Page 84 - 2018 Travel Guide to California

VENTURA COUNTY COAST
Inexpensive adventures for all
»DINE, HIKE,
PICNIC, SWIM!
Ventura County Coast
Visitor Information
venturacountycoast.com
PORT HUENEME PIER, above; Channel
Islands, Santa Cruz Island, below.
THE STRING OF FOUR main cities between
Santa Barbara and Los Angeles—Camarillo,
Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Ventura—not
only allow for a variety of experiences in
Ventura County, but they also won’t break
the bank. Regardless of your budget, you
can live the California lifestyle here. Surf
the swell at Rincon Beach, grab some fish
tacos for lunch, spend the afternoon hiking
to the perfect sunset spot, and finish the
day enjoying some local brews. Fires in
December 2017 may have travelers con-
cerned, but Ventura County is open for
visitors, and only the Ventura Botanical
Gardens are closed while they replant and
rebuild in 2018.
Family Fun & Outdoor Adventures
For families, Port Hueneme Beach Park with
its 50 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 at very little
cost. San Buenaventura State Beach runs for
two miles along the Ventura coast, with
sand dunes, bike trails, swimming and
surfing options, and is ideal for picnics and
barbecues. Hollywood Beach in Oxnard is
popular with surfers, beach volleyball
82 2018 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A
B Y J I L L K . R O B I N S O N
players and those who want to relax and
enjoy the sun. Stretch your legs at Camar-
illo Grove Park, tucked at the base of the
Conejo Grade, with large rock formations
and great views.
Old & New History
Wander along the Ventura Pier, built in
1872, to watch the sunset—or bring your
fishing rod for the chance to catch dinner.
Founded by Franciscan Father Junípero
Serra in 1782, San Buenaventura Mission
was the 9th Spanish mission to be estab-
lished in California, and the last by Father
Serra (now Saint Serra). This mission has
an interesting history, including attacks by
pirates, earthquakes and tidal wave. The
Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard is a
repository of classic, rare and vintage
vehicles that date all the way back to 1903.
At the Ventura Harbor, visit the Channel
Islands National Park visitor center to
learn about the islands, see exhibits and
displays, and watch a 25-minute movie, A
Treasure in the Sea. Football fans the last
few years have even been able to watch the
Dallas Cowboys practicing for the season
at Oxnard’s River Ridge Playing Fields,
from late July through mid August.
VENTURA COUNTY COAST; VISIT VENTURA