Avalon

Avalon is a coastal settlement on Santa Catalina Island in Los Angeles County, covering nearly 7.5 square kilometers (2.9 square miles) and serving as the only incorporated municipality on the island. The community sits within a crescent-shaped bay, whose shoreline is lined with a continuous row of shops, eateries, and docking facilities.

William Wrigley Jr. took control of the settlement in 1919 and commissioned the construction of the Catalina Casino, which was completed in 1929. This development changed the appearance of the community and encouraged the expansion of tourist infrastructure along the bay.

The bay served as a settlement for the Tongva, who quarried soapstone here and crafted it into cooking vessels and tools. Today visitors can stroll along the waterfront promenade, where small shops and restaurants in low-rise buildings recall the historic harbor character.

Standard motor vehicles are not permitted within the city limits, so visitors move around using small electric vehicles or on foot. Most facilities concentrate along the waterfront, keeping most destinations within walking distance.

The community houses just under 3,500 permanent residents yet welcomes many times that number in tourists each year, who arrive by ferry or helicopter. This contrast shapes daily life, as locals shift between quiet winter weeks and busy summer months.