Norma Jeanne Dougherty, nee Norma Jeanne Baker, later to become Marilyn Monroe, lived there for several years.
It was there that Winston Churchill, Teddy Roosevelt, Cecil B. DeMille, Charlie Chaplain, and Bing Crosby were all members of the Tuna Cub. The oldest fishing club in the USA.
The Chicago Cubs held spring training there for 30 years.
Zane Grey built a house and lived there.
Ronald Reagan, then an announcer for the Cubs, went to spring training there one year and took some time off to audition in nearby Los Angeles. The rest is history.
Natalie Woods drowned there while vacationing with her husband, Robert Wagoner, and friend, Christopher Walken.
In January, John and Anne Knapp vacationed there and took a twelve mile walk from the airfield back to Avalon.
We approach the island.
CATALINA ISLAND
Visiting Santa Catalina Island, has been on Anne’s bucket list for a while. We both grew up in Southern California but had never been to Catalina. Just off the coast of Los Angeles County, it is 22 miles long, 8 miles wide and boasts a population of around 4,100 people, 90% of whom live in the town of Avalon. 88% of the Island is managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy whose programs include protecting the Catalina Island Fox and re-introducing Bald Eagles.
The water around the island is deep blue and crystal clear. Unfortunately, it was a bit too cold for us to go snorkeling in without wetsuits. Maybe next trip.
One of the ferries that provides access to Avalon.
The weather was perfect, warm and dry during the day and chilly in the evening, actually a lot like where we are living in Kenya. We enjoyed a couple of happy hours sipping wine around a fire in the courtyard of our hotel, chatting with other guests.
Figuring a long downhill hike would be just the thing for a couple who had not been able to get much exercise for the last year, we decided to take a shuttle bus from Avalon to the mountain top airstrip, which is 1,602 feet above sea level, and amble back. Oops! We did drop 1,600 feet, of course, but it was hike down 600’, climb up 300’, repeat… for twelve miles. Rather than a long gentle descent it was steep downhill followed by steep uphill with virtually no switchbacks in sight. The steep down hills on a dusty, gravelly trail were as tough as the uphill climbs. We had a great time, arriving back in Avalon around 4:00, tired, thirsty, and hungry. Looking forward to several days of sore muscles, we were not disappointed.
Starting off on the trail.
The Conservancy is importing Bison. Don’t know why, they aren’t indigenous (I think).
That’s the mainland in the distant background.
We came upon a Catalina Island Deer.
Catalina Island has a lot to offer. You can lay on the beach, snorkel, scuba dive, deep sea fish (in season) see a movie and enjoy some good restaurants. If you want more energetic fare there are miles of hiking trails which can be quite challenging. There are also camp sites available if that is your flavor.
Almost back to Avalon.
Check one off the bucket list.
Did you take a tour of the casino. It is worth it really pretty and just plain interesting.
Wow, I haven’t been to Catalina since the 70’s. Thanks for sharing this.
Tammera,
We went to a movie at the casino but we didn’t take the Casino Tour. The Casino, for those who haven’t been, is not a gambling hall. In the past it was a public gathering place and dance hall.
Visiting Catalina Island was always just a few spots down the list of “things to-do” while we lived in LA. It never made it to the top. Maybe someday we will be able to visit and scratch it off the list. Thanks for sharing.
It’s on my bucket list. Looks like a blast! So glad you made it. 🙂