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. Five years went by, then 60.