http://www.RealAdventures.com/vacations/184883_articles-california-channel-islands.htm Check out some of the recently updated travel & vacation listings on RealAdventures. Be inspired, go explore! en-us Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:18:51 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:18:51 GMT http://www.RealAdventures.com http://www.RealAdventures.com/vacations/184883_articles-california-channel-islands.htm 100 100 http://www.RealAdventures.com/listings/1023906_Santa-Catalina-Island http://www.RealAdventures.com/listings/1023906_Santa-Catalina-Island Articles California Mon, 28 Aug 2000 00:08:00 Visit the island paradise of Santa Catalina, California. -
Visit the island paradise of Santa Catalina, California.


Santa Catalina is part of California's channel island chain, located roughly 20 miles offshore from L.A. Visitors aren't allowed to bring in cars, so access is by boat or air. We took one of the Catalina Express Company's fiberglass vessels which make the channel crossing in a little over one hour. Passage on the larger, steelhulled boats takes about 2 hours. Long Beach and San Pedro are the starting points for these boats and the Catalina Flyer, a catamaran which crosses in about 75 minutes, departs from Newport Beach. We discovered that islanders are also restricted when it comes to automobiles. The number of cars has been limited, so new residents must put their names on a waiting list in order to receive a permit for their own auto clearing that list takes 1011 years!! The transportation alternative is the golf cart (the "Catalina Limo")! Tourists may rent them, and residents and businesses use them extensively (even the number of those compact vehicles has been limited to one per household).

As we approached the island, our first sight was of the striking and imposing Casino. We soon learned that this magnificent building has never seen gambling, as suggested by a modern interpretation of its name. Rather, the word "casino" is taken from an Italian term meaning "festive area". Construction was begun in 1928, and it was the first completely round, steelreinforced structure built in the U.S. in modern times. It was also the first acoustically engineered theater in America, with 10 coneshaped mural panels forming the acoustical system. The famous ballroom (which originally held 2,500 couples) was the territory of all of the Big Bands of the era a radio program was broadcast nationally, bringing Avalon and Catalina widespread attention. Tours are conducted of the historic building, and entertainment events are still scheduled in the art deco ballroom.
Details & Reservations: Santa Catalina Island
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