Historical Points of Interest

Catalina Island hosts many areas of historical significance. Some of the key Avalon-based attractions and Two Harbors are covered in Catalina Island, All You Need To Know. These include:
  • Tuna Club
  • Airport in the Sky
  • Casino
  • Holly Hill House
  • Glass Bottom Boats
  • Catalina Yacht Club
  • The Wrigley Monument
  • The Botanical Garden
  • Two Harbors
    		•
    Tuna Club


    What makes these topics interesting are the segments in the book that actually reveal how and why each entity evolved. For example, the glass bottom boats were a result of an abalone fisherman who used a box with a glass bottom to place in the water so he could clearly spot abalone on the sea floor. This interesting idea ultimately transposed into one of Catalina's biggest tours.
    Holly Hill House


    And not many people know this, but Catalina had a smaller casino at Casino Point, but it was eventually dismantled to make room for the existing Casino, which was built in 1925. However, the small casino steel frame was relocated, and reconfigured into the world's largest exotic bird cage. More details are covered in the book.


    Another area of beauty is the Wrigley Botanical Garden. Springtime brings out the best of Catalina's horticultural showcase. The flowers to the right are testimony to wild shapes and vibrant hues. Cacti gardens are also part of the garden. As a whole, the garden hosts many plant species that are rare and/or endemic to Catalina Island.

    Catalina's Interior



    As a spinoff from historical points of interest, Catalina's interior hosts many unique historical and geological wonders as well. Although Many areas within the interior exist, Catalina Island, All You Need To Know covers the following topics, which are more germane to touring Catalina:


  • Catalina Conservancy
  • Nature Center
  • El Rancho Escondido
  • Eagles Nest Stagecoach Stop
  • Cape Canyon Reservoir
  • Cottonwood Falls
  • Shark Harbor Overlook
  • Indian Head Rock
  • Indian Rock Quarry
  • Bison
  • Flora
  • Microclimates


    • The information provided in the book takes a look at how certain entities evolved, such as Eagle's Nest Lodge and El Rancho Escondido. The lodge is packed with history, built in the 1800's primarily as a hunting lodge. It still stands today as a memento of Catalina's bygone era. Some of the beautiful areas to visit within Catalina's Interior include Cottonwood Falls, Catalina's only waterfall. Or you might get lucky and run into resident American bison. And to cap off a good visit, a stop at the Nature Center brings all the neat Catalina Interior facts into one educational arena, with displays, tours and a small museum for guests to peruse.


    The flora within the confines of Catalina is interesting as well. Catalina's herbage is a combination of plant communities: maritime desert scrub, coastal sage scrub and grassland. Maritime desert scrub consists of drought-adapted plants, such as cactuses, that are traditionally found in the dry deserts of Baja, California. One of the more interesting cactus plants in this region is the cholla (CHOY-yah). Not only do the cactus needles protect the plant, but they aid in spreading seeds by attaching to the fur of animals that pass too closely. Far from its parent plant, the needle eventually dislodges and drops to the ground, where it by chance may grow into a new patch of cholla. More detail is covered in the book.

    What people are saying about Catalina Island, All You Need To know.

    KISL radio says, "Very graphic book with spectacular photography. Catalina Island, All You Need To know covers many interests and is laid out in an easy to use format."