Ventura County Coast
Activities throughout the year
SKIP THROUGH THE SEASONS by celebrating them in the string of four main cities located in the Ventura County Coast, between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles— Camarillo, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Ventura. Whether they’re signature seasonal events, great ways to get outdoors, or first-rate family adventures, there are plenty of options to fit your mood and style of travel.
Spring
New growth after the winter is an essential sign of spring. Head to Camarillo for its Saturday morning Farmers’ Market, featuring California farm-fresh organic produce straight from the farmers who grew it. Another ultimate celebration of spring is the California Strawberry Festival in Oxnard (May 16-17) with more than 50 food booths brimming with treats like smoothies, strawberry beer, strawberry shortcake and chocolate-dipped strawberries. What goes with food? Beer! The fifth annual Beer March features 20 craft breweries and live entertainment in Old Town Camarillo (March 14). Some of the most dedicated visitors to the region are the highlight of the Celebration of the Whales at the Channel Islands Harbor (March 22), where California gray whales inspire
family-friendly activities, chalk art and prize drawings that include whalewatching excursions. Make your home base the Ventura Beach Marriott, conveniently located within easy reach of the region’s attractions, and duck into Rumfish Y Vino, a gastro-bar in downtown Ventura.
Summer
The long days of summer are ideal for a voyage from either the Ventura or Oxnard harbor to visit Channel Islands National Park, where the “Galapagos of North America” is revered for its endemic plants and plentiful wildlife. Launch water adventures (by kayak, board or boat) and land delights (like the carousel, arcade games, and numerous shops and restaurants) at Ventura Harbor Village for a day closer to town. Look up in the sky for the old-time barnstorming air show, Wings Over Camarillo (August 15-16), which also includes classic cars on familiar terra-firma. Enjoy the sounds of summer at the Oxnard Heritage Square Summer Concert Series, with performances every Friday night by bands from old school to classic rock to Latin jazz to rhythm and blues and even more. Lay your head at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach for front-row beach views, as it’s right on the beach and just two blocks from historic downtown Ventura. Head to nearby Social Tap for upscale pub cuisine.
Autumn
When have you set aside a day to celebrate a favorite yellow crescent fruit? The Port
Hueneme Banana Festival (September 26) gives you a full-day delight in banana treats and ocean breezes, and you’ll also learn a little about the port. Ventura County Farm Day (November 7) embraces farmers and ranchers across the region, and shows you where your food comes from, among the more than 100 types of crops in the region. In Camarillo, explore delicious local wine on the Old Town Wine Walk (late September), or celebrate Adolfo Camarillo’s birthday (last week of October) at historic Camarillo Ranch with the famous Camarillo white horses and tours of Adolfo Camarillo’s 1892 Queen Anne Victorian mansion. Stay in a sweet suite on the beach at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard, and zip over to Slate Bistro & Craft Bar in Camarillo for gastro chic American culinary bites.
Winter
Ring in the winter holiday season at the Ventura Winter Wine Walk & Holiday Street Fair (December 5), where revelers have the chance to sample wine and beer, stroll down Main Street surrounded by live entertainment and beautiful holiday lighting, and get the jump on your gift shopping. If a cruise is on your wish list, check it off by taking an Island Packers whale-watching cruise to spy California gray whales on their annual migration. Some folks want to celebrate the season by signing up for a run, and they’ll be pleased to participate in the Holly Jolly Half Marathon in Camarillo or the Santa to the Sea Half Marathon in Oxnard (December). Relax after the holiday immersion at the Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge, and visit the Waypoint Café in the Camarillo Airport to get inspiration for a return journey.