LIFESTYLE 09
WEDNESDAY MAY 22 2019
Catalina offers island living close to Los Angeles RODERICK EIME “TWENTY-SIX miles across the sea Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me Santa Catalina, the island of romance A tropical heaven out in the ocean” When the Four Preps’ famous song hit the charts in 1958, no-one thought to actually check the measurement. It was just a song after all. So they were four miles out, no one seemed to care and the song has become an anthem for the eclectic paradise 22.3 measured miles from Long Beach. However you look at it, Santa Catalina Island (or just Catalina) is certainly one of the more unusual cruise ship ports. It has a casino where gambling is banned, a herd of bison left behind after a film was shot, almost no cars and was a secret training base in World War II. The main town, Avalon has a Third Street but no First or Second Streets, the Post Office doesn’t deliver the mail and the local cabs deliver for Avalon’s pizzerias. Archaeologists reckon Catalina’s been inhabited for about 7000 years, but by the early 19th Century, the native Pimungans had died out or dispersed and the Spanish moved in, renaming it Santa Catalina in 1602. Smugglers, hunters, miners and ranchers ruled in waves until the 20th Century when Hollywood and the California glitterati took over, building the quaint holiday village that exists today. Located 22 miles (35km) offshore from Long Beach, one million tourists
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Experience a Californian island paradise - Avalon is the main town on Catalina just off shore from Los Angeles.
each year travel by ferry from the ports at Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point and it’s a regular and popular stop for several cruise lines. Carnival Paradise brings 2000 visitors every Tuesday and there are also occasional visits by Celebrity Millennium. Next year sees Carnival Inspiration and Celebrity Century with more planned from other lines. The little town of just over 3000 residents is like its own time-warp movie set and the island has a strong connection with Hollywood too. It’s been the setting for over 200 movies and associated with names like Marilyn Monroe, Ronald Reagan, Mickey Rooney, Clark Gable, Doris Day, Natalie Wood (who
Travel, golf buggyies are the way to go on Catalina Island.
drowned) and Phil Hartman (who was murdered), while top name musi-
cians Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman and Benny Goodman regularly played at the casino. In fact, one of the beaches at Little Harbor was where the MGM art department built an entire Tahitian village for the 1935 big budget production of Mutiny on the Bounty and planted specially imported palm trees and tropical grass. It is somewhat surreal to wander the paths once walked by Clark Gable and Charles Laughton. Little Harbor was also once home to the Pimu Tongva people for some 8000 years until the Spanish landed in 1542 and things went steadily downhill for them until only scattered genetic traces now exist.
From 1924 until 1975, the stalwart steamer, SS Catalina ran a regular service which included carrying 800,000 servicemen to and from the island during WWII. Whether transported by the modern fast ferries or by cruise ship, most visitors will happily wander the streets, stopping by any of the 30something cafes and bars - like the circa-1946 Marlin Bar, complete with period décor. The more active can cycle, swim, play golf or go on the wildlife ecotour. For the aquatic guests there is sea kayaking, snorkelling or fishing plus there is even scuba diving with Scuba Luv for serious divers keen to explore the fascinating kelp beds just off the wall at the casino or one of the several wrecks such as the mysterious Ningpo, a former Chinese slaver and smuggling ship reputedly 200 years old when she went down. For visitors looking for something to do a few days before or after a cruise, there are quality hotels like the superb Avalon Hotel or newly renovated Pavilion Hotel plus a host of B&Bs to choose from. A stay of a few days will allow anyone to really explore this unusual location and maybe take part in, or observe one of the upcoming events like the marathon or triathlon, fishing tournament, Halloween parade or Jazz festival. The fascinating museum is always paying tribute to the many celebrities who passed through this tiny island sanctuary. For full details on Catalina Island, see the official site: www.catalinachamber.com