When on a cruise.
Santa Catalina Island, California
Some of the short cruises on the West Coast will include Catalina Island as
a day port of call. So, let's do a little exploring if you want to know just
a bit more about this particular port. The very first thing you will want to
know is that large ships cannot physically dock there, and must anchor just
off shore. Therefore, this is obviously a tender port.
Santa Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a
rocky island off the coast of the California, located about 22 miles
south-southwest of San Pedro (in Los Angeles County). It is 22 miles long
and 8 miles wide at its greatest width.
Today, most of the island is owners by the Catalina Island Conservancy. With
a total population of around 4,000; almost 85 percent live in its only city
of Avalon, with the rest just outside of the city limits. The second center
of population is the unincorporated town of Two Harbors.
The sons of Phineas Banning bought the island in 1891 from the estate of
Jack Lick and established the Santa Catalina Island Company to develop it as
a resort. Their efforts were set back when a fire burned half of Avalon's
buildings. World War I also hampered tourism, and the Banning brothers were
force to sell the island in 1919 to the chewing gum magnate William Wrigley
Jr., who devoted himself to preserving and promoting it, investing millions
in needed infrastructure and attractions. In 1921 he sold lots for building
in the town of Avalon. From 1927 through 1937 pottery and tile were made on
the island, and these are now considered collectibles. The Chicago Cubs,
also owned by Wrigley, used the island for the team's spring training from
California (1920 - 1950), absent the war years of 1942-45. While only a
plaque remains on the site of the field the Cubs once played, the historic
clubhouse still remains. Now known as the Catalina Island Country Club, the
clubhouse is open to the public. It features not only a restaurant and bar,
but also a great display of Chicago Cub's memorabilia.
Catalina's airport, the "Airport in the Sky" (AVX), was completed in 1946.
The 3,250-foot runway sits on a mountaintop, 1,602 feet above sea level. Up
until the time of the airport's construction, the only air service to the
island was provided by seaplanes. Known shipwrecks in the waters off the
island include the Diosa del Mar, which sunk July 30, 1990 near Ship Rock.
Also, the Valiant, a sunken, burned yacht a couple hundred yards out of
Descanso Beach. It had about $75,000 worth of jewelry never recovered. Dive
by harbormasters permit only. The oldest shipwreck know on Santa Catalina
Island is that of a Chinese smugglers (pirate) ship on the backside of the
island. As a side note, actress Natalie Wood drowned off the coast of
Catalina in 1981 while on a boating trip with husband Robert Wagner and
actor Christopher Walken.
The tourism industry was encourage by construction of the beautiful Art Deco
dance hall, called the Casino, in 1929. The Casino was 140 feet high when it
was built and was the tallest building in Los Angeles County at the time.
Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the circular Art Deco structure stands
the equivalent of 12 stories tall. Avalon Theatre, on the first level, shows
first-run movies nightly, and the theater's original Page Organ still plays
before the show. The circular domed ceiling has remarkable acoustic studied
by experts around the world. The upper level houses the world's largest
circular ballroom with a 180-foot diameter dance floor. French doors
encircle the room, and balcony views are spectacular. The Casino - which is
not a gambling hall but "place of entertainment" - played host to dozens of
Big Bands through the 1930's and 1940's. Guest came by steamship to
Charleston and later Jitterbug on the huge parquet floor. They dance the
night away to the music of Glen Miller, Harry James, Kay Kyser, and many
more over the years. Visitors can also see the inside of the Casino Building
on one of several walking tours
The Catalina Island Museum, located in the historic Casino Building, is also
an attraction, as it is the keeper of the island's cultural heritage with
collections numbering over 100,000 items and including over 7,000 years of
Native American history, over 10,000 photographs and images, a large
collection of Catalina-made pottery and tile, ship models, and much more.
The museum features dynamic exhibits on the history, and also a unique gift
store. Programs include walking tours of Avalon, classes for students,
gallery docents, lectures, and annual silent film benefit and more.
In 1975, Philip Wrigley deeded the Wrigley shares in the Santa Catalina
Island Company to the Island Conservancy that he helped create. The
Conservancy now stewards 88 percent of the island. The mission of the
Catalina Island Conservancy is to be a responsible steward of its lands
through a balance of conservation, education and recreation. So far, the
successes include the opening of California's first permanent desalination
plant in 1991.
Wildlife on Catalina includes thousand of species of plants and animals.
Catalina is also the home to 15 taxa found nowhere else. The Conservancy is
also working to restore bald eagles to the island, with several chicks
hatching in 2007. In the waters surrounding the island, there are schools of
fish such as Garibaldi, Yellowtail, Calico Bass, White Seabass, Giant
Seabass, Leopard Sharks, Blacksmiths, Opaleyes and many more. A herd of
American Bison roam, supposedly first imported to the island in 1924 for the
silent film version of Zane Gray's Western tale "The Vanishing American."
