Note – From time to time I will post about my favorite islands around the world, starting today with Catalina Island.

Catalina Island is located 22 miles off the coast of southern California, and is a world away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. It’s a quiet, peaceful, laid-back island with no traffic lights. Its 22 mile length and 8 mile width goes from azure coves and beaches to misty mountain tops.

There are two main towns on Catalina – Avalon and Two Harbors, but 88% of the island is owned by the Catalina Island Conservancy (a non- profit organization that preserves the island’s native species) and is undeveloped.

You can fly or take a personal watercraft to Catalina, but the most popular way to get there for visitors is by ferry. Ferry service leaves from the main land at San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point.

Once you get to the island, your choice of transportation includes taxi, trolley, bike rental, or golf cart rental. For residents wanting a car it takes 14 years to get to the top of the waiting list to import one! So, you can imagine how much fresher the air is here than LA with a limited number of cars.

The weather is almost perfect with an average of 75 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter, with about 267 days of sunshine each year.

So, what to do on this refreshing, sunny island? Lots! Island tours, fishing, kayaking, sailing, glass-bottom boat tours, whale-watching, hiking, biking (permits are needed to hike/bike when entering the Catalina Island Conservancy wildlands), and shopping are among the many activities Catalina offers.

Pets are allowed on the Catalina Express ferry, but must wear a muzzle. They are not allowed on Crescent Avenue between Clarissa and Metropole, and not allowed on the public beaches of Avalon.

It’s not the most pet-friendly place in the world, but if you are traveling without them, it’s a very charming island to visit!