17 Superb Issues To Do In Ventura, Ca With Children

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Southern California is a area that’s typically regarded as a vacation spot filled with leisure and the sun-kissed metropolis of Los Angeles, however for individuals who desire a extra enjoyable trip, will discover there are a lot of issues to do in Ventura.

This quaint coastal metropolis is legendary for its seashores that are a surfer’s paradise, however with out the crowds of locations on the Central Coast like Santa Cruz or Huntington Seashore in Orange County.

It’s additionally well-known for is historic Mission San Buenaventura and quick access to the Channel Islands Nationwide Park, some of the underrated nationwide parks in CA, in addition to being a spot for whale watching, mountaineering, windsurfers and a lot extra.

We knew nothing about Ventura County earlier than we launched into our Southern California highway journey, and I had solely ever heard of Ventura Boulevard in a couple of track lyrics.

After visiting, I can’t imagine it’s no more common as a vacationer vacation spot, which is why I’ve ready this information on what to do in Ventura so you possibly can uncover the very best sights of this hidden gem in California and profit from your expertise!

The place is Ventura County?

Ventura County, California is about an hour north of LA and 30-minutes south of Santa Barbara.

Be sure you depart your pretence and busyness on the freeway out of LA, as a result of it doesn’t belong in Ventura County.

It’s slower paced and fewer crowded, and though it’s a metropolis, has a small city really feel.

Issues To Do In Ventura, California With Children

I’m glad we find out about Ventura County CA now and might share with you the various wonderful issues to do in Ventura. It’s filled with surprising surprises and adventures.

Maintain studying down under for all our greatest tips about issues to do in Ventura…

1. Discover Ventura Harbor Village

Ventura Harbor Village is situated on a small strip of land in the midst of the seaside and the harbor.

The seaside, Surfers knoll, has a well-liked surf break on the Santa Clara River Mouth on the Pacific Ocean, and the harbor is likely one of the largest harbors in North America for offloading squid.

It’s a working harbor and fishing marina, which additionally has outlets, galleries, eating places and waterfront actions.

Simply wandering round this harbor will elevate your happiness with the bougainvillea laden paths, locations to do some out of doors purchasing, and the sensible blue water stuffed with crusing ships with the gorgeous Topatopa mountains within the background.

Don’t miss out on a stroll by means of Marina Park for wonderful coastal views.

Their magnetic energy stored pulling my eyes again to gaze in surprise.

Within the moments between gazing, there are these enjoyable issues to do in Ventura Village Harbor.

2. Soak Up Harbor Life On A Pedal Boat Trip

We have been slightly cautious to take out the pedal boats, not as a result of we didn’t assume it could be a enjoyable strategy to discover the harbor, however as a result of the final couple of occasions we’ve taken out pedal boats they’ve been an excruciating exercise.

We swore we’d by no means take out one other pedal boat once more, however we couldn’t resist the lure of sea lions resting on the wharves and swimming within the waters.

Fortunately, these pedal boats have been very easy to hawk! We had a enjoyable half hour journey peddling between the younger youngsters crusing and the ocean lions resting on the wharves.

One sea lion had taken over the again of somebody’s parked boat for slightly sunning, the opposite was resting out on a jetty.

You’ll be able to lease the pedal boats from Ventura Boat Leases. Additionally they supply harbor excursions, kayaks, arise paddle boards, electrical boats and jet skis!

3. Take pleasure in A Seafood Lunch With A View At Brophy Bros Restaurant

You’ll be able to’t beat the views from this second story restaurant on Ventura Harbor. Goal for a desk on the enclosed patio.

At Brophy Bros you’ll discover any sort of seafood dish that you simply like. We went for some native pan blackened Cajun sea bass and Mahi Mahi with a mango and papaya relish.

A steamed mussels in broth starter was the proper accompaniment to the gorgeous views. These mountains!!

Friday nights are the favored time for locals to come back sit on the full size bar dealing with the marina to eat oysters and revel in completely satisfied hour drink costs.

4. Deal with Your self With Fish Cone At Coastal Cone Ice Cream

Have you ever ever had Taiyaki ice cream cone earlier than? Taiyaki is a well-liked avenue meals present in Korea, Japan, San Francisco, LA and New York.

Coastal Cone is the one of many solely locations between LA and San Fran to supply Taiyaki Fish Cones.

