beginning to thrive thanks to the work of environmental activists working to rid the island of residual DDT.
Water Sports Kayaking:
Especially around Two Harbors at the isthmus of Catalina, affords wonderful opportunities to see parts of the island only accessible by watercraft. Kayak rentals are available at hourly, half-day, and full day intervals, from Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center (tel. 310/510-4272).Sailing, especially at sunset, makes for a romantic end to the day, and perfect beginning to the evening. Call Second Wind Charters (tel. 310/510-1802) for rates and packages.For the scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiast, Catalina has a bunch of companies who will take care of all of your underwater needs. Try Catalina Scuba Luv (126 Catalina Ave., tel. 800/262-DIVE), which offers everything from gear to training to boat charters.In Two Harbors, you will need a license if you want to go fishing. The Two Harbors General Store (tel. 310/510-7625) will sell you saltwater fishing licenses, along with bait and other fishing equipment.
Nightlife:
The adjoining Coconut Bar offers live jazz.The Landing (El Encanto Market Place, tel. 310/510-1474) also overlooks Avalon Bay, and offers a wide selection of microbrews, including their very own Catalina Gold and Catalina Red. Catalina Comedy Club (tel. 310/510-0017). The stand-up comedians are good for a belly laugh or two!
Shopping:
There are two shopping centers in Catalina. El Encanto Marketplace, at the corner of Crescent and Marilla, has a small collection of shops, along with The Landing restaurant, a popular Avalon spot. The Metropole Marketplace, at Crescent and Metropole, is a little bit larger, with over 30 shops and restaurants.The Casino Art Gallery (tel. 310/510-0808) features the work of local artists, and some diamonds can be found in the rough here. Thomas Kinkade fans will find his work featured at the Catalina Island Gallery (203 Crescent Avenue, tel. 310/510-2050).For affordable woman's wear, Catalina Casuals, etc. (114 Catalina Ave., tel. 310/510-2568) fits the bill. Relaxed island casual wear for under $30. Men will want to visit Buoys and Gulls (417 Crescent Ave. tel. 310/510-0416) for nice men's casual wear.
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Catalina Island:
Catalina Island Travel Information<
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