"God's gift to southern California " a Santa Catalina Island Travel Page by mht_in_la

Update (8/2/2004): Visited Catalina again. This is my 2nd time this year. Did lots of hiking and saw lots of buffalos this time (several herds) which I'll post in a travelogue. It may be a while before I come back to the island again, as I felt I have explored the island to a degree that nothing is new unless I really go far out.

Update (2/8/2004): Just got back from a "buffalo weekend" on the island. Did the half marathon course (hike, not run), photographed buffalos in the wild, then had some buffalo burger.

Garibaldi, glass bottom boat, buffalo, clear water and open sky... these are the things that come to my mind when I think of Catalina Island. Since I discovered the Island a few years ago, I've been back at least once a year. Located only 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles, the island is God's gift to the busy, secular Southern Californian.

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Buffalo in the sky

For the first half of 20th Century, the whole island was owned by the chewing-gum millionaire Wrigley family. It's now managed by Catalina Island Conservancy for its protection and restoration. On the island, building permits are limited so it doesn't get new development. Automobile is controlled. Unless you are a resident of the island, the most you can drive is a golf cart. But life doesn't have to be rustic on the island. In developed areas they have everything we have on the mainland: electricity, plumbing, internet... even a 310 area code. Plenty of luxurious resorts allow guests to bring their plastic life style over (you won't see these on my site though).

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Follow the fish food

Besides cruise ships that stop here on regular basis, from southern California there are many places to catch a ferry -- San Pedro, Long Beach (Queen Mary), Newport Beach, or Dana Point. The fare is about $42 - $45 round trip (was just $35 a few years ago). On the island there are two main cities: Avalon and Two Harbors. Most Catalina visitors from ferries/cruise ships only see Avalon; the biggest city on island gets crowded and touristy in the summer. The smaller city of Two Harbors is to the north, with limited ferry schedules. You are in the open wild once venturing outside the two cities.

All the hotels, restaurants, tour and ferry operators consolidate their websites into one, plus weather, event calendar, maps, and lots of useful info -- http://www.catalina.com. Everything you need is there.