It’s a fish formed cake turned waffle, which is crunchy on the skin and mushy on the within like a dessert pancake, making ice lotions further scrumptious.

Now to select from the 46 ice cream flavors for an important pairing.

We ate numerous ice cream on our Southern California Street journey. No surprise the ladies cherished the Kidifornia journey a lot.

5. Sea Cave Kayak Journey At Channel Islands Nationwide Park

A particular spotlight of our household highway journey to Ventura California was our day journey to the Channel Islands Nationwide Park, which is about an 80 minute ferry journey from Ventura Harbor.

It’s America’s least visited Nationwide Park and is stuffed with pure magnificence, wildlife and loads of journey.

The Channel Islands Nationwide Park is made up of 5 separate islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara.

You’ll be able to go to any of the islands by boat with Island Packers, by airplane with Channel Islands Aviation, or your personal non-public boat.

The boat journey over is simply as spectacular because the Channel Islands. The percentages are excessive that you simply’ll see sea lions, dolphins and whales.

We loved a sea cave kayak journey tour with Santa Barbara Journey Firm on Santa Cruz Island.

We spent shut to a few hours paddling by means of the assorted sea caves similar to Elephant Stomach, In and Out, and the Painted Cave.

We discovered rather a lot concerning the islands, noticed loads of nesting birds and even had a sea lion pop up subsequent to us out of the kelp forest.

Talking of which, we went snorkeling by means of the kelp forest as soon as we completed our kayaking tour. It was a particular expertise, and one which’s properly price doing for those who can.

It’s positively the most effective issues to do in Ventura California with youngsters.

6. Play Classic Video games At Village Carousel And Arcade

At any time when I journey with my youngsters, I do my finest to steer them to adventures within the Nice Outside, frowning over staying inside to play video games, but when there’s one exception to this rule – it’s for Village Carousel and Arcade in Ventura.

We popped into the Carousel and Arcade Video games in Ventura Harbor Village for a couple of video games of basketball toss and automotive races, accumulating a couple of tickets to commerce in for prizes as we went.

We find yourself having a enjoyable time. It’s classic enjoyable in Ventura!

7. Discover Downtown Ventura

Downtown Ventura is ideal for a relaxed afternoon of purchasing (window or not) and absorbing the Ventura vibe.

Predominant avenue is a number of blocks lengthy and stuffed with boutique shops, vintage outlets, cafes, eating places, artwork galleries, leisure areas, and a big assortment of second-hand shops.

Downtown Ventura is attractive and funky! We immediately favored it after we drove into city.

Amongst the purchasing and consuming, remember to cease and marvel on the lovely Ventura Metropolis Corridor and the mission.

For all you journey addicts, don’t stroll previous Passport Habits. It’s a retailer created for vacationers by a traveler. The proprietor has lived and traveled everywhere in the world and continues handy pack gadgets from her adventures for her retailer.

I cherished it and will have purchased one in every of every part. You’ll discover jewellery from Bali, colourful Moroccan and Turkey carpets, baggage and all kinds of journey associated knick knacks.

Get misplaced in there for some time.

For the lads, Iron & Resin was a retailer with swagger. They’ve a small, hand constructed assortment of products that attracts closely upon the founder’s personal existence and experiences.

They’re centered on native sustainability: crafting garments within the US, lowering their footprint on the planet, and making garments that final! I like them.

We additionally handed by a few cool trying breweries and wine tasting rooms.

You might have loads of selections for locations to eat and play in Downtown Ventura.

The excellent news is they’re all located on the principle avenue and in straightforward strolling distance from one another (and the Ventura Pier and Crowne Plaza Lodge).

8. Test Out San Buenaventura Mission

San Buenaventura Mission was created in 1749 with the intention of changing the native Chumash folks into the Spanish way of life and Catholic faith.

It’s had a turbulent previous of earthquakes, fires and pirates, but continues to be a working church right this moment for Catholics and non-Catholics.

The Mission is opened to the general public to discover. It’s solely small so that you received’t want numerous time, nevertheless it’s one of many historic issues to do in Ventura California.

We arrived proper close to closing so had a couple of minutes to stroll around the serene mission gardens. It’s an exquisite spot to get away and ponder what ever you wish to mirror on.

