Avalon, CA (pop 3,728)
Located about 22 miles south of Long Beach, Santa Catalina Island is one of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of California and one of two,
along with San Clemente Island, within Los Angeles County. Avalon is the only incorporated city on any of the eight islands (though Catalina also has a community of about 300,
Two Harbors, on the north part of the island). Avalon is primarily a tourist and resort town and its small size and isolation gives it a very Euro-Mediterranean-light feel.
Few full sized cars are allowed on the island and most people get around Avalon by walking or with the many golf cart or similar sizes vehicles that are synonymous with the island.
Gleaning a little history from wikipedia, Avalon really didn't come into its own until William Wrigley, Jr, gained controlling interest in the island in 1919 and invested a lot of money in buildings,
infrastructure, and promotion of the island as a resort. He was reportedly responsible for the building of Catalina's famous
Casino and brought the Chicago Cubs to the island for Spring training. A memorial and garden in his name remains in Avalon.
I visited Avalon once before on a cruise, but, I didn't see much at that time, so, for my one year anniversary in September, we took the
ferry from Long Beach and spent three days there. It is truly a unique place.
The Catalina Casino, now a history museum and movie theatre.
Avalon Harbor
Our home for three days
Crescent Avenue, the main waterfront street, this part is pedestrian only
A great place for breakfast!
Local motorized transit
The front of the casino. We did not, unfortunately, take a tour inside.
Walking towards Descanso Beach
The beach, while accessible, is very rocky which is more typical of what I am used to in Northern California.
The stairs are public, but, this house had its own funicular from the street
In this neighborhood, we encountered a very friendly, wealthy looking woman walking with a glass of wine in hand. Clearly inebriated, she praised us for climbing the stairs up to her neighborhood and welcomed us to Avalon...such is the lifestyles of the rich!
Wrigley's old clock tower
Avalon Harbor
The road to the Catalina airport (10 miles) and Two Harbors (18 miles)
The Wrigley Memorial, about a mile and half from Avalon Harbor
Towards Avalon with the California coastline barely visible in the distance
From here, we hiked up the graded, dirt Avalon Canyon Road to the ridge to get even better views of Catalina
Those mountains in the distance, some 20 miles away, are on the California coastline and, if my geography isn't off, would be Orange County
Along the ridge line
Looking west towards San Clemente Island
A peak on San Clemente Island, which is about 50 miles from the California coast, breaking through the fog.
Looking back east towards the California mainland
Back to Avalon
Avalon is a city proper and, though most of the buildings seem to serve as vacation homes or businesses to support the tourism industry, there are still schools, a medical center, city hall, courthouse, library, fire station, etc.
The medical center
Avalon's K-12 school
City Hall
Fire Services
The Courthouse. I don't know if it is true, but, I remember on my cruise a tour guide stating an LA County judge comes from the mainland once a month or once a week to hear cases.
Library and Sheriff's office
Of course the golf course
It is hard to tell where the vacation homes end and the permanent residences begin
More local transit
This was our vote for the best "car" on the island
Parking problems are everywhere...
Von's...our local grocer!
On our last day a small rain storm hit
Going to Lover's Cove, fun for snorkeling
Taking the ferry to Long Beach
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Tour of California 1: Los Angeles,
2: Hollywood, Glendale, Pasadena, Beverly Hills,
3: Riverside, Santa Ana, Long Beach,
4: San Jose,
5: San Diego,
6: Fresno,
7: Stockton, Modesto,
8: Gold Country,
9: Eureka, Arcata,
10: Monterey, Carmel,
11: Santa Cruz,
12: Sacramento Pt One, 13: Sacramento Pt Two,
14: Roseville & Folsom,
15: Concord & Walnut Creek,
16: Tri-Valley,
17: Berkeley, Emeryville,
18: Fremont,
19: Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto,
20: Redwood City, Foster City, San Mateo,
21: Oakland,
22: Benicia, Vallejo,
23: Napa, St. Helena,
24: Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sonoma,
25: San Rafael,
26: Larkspur, Mill Valley,
27: Sausalito, Tiburon,
28: Hollister, San Juan Bautista,
29: Long Beach 2008,
30: Venice,
31: Santa Monica,
32: Sacramento Pt 3,
33: Solvang,
34: Alameda,
35: Knights Ferry,
36: California Zephyr,
37: Colfax,
38: Davis,
39: Oakdale,
40: San Francisco Pt 1,
San Francisco Pt 2,
41: Chico, Redding,
42: Kings Beach,
43: Merced,
44: Gold Country pt 2,
45: Gold Country pt 3,
46: Sonora,
47: Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City,
48: Orange, Fullerton,
49: Anaheim, Irvine,
50: Newport Beach, Laguna Beach,
51: San Francisco, Pt 3,
52: Lodi,
53: Martinez,
54: Ft Bragg, Mendocino,
55: San Luis Obispo,
56: Sacramento River Pt 1,
57: Sacramento River Pt 2,
58: Lake Merritt/Oakland,
59: Marysville/Yuba City,
60: Woodland,
61: Beverly Hills"
62: Los Angeles,
63: Sacramento,
64: Lakeport,
65: South Lake Tahoe,
66: Salinas, Watsonville,
67: Pacific Grove.
68: Winters/Willows,
69: Red Bluff,
70: Redding,
71: Weaverville,
72: Yreka/Weed/Mt Shasta,
73: Mt. Lassen/Susanville,
74: Quincy,
75: Oroville
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