Our Catalina Island Trip June 25-27, 2018
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Monday, June 25, 2018, Melody and I arrived by car at the Catalina Landing at Downtown Long Beach. The address is: 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, Ca. 90802. We parked our car in a parking ramp across from the port. Our tickets had us boarding the Catalina Express ferry at 12:30 PM. We arrived early, so we caught the 9:50 AM ferry. The ferry ride is around one hour long or about 30 plus miles.
On shore we decided to catch a cab to the Catalina Island Inn. Riding the cab we realized the Inn was only a short distance, so the $15 wasn't necessary. The day we left we walked to the ferry. Our room was on the third floor, so our knees were challenged over the next few days climbing steps. Our room was very small, but neat and clean. It didn’t even have a chair in the room. (A couple photos below)
We decided to go for a walk, as our room was near downtown and the beach. We found an Avalon Canyon Trail tour (50 mins.) in a Hummer available, so off we went in beautiful, sunny weather. We found some nice eating places within walking distance from our hotel. One afternoon we enjoyed some wine, cheese and crackers on our hotel deck. Happy Hour at most places was from 4-7 PM. They have a water storage, so if you asked for water they came with a bottle of water and charged you $2.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018, found us up early headed to Jack’s for breakfast. This was a very nice place, good service and great food. We jumped on the city bus for a city tour. One of the highlights of this ride was a stop at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Catalina Island has a water shortage, so not everything is green including the golf course. The bus let us off at the entrance to the Botanic Gardens, so from here it was a long walk up hill through the gardens to the memorial. The Wrigley Memorial is an iconic landmark of Catalina, featuring local stone and famed Catalina tile. William Wrigley Jr., when building the Memorial set aside places for his burial and family. He was once buried there, but during WWII his remains were moved to Forest Lawn in Glendale. His headstone still remains there. After the bus tour we decided to rent a golf cart for two hours. Very few cars found on Catalina Island, so many golf carts. Gas there goes for $7.00 a gallon. We drove up to the Chimes Tower, which was being refurbished. With a fundraising goal of $1 million, the Chimes Tower Foundation plans to continue repairs on the existing structure, restore the chimes, install new lighting, and add landscaping. Perched high above the harbor, the tower was a 1925 gift to the city from Ada and William Wrigley Jr. We also stopped at the Casino building and walked around outside. It’s mainly used now to show movies a few nights a week.
After returning the golf cart we decided to walk over and tour the Catalina Island Museum. Up the street was the oldest house on the Island. Not in very good shape, but still standing. (Photo of house below)
Wednesday, June 28, 2018, up early to checkout have breakfast and catch our ferry back to Long Beach. This time we decided to walk from our hotel to the port. Saving the $15 cab fee. We arrived at the port early, so caught an early ferry for the hour ride. I estimated the ferry averaged 36 MPH. Found our car and departed Long Beach around 12 noon. Arrived back home in Las Vegas around 5:30 PM. An end to a great few days with family and a trip to Catalina Island. We plan to go back to Catalina again someday and visit family.
The Island is 22 miles long and eight miles across. The population in 2010 was 4,096.
It currently takes about 20 years for a vehicle import application to get to the top of the list.
There is a second city on the Island of Catalina. Two Harbors, at the Island’s West End, is known for being low-key and rustic.
A brief history of Catalina Island
1887 The first pier and hotel are built. By 1891 there are private homes, a dance pavilion, golf course and roads into the Island’s interior for stage coaches.
1915 A devastating fire destroys half of Avalon, forcing the Island’s entrepreneurs, the Banning brothers, to sell the Catalina Island Company.
1919 Chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley Jr. purchases controlling interest and immediately begins improving the Island’s infrastructure, adding new steamships and attractions.
1921 William Wrigley Jr. becomes the owner of the Chicago Cubs and moves the team’s Spring Training site to Catalina, where it remains for 30 years.
1924 Fourteen North American bison are brought to Catalina Island to be used in a Zane Grey film, a herd of approximately 100-200 continue to roam the Island’s interior today.
1929 The iconic Casino building, 12 stories tall and containing the world’s largest circular ballroom, opens, drawing new visitors and Hollywood stars.
1932 After his father’s passing, Philip K. Wrigley takes over the Catalina Island Company and ushers in a new era of development that modernizes Avalon.
1934 CBS broadcasts Big Band music from the Casino Ballroom nightly, drawing listeners from across the nation.
1935 Filming of Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, takes place. It is among more than 500 productions that have been filmed on Catalina in the past 90 years.
1942 The United States is at war and Catalina Island is officially closed to visitors. The U.S. Maritime Service takes over Avalon to use as a training station.
1972 To preserve the Island’s interior, Philip K. Wrigley establishes the Catalina Island Conservancy.
1975 Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wrigley and Philip’s sister, Dorothy Wrigley Offield, deeded 42,000 acres owned by the Santa Catalina Island Company to the Catalina Island Conservancy. It protects 88% of the Island and is one of the oldest private land trusts in Southern California. Today, the Santa Catalina Island Company is owned by descendants of William Wrigley Jr., who carry on his vision for building and maintaining a world class island resort.