9. Play At Ventura Pier And Ventura’s Promenade

We didn’t get to spend a lot time exploring Ventura Seashore and Ventura Pier. The pier is on the backside of Downton Ventura and is the eighth longest in California and a favourite for fisherman.

On either side of the pier is the favored San Buenaventura State Seashore.

There’s a sand playground at its base with youngsters’ swings and the boardwalk alongside the seaside is nice for walkers, skaters, bikers, you identify it.

We heard the tacos on the pier are yummy and low cost!

There’s a nice browsing break simply to the north of the pier as properly at Surfers Level Seashore. It’s situated subsequent to the Seaside Park on the mouth of Ventura River.

I loved watching the surfers of a morning from the balcony of the place we have been staying, the Crowne Plaza Lodge. The waves have been persistently good each day.

Spencer Makenzie’s Fish additionally got here extremely really helpful to us by the locals as the most effective locations in California for fish tacos. Let me know!

10. Take pleasure in A Seafood Dinner At Lure Fish Home

Locals’ favourite, the Lure Fish Home, is a sublime (and fairly priced) seafood restaurant in Downtown Ventura.

It has a relaxed and pleasant environment and feels just like the sort of place the place everybody will know your identify.

You’ll be able to sit on the cubicles inside, the patio deck outdoors, or for those who don’t wish to look forward to a desk, seize an empty seat on the bar or excessive tops.

Lure is likely one of the hottest locations to eat in Ventura and might get very busy so that you would possibly wish to reserve a desk.

Don’t fear about dressing up although, you’re in Ventura, come as you’re!

The menu at Lure Fish Home options contemporary and sustainable seafood domestically caught, organically grown native produce, and wines from native vineyards each time doable.

We each ordered the native wild Pacific Rockfish with native brussel sprouts and almond pesto cauliflower #delish

11. Be Waffle Wowed At Harvest Café

Wow! We found Harvest Cafe as we have been leaving Ventura and have been searching for a fast breakfast spot. It was the proper finish to our time in Ventura.

Harvest Café guarantees to be a real farm-to-table restaurant, serving solely the freshest produce, arriving every day from farms within the Ventura space.

All of their components are natural, and grown as near our location as doable. How will you not help such a socially accountable native firm who cares about your well being and scrumptious meals?

Waffles are hardly ever on my agenda so I couldn’t resist ordering a serve of the gluten free vegan buckwheat waffles topped with berries and cashew nut cream and maple syrup.

The mixture of flavors have been very good.

I don’t have a candy tooth so don’t order pancakes a lot, however this had simply sufficient sweetness to be scrumptious with out making me really feel in poor health, and mixed with the berries, and the cashew nut cream, it was whole heaven.

I might eat them each day.

The espresso was fairly good too and I used to be delighted with the wholesome breakfast choices for youths.

Significantly, don’t miss Harvest Café when you find yourself in California! They even have video games the children can play even whilst you eat your breakfast.

12. Have A Sundown Dinner at La Cosecha Fashionable Cochina

After our Channel Islands journey, we determined to return to our resort in Ventura and eat dinner on the restaurant so we might loosen up across the hearth pit with views of the islands we had simply sailed again from.

I’m all the time slightly cautious consuming at resort eating places as they are often so hit or miss, however we have been simply able to loosen up. I neglect that we have been in California so after all the meals was going to be good.

La Cosecha proved to be a profitable alternative for our remaining meal in California and possibly our final nice Mexican meal we’ll have for awhile.

You simply can’t discover nice Mexican anyplace else on this planet such as you do in SoCal.

La Coscha has award profitable innovate Mexican dishes created from components that honor the native agriculture in addition to sustainably sources seafood.

We ordered Chile Relleno for me and extra shrimp tacos for Craig.

It was an exquisite area to look at the sundown and loosen up across the hearth chatting with different guests staying within the resort.

And the ladies have been completely satisfied as they may run round safely on Ventura’s Promenade in entrance of us.

13. Wander Round Ventura Botanical Backyard

You’ll be able to by no means go improper with a picnic within the botanical gardens each time you have to escape the chaos of metropolis life.

The Ventura Botanical Gardens was based by a gaggle of native residents, who wished to protect the native crops and fauna of the area and create an academic area for the area people.

Positioned in Grant Park, it has a good looking 360-degree view of the coast, mountains, and metropolis under.

