Avalon, CA

Life in Avalon, the small harbor city that fills the settled end of Catalina, is organized around one curve of water and the hills that wrap it. The flat blocks behind the beach hold the hotels, shops and restaurants, all packed into a few walkable streets. Behind them, Avalon Canyon runs inland toward the golf course, and the houses spread out a little. On the ridges on both sides, narrow switchback streets climb to cottages that look straight down on the moored boats. Dinner is easy to find. Luau Larry's is the tropical bar where visitors order the Wiki Wacker, Bluewater Avalon does seafood with a view across the bay, and The Sandtrap up on Avalon Canyon Road serves Mexican food near the golf course. Getting outside takes a few minutes on foot. The town beach doubles as the swimming spot and the kayak launch, and the Trans-Catalina Trail starts in town and heads into Conservancy land and the island's empty interior. Daily routines run on foot and on golf carts, which locals call autoettes. The city caps how many cars residents can register, so most households get by without one. The supermarket on Sumner Avenue covers the basics, and ferries to Long Beach, San Pedro and Orange County carry people across for everything else. What residents get back is a town small enough that the walk to dinner, the post office and the beach all happen on the same few blocks, with the harbor in view the whole way.