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Catalina Island is one of my favorite travel destinations especially when viewed from the helm of a sailboat. There are not many things in life that can surpass the feeling you get when embarking from sunny Southern California on a cruise to Catalina Island. The crossing can take only minutes in a helicopter or fast ferry boat. I however prefer the hours on a leisurely sailboat. Enjoying the journey is half the fun.

Catalina is an Island approximately twenty six miles of the coast of Newport Beach California, in the O.C. for TV viewers. Its main port for tourists is Avalon Harbor. There are moorings for private boats and it is also a cruise ship port of call for those enroute to Mexico. Avalon has many shops for souvenirs and fine eateries also. If you find one day is not enough for you, there are overnight accommodations in the form of Inns and condominiums for rent.

Avalon was a play ground for the rich and famous during the early part of the twentieth century. Many movie stars and millionaires would vacation there. The Wrigley family, of chewing gum fame, had a mansion overlooking the harbor. It is now been donated for use as a tourist attraction and can be visited.
Sport fishing was a big attraction for many of the Island's elite. The Tuna Club is the oldest fishing club in the United States and is located on the edge of Avalon Bay. Many notable dignitaries have been members of the Tuna Club, including Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Cecil B. DeMille, Charlie Chaplin, and Bing Crosby.
The Catalina Casino gets its name from the Italian language, where "casino" means a gathering place. There is no gambling at this facility, but it has a grand ball room and theater. The Catalina Casino has been the focal point of Catalina Island entertainment and culture since it opened in 1929. Today it is used for events such as first run movies in the theater portion. The ball room may be rented for special events.
If city culture is not your thing and outdoor activities is where it is at for you, Catalina can accommodate. There are trails for hiking, biking and you can even camp overnight. There are many native animals you may see and a herd of buffalo left over from a western movie filmed on the island.
If water is more your thing, there is a glass bottom boat tour. You can witness the undersea life without getting wet. If you want to get wet Catalina has world class scuba diving. The island has a multitude of kelp forest for exploring many forms of sea flora and fauna.
Catalina has something for almost everyone. Even if you want to do nothing there is a beach right in Avalon where you can just lay and soak up the sun. For me though the best way to see Catalina is from the gentle rocking of my sailboat sipping a cool beverage at sunset.

Learn more about this author, Richard Griffin.
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