There's always something new to do on Catalina Island.
"Catalina reminds me of a Greek island with its golf carts, clear blue ocean water and laid-back European atmosphere," a Norwegian visitor told me while we waited in line at the town of Avalon's only grocery store. I nodded in agreement because Catalina is a pretty special place, accurately labeled "California's island escape." My wife and I have become big fans of Catalina, even though I had written it off a few decades ago, when a then-girlfriend and I went over for the day, walked around Avalon, had lunch, and took the ferry back. That was a formula that didn't work for me, which we have since corrected.
So what makes the island so special? Let's start with its fascinating history. Some rich guys bought Santa Catalina Island more than 100 years ago, got financially burned (by a huge Avalon fire), and then sold it to mega-wealthy William Wrigley Jr., of the Chicago chewing gum empire. After buying the island, Wrigley proceeded to develop it while conserving most of its land. He created a unique ambience in Avalon with a bird aviary, an art-deco building called the Casino (which was strictly a dance hall and movie theater), a nine-hole golf course and other exotic touches like the hilltop Spanish bell tower that still chimes every 15 minutes.
As the owner of the Chicago Cubs for 30 years, Wrigley brought the team to Catalina for spring training. Finally in 1972 the family donated 88 percent of the island to the Catalina Island Conservancy, which now carefully stewards the island's ecology and development.
If you go to Avalon's relatively new museum, which I recommend, you'll learn about many more intriguing historical tidbits, including the fact that 17-year-old Marilyn Monroe first discovered how attractive she was to men while she lived in Avalon as a young newlywed. After a short marriage, she left Catalina and launched her fabled Hollywood career. In 1936, Ronald Reagan decided to take a day off from his baseball announcing job and he went over to the mainland for his first Hollywood audition, and the rest is Gipper history. For whodunit types, there is an exhibit about the infamous death of Natalie Wood, wife of Robert Wagner, at Two Harbors.
Based on our past four visits, I think the key to an enjoyable Catalina vacation is to set aside at least two nights and three days so you can see different parts of the island, especially Two Harbors, dine in the beachfront restaurants and, most important of all, do a variety of the water- and land-based tours.
Here are some of my suggestions and updates on new attractions.
Getting there
The Catalina Express leaves from Dana Point, Long Beach and San Pedro daily. Arrive at least 45 minutes before departure in order to deal with parking and waiting in line. The Catalina Express Birthday Promotion allows two to travel for one adult fare on your birthday. The ferry ride itself is part of what's special about a Catalina trip — it's exciting watching the yacht-filled harbor recede as the ferry glides into the channel, then glimpsing the craggy outline of Catalina Island as the ferry finishes its 22-mile trip. All eyes gaze at Avalon's harbor, alive with all kinds of boats and the sound of kids yelling as they jump into the water. It's also possible to reach Catalina by private boat or airplane, or by helicopter.
