Page 113 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

FIELDS IN CAMARILLO, opposite
top; a whale breaches on the way to
the Channel Islands, opposite
bottom; California State University
Channel Islands, right; Channel
Islands Harbor, Oxnard, below.
Family Fun & Outdoor Adventures
For families, Port Hueneme Beach Park with
its fifty acres of landscaped parkland (com-
plete with picnic areas and barbecue pits)
and long strip of soft white sand is espe-
cially inviting for a day of fun. Adventuring
families can take a boat from Oxnard’s pic-
turesque harbor to Channel Islands
National Park for kayaking, snorkeling,
birdwatching, whale watching and island
hiking. Other family focused stops include
the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum in Port
Hueneme, Camarillo’s Old Town, Ventura
Harbor Village, Oxnard Beach Park, Marina
Park and Camarillo Grove Park.
San Buenaventura State Beach runs for
two miles along the Ventura coast, with
sand dunes, bike trails, great swimming
and surfing options, and is perfect for pic-
nics and barbecues. Hollywood Beach in
Oxnard is popular with surfers, beach vol-
leyball players and those who want to slow
things down and enjoy the sand and sun.
Fabulous Food
One key to having great cuisine is having
fresh food. Ventura County Coast is located
along an agricultural greenbelt—ideal for
sampling fresh seafood from the Pacific
Ocean and locally sourced produce. Farms
in and around Camarillo, Oxnard and Ven-
tura have free tours and u-pick fun, where
you can get your own taste of what’s avail-
able. Outdoor farmers markets provide
great opportunities to sample fresh sea-
sonal produce, artisan cheeses, gourmet
sauces and olive oil, and to pick up plants,
flowers and handcrafted items.
Oxnard’s multicultural influences and
farming heritage make it an ideal place to
try authentic Mexican, Brazilian, Thai and
Italian dishes. Or even just dine on seafood
in the harbor—whatever you have a craving
for. Camarillo is best known for its fresh
farm stands, farm-to-table cuisine and deli-
cious craft beer. Grab a glass of wine with
your fresh seafood in Port Hueneme for
optimal enjoyment. In Ventura, you can
start your day with tasty coffee, relax
midday with local beer, and wind down at
sunset with inventive cocktails.
For a foodie behind-the-scenes experi-
ence, the Ventura Food Tour allows culinary
fans to meet local chefs, brewmasters and
chocolate makers. Plentiful opportunities
exist for wine tasting, with eleven wineries
in Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, as well
as a combined wine-and-dine experience at
the award-winning Tierra Sur inside Herzog
Wine Cellars.
Even better, plan your visit around one of
the region’s signature events, such as Ventura
County Farm Day (Nov. 4), Oxnard’s annual
California Strawberry Festival (May 20-21) or
the Ventura County Fair (Aug. 2-13).
There’s never only one thing to do in
Ventura County Coast. It’s fun for beach
lovers, wildlife fans, art appreciators, his-
tory buffs, shoppers, wine and beer
enthusiasts and foodies. Fit in time to do it
all, and you’ll find out which combination
is your personal favorite.
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 111