Misc

It often seems as if there are two Catalina islands: the relative hustle and bustle of Avalon and the rest of Santa Catalina Island. Two Harbors, at the opposite end of the island from Avalon, exemplifies that dichotomy. Less than half a mile wide, the...

Photo courtesy Spectrum Sports Catalina Island’s rugged terrain and breath-taking vistas have been challenging athletes for decades. Each year, feats of speed and endurance dot the calendar, with marathons, double marathons and a triathlon attracting extreme athletes from around the country to Catalina Island. On...

Catalina Island vacations frequently begin before travelers even arrive in Avalon, especially if a whale or dolphins are spotted from the Catalina ferry. Frolicking dolphins and massive whales are often spotted between the mainland and the island, with more than a dozen species regularly spotted...

Catching the Super Bowl on Catalina In less than two weeks, the Seattle Seahawks will face off against the Denver Broncos at the 2014 Super Bowl. Plan to be on the island for the big game, you’ll have plenty of options for catching the football...

Catalina Island Conservancy Trail Map Most Catalina Island visitors see only the few miles around Avalon. The city’s shops and spas, restaurants and bars, history and beaches are all they ever see of Catalina Island’s things to do. Just beyond Avalon however, Catalina Island opens...

Image from http://www.ecodivecenter.com A few of the other islands While those of us who love it like to think it’s like nowhere else on earth, Santa Catalina Island is actually part of a chain of eight islands known as the Channel Islands. While Catalina is...

Photo by Jack Baldelli, courtesy Catalina Island Conservancy. Seeing the rest of the island Most of the nearly one million people who visit Santa Catalina Island every year never see more than the two square miles of Avalon. Their experience with this fascinating Southern California...

Rain brings Catalina hillside to life Traditionally, Catalina in spring was a time of transformation. The island changed color, watering holes filled and flowers dappled the hillsides. For the last several years, drought had changed that. Rather than greener, each year it seemed that the...

Catalina Island has been “discovered” several times. It was inhabited by native islanders for thousands of years – those intrepid explorers had discovered that life on the island was much more intriguing than life on the mainland and created an island culture that lasted hundreds...

Families will find plenty of activities for all ages on Catalina Island Despite its reputation as the Island of Romance, Catalina can also be an ideal vacation for the entire family. For more than a century, families have been escaping the mainland madness and discovering...