Only about 22 miles from the bustling Los Angeles, Santa Catalina is a virtual world apart. There are lots of fun things too. The diversity is especially appealing. the rocky beaches of Catalina and its bays allow for exploration and doing the beach thing as long as one is in Santa catalina. With 2 principal towns, Avalon and Two Harbors, the island can be reached by ferries that depart either from NewPort Beach, San Pedro or Long Beach. The island is protected by a nature conservancy and 86 percent of the island is under this protection, a large rugged interior to explore indeed. Take the trip and see for yourself.