Explore population numbers of Catalina Island fox. Photo by Jack Baldelli, Courtesy Catalina Island Conservancy.
If you’re missing your favorite island and just can’t seem to schedule a getaway soon enough, there are plenty of ways to get a dose of Santa Catalina Island from anywhere in the world. While it certainly won’t compete with an actual Catalina Island visit, the Catalina Island Conservancy offers a number of virtual Catalina Island maps and tours on its website. Informative, entertaining and intriguing, these maps and tours provide a virtual visit to several spots on the island.
All of the maps require a download of the Google Earth Plugin, which will take few minutes to download depending on the speed of your internet connect. Once you have the free application, you’ll be able to explore key conservation activities of the Conservancy, including the dramatic changes in numbers of the Catalina Island fox and non-native plant species removal.
Looking to plan your Island explorations before your next trip? The Conservancy’s bike trail map provides elevation changes as well as mapping so you’ll be able to determine just how hard you want to push yourself. Prefer to relax and enjoy the ride? Check out the tour of the Wildlands Express route from Avalon to the Airport in the Sky. Speaking of the Airport in the Sky, you can also explore that island landmark from the comfort of your computer.