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eCatalina.com article: Santa Catalina Island
Just like everything else on Catalina Island, shopping here is just a little bit different from the mainland. Whether buying groceries at the local market or selecting a $40,000 piece of art for the foyer, shoppers never forget that they are part of a unique experience. Art, jewelry, clothing, books, souvenirs, home furnishings, sporting goods, accessories, embroidery, pottery, wine, flowers and collectibles are all available here and in ways never imagined on the continent.
There are no shopping malls on Catalina, no department stores and no chains of de–personalized shops. Nearly everything on the Island is family owned and shop owners will often be found in their businesses, eager to help visitors find exactly what they are looking for. Even the grocery stores, which bear names that may seem familiar, exist here in ways completely different from their mainland counterparts. That individuality and Catalina’s inherent atmosphere combine to make Island-style shopping a relaxed adventure, more treasure hunt than bland chore.
The treasures that are waiting to be discovered run the gamut, from quirky souvenirs to fine art, from one-of-a-kind clothing to reproductions of historic pottery, from unique housewares to classic crafts sure to become cherished possessions. Finding those treasures is accompanied by the gentle susurrus of the sea and is perfumed with the salt air wafting from Avalon Harbor.
Avalon’s shops are all clustered around its scenic crescent-shaped bay, making shopping a leisurely affair, punctuated by frequent breaks for admiring the view and watching the people. A recent multi-million dollar renovation has turned several of Avalon’s streets into pedestrian friendly walkways, with interesting landscaping, benches and historic tiles providing a backdrop to the treasures that are waiting to be discovered while spending time in the city’s galleries, shops and boutiques.
Shopping is part of nearly every vacation, whether it’s a quick stop for forgotten supplies or a days-long expedition, plunging the visitor into a cornucopia of unique souvenirs to compliment the memories of the experience. Whether you’re looking for the former, the latter or something in between, Catalina Island and its many treasures will not disappoint.