On shore we decided to catch a cab to the Catalina Island Inn. Riding the cab we realized the Inn was only a short distance, so the $15 wasn't necessary. The day we left we walked to the ferry. Our room was on the third floor, so our knees were challenged over the next few days climbing steps. Our room was very small, but neat and clean. It didn’t even have a chair in the room. (A couple photos below)
We decided to go for a walk, as our room was near downtown and the beach. We found an Avalon Canyon Trail tour (50 mins.) in a Hummer available, so off we went in beautiful, sunny weather. We found some nice eating places within walking distance from our hotel. One afternoon we enjoyed some wine, cheese and crackers on our hotel deck. Happy Hour at most places was from 4-7 PM. They have a water storage, so if you asked for water they came with a bottle of water and charged you $2.
Tuesday, June 26, 2018, found us up early headed to Jack’s for breakfast. This was a very nice place, good service and great food. We jumped on the city bus for a city tour. One of the highlights of this ride was a stop at the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden. Catalina Island has a water shortage, so not everything is green including the golf course. The bus let us off at the entrance to the Botanic Gardens, so from here it was a long walk up hill through the gardens to the memorial. The Wrigley Memorial is an iconic landmark of Catalina, featuring local stone and famed Catalina tile. William Wrigley Jr., when building the Memorial set aside places for his burial and family. He was once buried there, but during WWII his remains were moved to Forest Lawn in Glendale. His headstone still remains there. After the bus tour we decided to rent a golf cart for two hours. Very few cars found on Catalina Island, so many golf carts. Gas there goes for $7.00 a gallon. We drove up to the Chimes Tower, which was being refurbished. With a fundraising goal of $1 million, the Chimes Tower Foundation plans to continue repairs on the existing structure, restore the chimes, install new lighting, and add landscaping. Perched high above the harbor, the tower was a 1925 gift to the city from Ada and William Wrigley Jr. We also stopped at the Casino building and walked around outside. It’s mainly used now to show movies a few nights a week.
After returning the golf cart we decided to walk over and tour the Catalina Island Museum. Up the street was the oldest house on the Island. Not in very good shape, but still standing. (Photo of house below)
Wednesday, June 28, 2018, up early to checkout have breakfast and catch our ferry back to Long Beach. This time we decided to walk from our hotel to the port. Saving the $15 cab fee. We arrived at the port early, so caught an early ferry for the hour ride. I estimated the ferry averaged 36 MPH. Found our car and departed Long Beach around 12 noon. Arrived back home in Las Vegas around 5:30 PM. An end to a great few days with family and a trip to Catalina Island. We plan to go back to Catalina again someday and visit family.
The Island is 22 miles long and eight miles across. The population in 2010 was 4,096.
It currently takes about 20 years for a vehicle import application to get to the top of the list.
There is a second city on the Island of Catalina. Two Harbors, at the Island’s West End, is known for being low-key and rustic.
A brief history of Catalina Island
1887 The first pier and hotel are built. By 1891 there are private homes, a dance pavilion, golf course and roads into the Island’s interior for stage coaches.
1915 A devastating fire destroys half of Avalon, forcing the Island’s entrepreneurs, the Banning brothers, to sell the Catalina Island Company.
1919 Chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley Jr. purchases controlling interest and immediately begins improving the Island’s infrastructure, adding new steamships and attractions.
1921 William Wrigley Jr. becomes the owner of the Chicago Cubs and moves the team’s Spring Training site to Catalina, where it remains for 30 years.
1924 Fourteen North American bison are brought to Catalina Island to be used in a Zane Grey film, a herd of approximately 100-200 continue to roam the Island’s interior today.
1929 The iconic Casino building, 12 stories tall and containing the world’s largest circular ballroom, opens, drawing new visitors and Hollywood stars.
1932 After his father’s passing, Philip K. Wrigley takes over the Catalina Island Company and ushers in a new era of development that modernizes Avalon.
1934 CBS broadcasts Big Band music from the Casino Ballroom nightly, drawing listeners from across the nation.
1935 Filming of Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Clark Gable and Charles Laughton, takes place. It is among more than 500 productions that have been filmed on Catalina in the past 90 years.
1942 The United States is at war and Catalina Island is officially closed to visitors. The U.S. Maritime Service takes over Avalon to use as a training station.
1972 To preserve the Island’s interior, Philip K. Wrigley establishes the Catalina Island Conservancy.
1975 Mr. and Mrs. Philip Wrigley and Philip’s sister, Dorothy Wrigley Offield, deeded 42,000 acres owned by the Santa Catalina Island Company to the Catalina Island Conservancy. It protects 88% of the Island and is one of the oldest private land trusts in Southern California. Today, the Santa Catalina Island Company is owned by descendants of William Wrigley Jr., who carry on his vision for building and maintaining a world class island resort.
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