Things To Do

CATALINA

Twenty-two miles off the coast of Southern California lies the beautiful island of Santa Catalina. Part of the Channel Islands archipelago, it is only 21 miles long, ranges in width from 8 miles at its widest to a half mile at its narrowest, yet attracts more than a million visitors annually. Accessible by ferry or plane, getting there is half the fun. Catalina has a rich and diverse history. Archeological evidence indicates it was inhabited over 7,000 years ago. The original indigenous people were the Gabrulino/Tongua tribe. The first European explorers claimed it for Spain in 1542. For the next several centuries it was home to Russian otter hunters, smugglers, miners, ranchers and the United States military. There was even a short-lived gold rush in the 1860s. By the late 1800s Catalina was largely uninhabited. As the population of nearby Los Angeles grew, Catalina became an idyllic vacation spot. Various developers bought large tracts of land and built hotels and established steamships to ferry visitors back and forth. In 1929 the Catalina Casino was built. The word casino in this instance is used in the Italian sense, meaning gathering place, rather than a gambling facility. This architectural gem was designed by Sumner A. Spalding and Walter Weber. Its style is Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival. It cost two million

dollars to build in 1929, a very substantial sum at the time. This circular 12 story structure is surrounded by water on three sides. The first level houses a movie theater, showing first-run films nightly, which seats 1,154. It has rose- colored walls and 50 foot arched ceilings with 5 Tiffany chandeliers. The upper level is home to the world’s largest circular ballroom. The dance floor can hold over 6,000 dancers and the views from the balcony are breathtaking. A tour of the Casino is a must for visitors. The Casino also is home to the Catalina Museum, offering a fascinating look at the history of Catalina. To get an overview of the beauty of the island, there are many tours available. You can explore the island by bicycle, on foot, by Segway or off-road vehicles.

ENCHANTED ISLAND You can explore the crystal clear waters and the amazing life held within via submarine, glass bottom boat, snorkeling or scuba diving. The wildlife includes sea lions, kelp forests, dolphins and most amazingly, schools of flying fish. One can even walk underwater, without scuba certification, wearing a scuba helmet. pamper themselves with a visit to the many day spas. For those that prefer to commune with nature and pursue more solitary adventures, the interior offers majestic wilderness and camping and hiking. Whatever form your dream vacation takes, you are sure to find it on Catalina.