Santa Catalina Island is one of eight Channel Islands that lay off the coast of California. What separates Santa Catalina is the fact that it gets about one million tourists each year. Throughout the world, the island has gained a reputation for its conservation practices, including caring for endangered plant and animal life. In the year 2007, the Island Conservancy, in charge of protecting the land, celebrated its 35th anniversary. Some have referred to Santa Catalina Island as a paradise, an island separated from the rest of the world, and one that offers a variety of wildlife, wildflowers and plenty of hiking trails.

Santa Catalina Island is indeed an island, and has never been attached to the mainland. Why, this island is still moving away from the mainland about three centimeters a year. Avalon Bay is the access point to the island. Of course, one of the island’s greatest attractions is the Pacific Ocean, which brings windward beaches and amazing quartz sheets. From the sky, you can see that Santa Catalina is a 21-mile long group of mountain region. Tourists love coming to see the plant communities, the wildlife, the wilderness, the coastal grasslands and the mighty oaks. There is also much avian life here, including the rare Bald Eagle.

However, nature is not the only attraction here. Santa Catalina also offers water sports like scuba diving, snorkeling, and a yellow submarine called “The Nautilus.” Naturally, fishing is a big sport on the island and anglers can expect to catch bass, rock cod and perch, among many other varieties.

Many people think about Santa Catalina as an asylum away from the rest of Californian noise. Most of the island is owned by the Catalina Conservancy, which protects the lush land. Visitors can also expect Mediterranean climate and their favorite land sporting activities like golf, horseback riding and tennis. You can rest assured the island makes for one beautiful vacation!