Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Other Islands
The Chumash called
Santa Rosa
'Wima' (driftwood) because of the redwood logs that of-
ten came ashore here, with which they built plank canoes called
tomol
s. This 84-sq-mile
island has rare Torrey pines, sandy beaches and hundreds of plant and bird species. Beach,
canyon and grasslands hiking trails abound, but high winds can make swimming, diving
and kayaking tough for anyone but experts.
While 14-sq-mile
San Miguel
can guarantee solitude and a remote wilderness experien-
ce, it's often windy and shrouded in fog. Some sections are off-limits to prevent disruption
of the island's fragile ecosystem, which includes a caliche forest (containing hardened
calcium-carbonate castings of trees and vegetation) and seasonal colonies of seals and sea
lions.
Santa Barbara
, only 1 sq mile in size and the smallest of the islands, is a jewel-box for
nature lovers. Big, blooming coreopsis, cream cups and chicory are just a few of the is-
land's memorable plant species. You'll also find the humongous northern elephant seal
here as well as Scripps's murrelets, a bird that nests in cliff crevices. Get more information
from the island's small visitor center.
ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS
For bedtime reading aloud around the campfire, pick up Scott O'Dell's Newberry
Medal-winning Island of the Blue Dolphins. This children's novel was inspired by the true
life story of a Native American girl left behind on San Nicolas Island during the early 19th
century, when indigenous people were forced off the Channel Islands. Incredibly the girl
survived mostly alone on the island for 18 years, living in a whale-bone hut and sourcing
water from a spring, before being rescued in 1853. However, fate was still not on her side:
she died just seven weeks after being brought to the mainland. Today her body lies buried
in the graveyard at Mission Santa Barbara, where a commemorative plaque is inscribed
with her Christian baptismal name, Juana María.
Tours
Most trips require a minimum number of participants, and may be canceled due to high
surf or weather conditions.