Sadly, a lot of the park was broken in a forest hearth in 2018, however is has now reopened and has been lovingly put again collectively.

14. Sluggish Down On A Gondola Trip

Time for slightly Venetian taste in your Ventura County trip. And why not?

The Channel Islands Harbor in close by Oxnard, a 15-minute drive away, is the proper place for a gondola journey. Not like Venice in Italy, you’ll largely have the canals to your self, which makes this gondola journey expertise much more particular.

As our information, and proprietor of Gondola Paradiso, Mark Education defined to us, “we dwell quick paced lives, one thing our our bodies (and spirit) usually are not truly wired to do. It’s very important for our well being that we take the time to decelerate and don’t a lot else however sit in a gondola and transfer on the tempo of a human paddle stroke.”

I felt that return to myself solely only a few strokes in.

Other than our conversations, all I might hear was the mild lapping of the paddle, and the one different motion we have been witness to was the group of youngsters paddling by on their arise paddle boards.

Their music broke the serenity slightly, however their laughter solely added to the enjoyment of experiencing native dwelling.

The gondola journey is a loop across the canals of Coral Island the place you get to see the attractive mansions on the water. In Oxnard, California they run low cost at a mean of about 2 million.

Mark has every part arrange for a snug gondola journey; heat blankets to offset any cool breeze. And that’s all you want to your gondola journey.

There was additionally loads of area for us to sit down and loosen up. You might be greater than welcome to convey your personal meals and drinks as properly.

We’ve got penciled in a sundown gondola journey with wine and cheese for our subsequent go to to Ventura County. Don’t neglect yours!

And keep in mind the gondola rule for passing underneath bridges – you must kiss your accomplice. Pucker up, you’ve two of them forward.

This was one in every of our favourite issues to do in Oxnard California.

16. Dine At The Annex Meals Corridor At Riverpark, Oxnard

The Annex is a culinary centered, neighborhood minded market.

It’s the primary Meals Corridor in Ventura County and has a set of eateries and outlets round a central widespread consuming space.

The Annex is a set of world delicacies starting from burgers, Mexican, Italian, crepes, Vietnamese, Hawaiian Poke and Latin American Ceviche bowls, and even wholesome smoothies.

And maybe slightly of the unhealthy: ice cream that had a line wrapped across the annex, and a small bar (Bottle & Pint) showcasing craft beer from world wide.

My pineapple cider with my bowl of steaming Vietnamese pho (from Love Pho) was a winner!

When you have got completed you possibly can wander round The Assortment, which is an out of doors mall with loads of main retailers and smaller boutique shops.

17. Bike the Ojai to Ventura River Bike Path

One other common exercise to do in Ventura is to cycle alongside the Ojai-Ventura bike path. This can be a 15 mile path that provides lovely views of Ventura and the encircling mountains.

Though it’s fairly a straightforward route, it’s best to permit for a full day to finish it, as it would be best to cease a number of occasions to take images and have breaks.

It’s a good looking path that’s open year-round.

The place to Keep in Ventura California

Now you recognize what to do in Ventura, you is perhaps questioning the place is an efficient place to remain. Beneath is the place we stayed on our journey to Ventura…

Crowne Plaza Lodge

We stayed on the Crowne Plaza Ventura Seashore Lodge. As one of many Ventura Seashore lodges, it has prime beachfront location and a few of the rooms have ocean views.

As talked about earlier, I cherished sitting on my balcony of a morning watching the surfers.

The rooms, though slightly small, have been fashionable, clear and cozy. The health middle was properly stocked with every part you have to keep your exercise.

For many who wish to loosen up across the resort, the Crowne Plaza has a pool dealing with the seaside. And we cherished the firepit to sit down round at evening.

It was enjoyable, heat and fairly social. And you can simply stroll into downtown from the Crowne Plaza.

Last Ideas

Ventura was the final cease on our household highway journey from San Diego to Ventura, by way of Orange County.

We spent three days there to benefit from the coastal dwelling, and to see one of many essential vacationer sights in Ventura, the Channel Islands Nationwide Park.

We have been pleasantly shocked by how a lot there was to do right here, and we immediately fell in love with this quaint vacation spot in CA.

We hope this information helped you propose some sights so as to add to your itinerary and gave you some inspiration for issues to do.

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