Santa Catalina Island (commonly called Catalina) is one of the Channel Islands, 22 miles (about one hour crossing) from Los Angeles. Catalina is a world apart from the rest of Southern California, offering a quiet asylum from its the hustle and bustle. There are few cars - most residents use golf carts instead. Unlike the Northern Channel Islands, Catalina is not a national park, however most of the island is preserved by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The only large town on Catalina is Avalon (pop 4,000), a picturesque resort community developed by chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley on steep hills overlooking a bay.
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