Santa Catalina Island

William Wrigley Jr, the chewing gum manufacturer, bought a controlling interest in 1919 and developed Avalon as a resort. The Catalina Casino, opened 1929, has never held gambling - the word is used in its Italian sense of a gathering place - and it contains a circular Art Deco ballroom and a working cinema built for sound from the start. Bison were brought to the island in the 1920s for a film shoot and left; a managed herd of around a hundred still ranges the interior. Around eighty-eight percent of the island is held by a conservancy and requires permits to enter. Avalon has few cars - residents wait years for a permit and most use golf carts.

What you actually see

• A casino that never gambled - a 1929 ballroom and cinema.
• A bison herd - descended from animals left after a 1920s film shoot.
• A conservancy holding most of the island - permits needed for the interior.
• Golf carts instead of cars - vehicle permits have a waiting list.

When to go

April to October. A full day, better overnight.

Honest expectations

Ferries cancel in rough seas. A day trip gives you very little time on the island. Avalon is expensive and small. Interior access requires a permit and there is no casual wandering.

Nearby

Two Harbors is at the island's other end; Long Beach is the main mainland port.