Do More to Market Catalina’s Charms

As a reasonably frequent visitor to California from this side of the Pacific, I’ve had a beautiful introduction to the Los Angeles area every time by a final approach to Los Angeles International Airport directly over Santa Catalina Island [“Catalina Weighs Growth Options as Tourism Ebbs,” July 4]. It’s such a beautiful sight.

Each of the last three trips to the States has involved a day trip from Anaheim to Catalina, and may that newly formed habit long continue.

I’m not sure all that many Californians bother. Certainly it would never be for the beaches, but as a simple jewel in the crown it’s unrivaled: a step back in time, to clean, lovely little shops with generally great service, and most of all, history, absolute history. And all so close to L.A.

I would say to those charged with its promotion: Forget about what you don’t have and market more aggressively the island’s true qualities. Thankfully not every visitor is like some quoted in the article, with an “I’m here, now do it for me” attitude.

John MacRae

Rotorua, New Zealand

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If tax revenues are up in Avalon, as Sherri Walker writes [“Catalina Is Still in Good Financial Health,” Letters, July 15], maybe it’s because they steal from visitors even before they get to the shops.

If you take a small boat to Santa Catalina, as I did, in order to get to Avalon you then need to use the “shore boat.” The shore boat holds 30. The cost? $4 per person one way, $8 per person for a 30-second ride to a dock. It’s either that or swim. For the 27 in my party it cost $216. A complete rip-off.

Your readers should be warned. As for me, that’s the last trip to Catalina.

Thomas Keiser

Arcadia