That's because nearly all of Catalina Island is privately owned, preserved by an unusual conservation organization empowered with the funding and authority to maintain Catalina's serenity for present and future generations. Once a sanctuary for the privileged few who fled by yacht from the urban sprawl of nearby Los Angeles, Catalina Island is now a small ecotopia for the masses. And it's, a paradise not only of scenery, but also of spirit. Boats of all sizes and shapes bob in the serene blue-green waters of Catalina Island's main towns, picturesque Avalon and Two Harbors. Coastal cottages dot tree-lined hillsides.
Shopkeepers step outside to greet visitors.
Small children lick cones at authentic ice cream parlors. Everybody knows everybody else on this island, and visitors staying more than a day or two are quickly welcomed into the big happy family. That's what happened when I wondered into Catalina Island's Casino Ballroom, one of the world's finest art deco palaces. Strolling along the oceanside promenade on a fine summer day, the sound of swing music boomed from the circular building, which opened in 1929. I loved it right away, but figured we'd stay a couple years.