Migrating whale rising out of the ocean right in front of us on the Catalina Express boat from Long Beach to Catalina Island.
Southern Californians know that our summer lasts far into Fall. September is actually warmer than August and the nice weather continues halfway through October. Then, after Columbus Day, the weather becomes unpredictable, but generally, nicely sunny. We see television pictures of Eastern or Midwest storms, but we are still using sunscreen. We love the Fall with the great weather and so do our guests, who rent our Catalina Island home.
To give you an idea of what Fall is like on Catalina Island, here are some pictures we took on the Island last Fall.
Many years ago, three palm trees grew at this point. Eventually they were cut down, but the classic Avalon Bay view remains. Locals still call this “Three Palms”.
The angle of the sun changes in Fall and, shooting late in the day, you can appreciate the backlit succulents in the Wrigley Memorial Garden, where it becomes wonderfully moody.
While the Wrigley Memorial Garden offers a chance to see prize succulents, more common varieties are all over the island. Here’s a wild buffalo posing for us next to succulents in the vast interior of Santa Catalina Island. There are herds of buffalo roaming the island.
The interior of the island is owned by the non-profit Catalina Island Conservancy, whose goal is to keep most of the Island as it was around 1870. Hikers love the island. It has well marked trails, mountains, vistas and a view of the blue Pacific as a bonus. Some of the dirt roads are stagecoach roads built back in the 1890’s.
The deer like to come down from the island interior into Avalon. This deer family is foraging alongside the road to the Wrigley Memorial Garden and the Catalina Island Golf Course.
With the Pacific waters in Avalon Bay warmer than usual, swimmers are taking advantage, swimming laps across the bay.
This is a section of our Catalina Island Golf Course. Once, it was a world class course, but for some reason it was reduced to 9 holes some years ago. Golfers play 9 holes one way and then 9 holes back. There is a rumor of plans to restore it to its championship status.
The Catalina Miniature Golf Gardens are right in the middle of Avalon. It is one of the most popular places for families on the Island.
Our movie theatre was built in 1929 – a grand movie palace from an age when silent movies were shown, often with music played on a giant theatre organ. Thanks to the Catalina Island Company and some passionate theatre pipe organ restorers, the Avalon Theatre pipe organ is in first class condition. On weekends, just before the movie, you can enjoy a short theater organ concert.
The brand new Catalina Island Museum opened last summer. Indian artifacts, early history of the Island and the interesting story of how William Wrigley Jr., the maker of Wrigley chewing gum, bought the island in 1918 and created most of what the Island is today. The Wrigley family is still active in the operation, preservation and development of Catalina Island.
Another view of Avalon Bay from the Avalon Casino side of the Bay. Catalina Island is the most important destination for the Los Angeles boating community. Moorings are provided for boaters, as well as restrooms and showers. It is a lively place to be when the Bay is full of private boats and yachts.
Avalon is located 26 miles off the Pacific Coast, but it is a different world. On the other hand, we think it’s nice to know we can fly back to the mainland quickly by Island Express Helicopter Services.
Flying time from our world to the real world – 15 minutes.