Over the decades. The bison herd grew to as many as 600. Bison were
routinely removed and sent to the mainland to auction. Recently however,
another solution was implemented. The Conservancy initiated a scientific
study that determined that a herd of 150 and 200 would be good for the
bison, and ecologically sound for the island.
The use of motor vehicles on the island is restricted; there is limit on the
number of registered cars, which translates into a 10-year-long wait list to
bring a car to the island. Most residents move around via golf carts.
Tourists can hire a taxi from Catalina Transportation Services. Bicycles are
also a popular mode of transportation. There are a number of bicycle and
golf cart rental agencies on the island. Only the City of Avalon is open to
the public without restrictions.
Glass bottom boats tour reefs and shipwrecks of the area, and scuba diving
and snorkeling are popular in the clear waters. Lover's Cove, to the east of
town, and Descanso Beach, to the west of the Casino, are popular places to
dive. The area is famous for the schools of flying fish and the bright
orange Garibaldi, which teems in local waters. Bus tours are given of the
interior of the island.
Founded in 1898, the Tuna Club is the oldest fishing club in the United
States. The club's main goals were to elevate the sport of fishing to its
highest possible standard, and for the protection of the game fish of
Southern California. Located on the edge of Avalon Bay, the Tuna Club is a
California Historic Landmark and is on the National Registry of Historic
Places. Many notable dignitaries and personalities have been members of the
Tuna Club, including Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Cecil B.
DeMille, Charlie Chaplin and Bing Crosby.
Today, the Green Pleasure Pier, in the heart of Avalon Bay is still the hub
of activity, and is a short walk from the drop off / pick-up point for the
cruise ship tenders. It is also home of the Catalina Island Chamber of
Commerce's Visitor Center, where you can get information seven days a week.
You can also find tours, water activities, dive center, and some great
places to eat on the 407-foot pier.
In 1926, author Zane Gary built a home on the hillside overlooking Avalon
Bay. He spent most of his later life in Avalon writing and fishing. His home
is now a hotel that still includes some of Gray's original furnishings.
The Inn at Mt. Ada is a six-room private bed and breakfast inn and the only
hotel on Catalina Island to be awarded the Four-Star Award by Mobil Travel
Guide. Located on top of Mt. Ada, the inn boasts breathtaking views of
Avalon Bay and the town of Avalon.
Build in 1921, the Inn on Mt. Ada is the former home of chewing gum magnate
William Wrigley Jr. The Georgian colonial style inn has been meticulously
restored and furnished to represent the time that the Wrigley family lived
in the house. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Built in 1925, the Chimes Tower was presented as a gift to the town of
Avalon by Mrs. Ada Wrigley. Located up and across from the Zane Gray Pueblo
Hotel, the chimes have been tolling on the quarter of the hour between
8:00am and 8:00pm since 1925.
Santa Catalina Island also served as the location for the filming of over
500 motion pictures, documentaries, television programs and commercials over
the past 90 years.
For further information on Santa Catalina Island, check out the following
Websites.
Visit Catalina: (http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com)
Catalina Chamber of Commerce: (http://www.catalinachamber.com)
Catalina Island Museum: (http://www.catalinamuseum.org)
The Catalina Conservancy: (http://www.catalinaconservancy.org)
In addition, take a look at our personal online photo album taken of
Catalina Island from our last cruise at:
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=9AZsmzVo3btx4&emid=sharshar&linkid=link3
Likewise, the town of Avalon itself is within easy walking distance from
where you will be dropped off from ships tenders, and is a paradise for
shoppers. In addition, many restaurants also dot the town, some right on the
bay itself. Naturally, many shore excisions will be available from the
cruise lines that frequent Catalina, or if you wish, you can use that
information to see what is available and simply do things on your own. As I
reference, I have included some of the available shore excursions from
Carnival Cruise Line, and a few others as well, instead of trying to list
everything available. This way, nothing will very become outdates, as the
cruise lines itself update their online information.
Carnival Cruise Line:
(http://www.carnival.com/ShoreExcursionsSearchResults.aspx?region=MB&portcode=CAT&portname=Catalina+Island%2c+CA)
Royal Caribbean International:
(http://www.carnival.com/ShoreExcursionsSearchResults.aspx?region=MB&portcode=CAT&portname=Catalina+Island%2c+CA)
Princess Cruises: (http://www.princess.com/learn/shorex/shorexdisplay.jsp)
Happy sailing,
John Sisker, SHIP-TO-SHORE CRUISE AGENCY®
(714) 536-3850 or toll free at (800) 724-6644 & (Agency No. 714.536.3850)
www.shiptoshorecruise.com
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