Hollywood stars? Yachts? Blue waters? Welcome to Catalina Island. Known for the frequent visits of Hollywood's A-list celebrities in the 20th century, the likes of Marilyn Monroe. Catalina Island today is a tourist destination only an hour ferry ride from LA. The main town of Avalon resembles a more European town with a boardwalk, shops, and restaurants lining the water. It is a quick escape from LA but has such a different and slower pace of life than it's LA counterpart.