Catalina Island

#Catalina_Island

Catalina is a California Island located just 35kms (22 miles) off the coast of Los Angeles known for its resort towns, dive sites, wildlife and nature trails

KeyTip;
Once you arrive by ferry, if staying in either Avalon or Two Harbors the walking is pedestrian friendly to explore shops, restaurants and sights

 But if you decide to go hiking a permit is required (for your safety and free of charge....look for the Conservancy Trailhead Center)
Trail choices are the following; Country Club Loop, Botanical Gardens Path and the Garden to Sky Hike
 All routes are well maintained with great scenery

For the three plus days trek of 62kms (38.5 miles) you have the Trans Catalina Trail for experienced hikers or backpackers
A campsite reservation is required in advance

Other Options
 To rent a Golf Cart is around $60 per hour and tours are priced per adult at $50
Public Bus is on a demand basis at a cost of $2.00 per rider

 

The island was first claimed by Spain ( you can see that influence with the buildings here)
 It was passed on to Mexico, then finally became part of the United States when California entered the Union in 1850 to become the 31st State

So before USA acquired California it was a province of New Spain, then part of Mexico (after they got independence from their European masters)
All of this adds up to the unique culture and effect you find here

There is a 20 year waiting list to own a car on Catalina Island
 ( there are taxis and hotel shuttle buses)
 But also as you can see, golf carts are allowed on the city streets of Avalon
 ( its only1.6km or 1 square mile in size)

The island is only 35kms (22 miles) long and 13kms  (8 miles) wide so i walked a lot of it until i came upon this
 (in my mind at least it flashed to the song of Stairway to Heaven)
To borrow some of the lyrics from Led Zeppelin;

In a tree by the brook, there is a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder
There is a feeling i get when i look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving

Catalina is one of the eight Channel Islands (which five of those are National Parks)
so preservation is in the mindset of everyone here

There are four types of amphibians and eight listed for reptiles, plus some endangered species like the Baja California Tree Frog, San Diego Alligator Lizard and Arboreal Salamander

I have always been a Chicago Cubs fan as i guess mostly because of the Wrigley Field with its old stadium and with my love of history
So to know this was once the Spring Training area for that baseball team
 It was like completing the circle so to speak

From the Beginning;
 William Wrigley Jr. acquired a majority of the Catalina Island Company in 1919 which still is run by the family today specializing in vacation packages from boating, ziplining and camping
Philanthropy;
The family invested into developing the island as a tourist destination by building the transportation infrastructure on the land, public utilities, steamship service (S.S.Catalina) and the Avalon Casino
Finally they have also donated 42,000 acres of land (90% of the area) to establish the Island Conservancy for preservation in 1972

Hard to believe but from 1942-1945 the island was closed to visitors and solely was used as a military training base for US Maritime Service, Coast Guard and Army Signal Corps

The Catalina Casino takes its name from the Italian meaning (social club) and is not a gambling site but used as a ballroom that hosts events
The twelve story structure has been entertaining guests for over 80 years and is the signature landmark when you enter the Avalon Bay

There was a swimming marathon (32kn or 20 miles) from the mainland to Catalina in 1927 with a huge cash prize offered by the Wrigley Family to peak interest in the area

To Present Times;
The Catalina Channel event is one of the three iconic races that makes up the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming 
With the other two being the English Channel and  Swim Around Manhattan

Anyone interested needs to submit an application, medical forms and fees at least 45 days before your intended target date

Some fun facts as we get ready to depart;

1) Marilyn Monroe had a house in Avalon
2) Filmed here; The Hunt for Red October, Suicide Kings and The Thin Red Line
3) The only school here is an outdoor based science Marine Institute (CIMI)
4) Bison were brought to the island for a movie and they were never returned
5) The Avalon sheriff area includes their part of the Pacific Ocean to mainland Southern California