Griffith came to make his short film “Man’s Genesis” (1912). The first film shot on the island was an Essanay one-reeler titled “Feeding Seals at Catalina Isle” (1910). Avalon has been a major tourist attraction since at least 1910, when filmmakers discovered it. Though it represents only 1% of the land, this is where 99% of the population resides. The main attraction on Catalina is the harbor town of Avalon. This week we went west, to the island of Catalina – Hollywood’s resort paradise for more than a century.

You can go north to the mountains, east to the desert, or south to the coast. The cliché is true: Travel for an hour in any direction and you’ll be in a completely new environment. And there are so many possible escape routes. Sometimes I forget how hectic life can be here, until I get away.

It’s always nice to escape Los Angeles for a few days.