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 Catalina Island, located off the southern coast of
California, is the home of the Mediterranean-style town of Avalon, with
its small-town charm and circular Moorish-style casino (now used as a
concert venue) on the harbor. The population of 2,500 swells to nearly
20,000 in season, yet three-quarters of the island remains undeveloped.
The picturesque island is a popular setting for movies. In fact, a herd of
buffalo abandoned years ago by a film crew still roams the interior
sections of this island.
Cars are strictly limited on the island so most visitors rent bicycles or golf carts or take motor coach tours of the island's beautiful interior. The greater part of the island is owned by the Santa Catalina Conservancy, a private non-profit membership foundation formed to protect and restore the natural resources. As a result, the Catalina interior is a nature preserve teeming with flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. Catalina Discovery Tours offers trips into the rugged interior where one can see deer, buffalo and island fox roaming free on the diverse landscape, which ranges from dry, coastal desert to verdant woodlands. For the outdoor enthusiast, there are camp grounds, hiking paths and scenic trails, which can be explored by horseback. There are also wonderful, protected coves with forests of giant kelp and underwater gardens for the enjoyment of snorkelers and SCUBA divers. |
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