Hello, Dear Readers! I have been taking a break from the website while I wrote a novel, but I figured it was about time to get back to blogging again. Thank you for sticking around.
While I’m camp hosting in Cali I’ll be taking trips and excursions around the state, and I’ll tell you all about it in a series I’m calling “CalExcursions.” Welcome to the first installment!
Santa Catalina
“Why would you want to go there? Nothing’s changed in fifty years,” a well-meaning friend remarked upon learning of my upcoming trip to Catalina Island. I had recently watched this documentary about the island, and his lack of enthusiasm did not dampen mine. “That, my darling, is exactly why I DO want to go!” I replied.
“Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is wait in’ for me …” The little ditty by The Four Preps played in a loop in my head days before departure. Other than my well-meaning friend, everyone else who heard of my upcoming trip responded with wistful sighs, nostalgic memories, and small requests. “I love it there!” “I’m so jealous!” “ I haven’t been there since a school trip when I was in junior high school.” “My grandmother and I went every summer and we loved that pizza place with the table top juke boxes.” “Will you bring me a sticker?”
While it is possible to fly to Catalina and land on the opposite side of the island, we went by ferry, which leaves from San Pedro, Newport Beach, Long Beach, and Dana Point. My friend Andrew and I took the early morning boat from Long Beach, tipping our hats to The Queen Mary, before heading out to the island.
About an hour later, Catalina emerged from the fog.
Santa Catalina Island is the only developed Channel Island. In 1919, chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley, Jr. basically purchased it, and he developed the little town of Avalon. Wrigley loved Catalina so much that he was entombed there for a time, but his widow got nervous that his final resting place might be desecrated during a World War II Pacific invasion, so she moved his remains. You can still visit the memorial, which is an Art Deco masterpiece.
(His home is also still there, but was not open to tours.)
There are about 4,500 residents on Catalina, and about one million visitors per year.
Avalon is full of charm and easily explored on foot, chock full of better-than-average restaurants and bars.
The crown jewel of Avalon is the Casino, a performance venue completed in 1929 and splendid in its Art Deco form. (That’s it behind me on the right.)
Catalina clay makes famous and beautiful tile,
and the tile work on the Casino (restored) is lovely. All the big band greats played at the Casino (which was never used for gambling), and it is still home to the annual jazz festival.
Golf cart is the primary mode of transportation on Catalina, so we rented one and scooted all around Avalon. There is currently a 30-year waiting list to bring a motor vehicle onto the island.
On the second day we took a Hummer along the island’s high ridge to the more rustic side, although I was disappointed I didn’t see any bison. As the story goes, Zane Grey brought about 15 of them to the island for a Western movie (“The Vanishing American”), but when they were released from the boat they scattered and were never used in the film. Wrigley decided those poor boys would get lonely, so he had some females brought over, and by 1987 the Catalina bison had quite the population boom – around 650 head. Today, a conservancy keeps the ladies pumped full of birth control, and whenever the population dips below 100, the girls get to go off The Pill for awhile.
(Zane Grey’s fabulous home is now part of a hotel overlooking the island.)
Speaking of island fauna, there are 67 animal species specific to Catalina, including larger-than-normal turtles, and smaller-than average foxes the size of house cats.
Wrigley’s Chicago Cubs attended spring training on Catalina from 1921 to 1951, except for the World War II years. Nothing remains of that baseball heritage now; the former ballfield is now home to city government offices.
Actress Natalie Wood drowned in mysterious circumstances in the waters off Catalina in 1981, and I couldn’t help but think of her while looking out at the boats anchored in the harbor.
On the morning of our departure we found that little pizza place with the jukeboxes and raised a toast to Santa Catalina. Thanks to Wrigley’s conservancy, the vast majority of the island cannot be developed, so it will retain its charm and its wild side for visitors yet to come.
I hope to be able to return someday soon.
This Post Has 16 Comments
I have surely missed hearing from you.
I do so Enjoy all of your Blogs.
I appreciate all of your efforts & Energy
Thank you for writing. I too Love CaT Island & all her glory.
Glad to see your back😘
I have missed you and am delighted to hear you are well!!
Catalina!!! It’s been years since I’ve been.
Sooo pretty. Great pictures!! Your narrative, as always, is engaging!
Find your way up to SLO (San Luis Obispo).
I keep my little 16 foot trailer there. Great little college town.
Wishing you the best!
Yay you’re back! Imagine I’m not the only one obsessively checking the site to see if you’d posted. Love the Catalina post.
What’s not to like about Catalina! The minute you arrive it’s nothing but fun, and sun served up with a helping of old time Hollywood glam.
Perfect way to celebrate your return to blogging ! I really enjoyed the tagalong and look forward to – someday – checking out Catalina for myself. You’re looking great and I’m now also looking forward to news of your novel. Welcome back, Tammy. I’ve missed you ! (I creeped your Facebook recently to find out what I may have been missing ) 😊
Jumped right in when I saw a post. Thank you so much for this. Native Californian ( north), I have never been here. So enjoyed the pictures and story you have written. I too thought of Natalie Wood when I saw Catalina. How are the furry friends ? I hope you are enjoying your days along the coast…. Happy New Year to you. Looking to more from your “pen”.
Next time you should investigate the Sportfishing history and the Tuna Club. Many pictures in the Casino museum of the birth of Sportfishing.
I went to Catalina for my High School Prom! Way too many years ago! It is a beautiful place. See you in Palm Springs!
Hi, your pictures and stories are great. I am glad see that you are doing well. I am looking forward to reading your book when you publish it. Happy New Year!!!🎆
Happy to read another blog from you
Glenda
That is somewhere I’ve never been in CA. It looks so beautiful! I’m glad you’re doing well Tammy. I love all your stories each place you travel to.
Have missed your blog, the pictures, the history. Enjoy a drink for me. If you are ever back visiting Shuckers in Mississippi send me an email would love to see you.
Glad to see you back, enjoy your posts
Very good post on Catalina. We visited for the first time on a day trip last fall. It’s a wonderful place.
Tammy – this is over the top fabulous. You are living my dream of a “best life.”
Love ya!
Shirley