Search
Recommended Products
Related Links


 

 

Informative Articles

Car Rental Israel - Israel Driving Guide
Are you planning to visit Jerusalem and seeking a good car rental Israel deal? What about your car hire Israel? Here is a useful Israel Driving Guide to help you drive safely in your car rental Israel all over the Holy Land. International...

Disneyland for Hikers: A Walk to Mt. Whitney
Base camp sits at 12,000 feet — stark, windy, unshaded from the blazing August sun, but an otherwise great place to stop for a snack. Voices echo across cold granite as the breeze wraps around dozens of tents, backpacks, cooking stoves, and...

Rio de Janeiro – One of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities
To read this article with pictures, please copy and paste the following address into your browser: http://www.SearchingCities.com/rio_de_janeiro_travel.htm Rio de Janeiro is my favorite city in the world. The main thing I am impressed with is the...

What are car rental discount codes?
Car rental discount codes are an easy way to get a discount on renting a car. They replaced older paper coupons that were so popular at their time. Car rental discount codes exist only on the Internet and getting them is fairly simple as long as you...

Why Travel to Tanzania
Tanzania is the perfect destination, for a safari, if you wish to visit Africa, that is Africa proper. What makes Tanzania special is this is a land with no tribalism; there is no conflict just an inherent love for peace. People are friendly and...

 
Google
Santa Catalina - Island of Dreams

This beautiful island lies just 26 miles across the ocean from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. Yet it might be thousands of miles away.

As soon as you step ashore you can feel the pace of life slow perceptibly. Even the name of the main 'town' on the island is evocative - Avalon.

The 76 square mile island was originally owned by the Wrigley Family (of chewing gum fame) but over 80% is now owned by The Santa Catalina Island Conservancy. The island's interior is unspoilt and protected as a wildlife natural habitat.
There are very few cars on the island - transport is mainly by bike or electric golf cart(!). But you can easily explore Avalon on foot, and the only way to enjoy the shops, bars and restaurants along The Crescent.

Tours include a guided tour of the Casino, glass-bottomed boat trip from the pier to some kelp fields to see fish being fed from the boats and various bus tours into the interior of the island.

Tours can be purchased from the tourist office located by the pier. The


problem is trying to fit everything in before your return ferry!

The Casino is a must visit. Not actually ever a gambling casino, the three-storey Art Deco style building is home to a movie theatre and the world's largest circular ballroom. At its heyday up to 6000 dancers enjoyed the Big Bands in the 1920s to 1950s.

Guided tours are available and well worth going on to see the place and learn something of its wonderful history.

Aside from the usual tee-shirt shops selling souvenirs the island is known for its coloured ceramic tiles. These can make good mementos of your visit.

There are several boat services linking Catalina to the mainland, all take approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and cost about $42 per adult or - for $132 round trip you can arrive in style by a 15 minute helicopter flight from San Pedro.

About the Author

Tony works for Strathlorn Travel, an online travel agency which specialises in travel for the independent traveller.