Just a short boat ride from the urban chaos of Los Angeles lies a place that feels like it belongs on a completely different continent.
Avalon, a tiny harbor town on California’s Santa Catalina Island, has carved out a life that stands in total contrast to the sprawling, car-clogged landscape of the mainland.
Forget traffic jams and gas stations — here, it’s all about golf carts, sea breezes, and a throwback sense of community.
Avalon’s Radical Approach to Transportation
While most of America is deeply car-dependent, Avalon is doing things its own way.
The city is so committed to keeping cars off the roads that residents face a 25-year waitlist just to get a permit to own one.
Even then, the rules don’t stop there.
If you’re lucky enough to reach the top of the list, your vehicle still has to meet strict size requirements — no longer than 200 inches and no wider than 80 inches.
That rules out nearly every full-sized SUV and truck you see on U.S. roads.
In Avalon, the roads are narrow and hilly, and the go-to ride is a golf cart.
No Highways, No Drive-Thrus, and Definitely No Smog
The result of these car restrictions? A city with a completely different rhythm.
There are no highways, no drive-thrus, and no gas stations.
Without car engines roaring and tailpipes puffing, Avalon is cleaner, quieter, and far more peaceful than your average American town.
The town has the feel of a European coastal escape — something you’d expect to find in southern Italy or Greece — not just 30 miles from the concrete jungle of LA.
Cruise Ships Bring a Temporary Buzz
The only “big” vehicles you’ll see near Avalon come by sea.
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, cruise ships dock about a mile offshore and ferry their passengers into town.
These brief tourist influxes can double Avalon’s population in minutes, bringing a flurry of activity to the calm harbor filled with sailboats and fishing vessels.
Even with the tourism traffic, Avalon manages to maintain its easygoing vibe — a credit to the locals and their commitment to keeping things low-key.
Locals Call It California’s Best-Kept Secret
Despite being so close to one of the most famous cities in the world, Avalon remains surprisingly unknown — even to many Angelenos.
Brandon and Claire D’Sa, a couple from Long Beach, said it still feels like a hidden treasure.
“It’s off the radar,” Brandon told SFGate. “A lot of our friends in LA have never even been here.
If you’re in Italy, everyone tells you to go to Capri.
But in LA? No one tells you to take the boat to Catalina.”
A Glamorous Past with a Mysterious Twist
Avalon wasn’t always a secret. Back in Hollywood’s golden age, the island was a popular escape for the stars.
Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable were frequent visitors.
But the island’s glamorous reputation took a turn in 1981 when actress Natalie Wood drowned under mysterious circumstances while on a yacht anchored at the island’s north end.
She was there with co-star Christopher Walken and her husband Robert Wagner, and to this day, no one knows exactly what happened.
Eventually, the rise of commercial air travel made destinations like Hawaii and the Caribbean more accessible, and Catalina slowly drifted out of the celebrity spotlight.
The Catalina Casino and Avalon’s Old-School Charm
One of Avalon’s most striking landmarks is the Catalina Casino, a massive Art Deco structure built in the 1920s by chewing gum mogul William Wrigley Jr. — who also once owned the Chicago Cubs.
Despite the name, there’s no gambling inside.
Instead, the casino houses a historic movie theater and a ballroom from the silent-film era that now doubles as a roller-skating rink.
It’s just one of many features that give Avalon its unique blend of vintage flair and small-town warmth.
Waterfront Walks, Tiki Bars, and Crystal-Clear Views
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, Avalon encourages a slower pace.
Strolling the shoreline walkway, you can look down into crystal-clear water and watch fish swim beneath your feet.
Restaurants and bars line the harbor, including the famous Luau Larry’s, a tiki bar that’s become something of an institution on the island.
It’s the kind of place where you leave your watch behind, grab a frozen drink, and let time slow to a crawl.
What’s Next?
As California continues grappling with urban sprawl, gridlock, and pollution, Avalon offers a refreshing example of what life could look like if we slowed things down and ditched our cars.
Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a permanent escape, this quirky harbor town proves that you don’t need four wheels to move forward.