Worth the trip for a DC-3 Cookie! |
 The Airport in the Sky occupies a 1,602-foot-tall mountaintop at the center of the Island, 10 miles from the city of Avalon. It's a great destination by tour or shuttle bus, bicycle, on foot whether hiking the Trans Catalina Trail or walking over from Black Jack, or of course, via private or chartered small plane. Its single 3,250-foot-long runway was constructed by blasting and leveling two adjacent peaks, then using the resulting debris to fill in the gaps. The DC-3 Gifts & Grill restaurant is famed for its buffalo burgers. You can also get regular beef, chicken, and vegetarian burgers, other sandwiches, and Mexican specialties (including buffalo tacos). During the summer, don't miss out on the Grill's Barbecue's featuring live music from Island band Hot off the Range. Call (310) 510-2196 for reservations. The gift shop offers Airport in the Sky coffee mugs, t-shirts, and key rings, buffalo jerky, and a collectible glazed tile in the style of the famed Catalina Pottery.  360° view of the Airport in the Sky Terminal Building and Cactus Garden  360° view of the Nature Center at the Airport in the Sky Be sure to stroll through the outdoor Nature Center, just next to the terminal. It contains many interpretive displays and information about the natural history of the Island. The native plant garden features 'habitat islands,' each with labeled plants. Its beauty is a testament to the value of California native plants for landscaping.  The Airport in the Sky celebrates its 50th Anniversary! Click here to read article in Pilot Getaways March/April 2010 (PDF). 
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