I had the opportunity to visit beautiful Ventura, California, and like so many of the other California spots I’ve been able to experience with my Visit California family, it was amazing. Ventura is all about laid back, surfer scene, northwest of Los Angeles.
I arrived on Tuesday in Ventura and checked in to the Waypoint Ventura, a funky, eclectic hotel made up of travel trailers rather than rooms. Don’t let that idea fool you, though. These trailers are as beautiful and comfortable as they are retro. The whole vibe of the place is extremely laid back. It’s pet-friendly, so I made a lot of doggo friends, and my room felt super comfy. Ventura is the classic California beach town, so staying at Waypoint to get the full experience makes so much sense.
Channel Islands
The following day it was up bright and early to experience Channel Islands! If you’ve never heard of it, Island Packers Cruises is the Official Boat Concessionaire for the Channel Islands National Park. For visitors, that means some of the best views, food, and touring you’ll find in and around the park.
We departed around 9 AM and took a scenic cruise to Santa Cruz Island. We spent the day enjoying sea cave kayaking and a hike with a naturalist to guide the way. Those in the group who wanted a little challenge chose the Scorpion Anchorage to Cavern Point for a moderate challenge. Those of us who just wanted to stroll along and take in Mother Nature’s beauty chose a nice stroll to the Ranch area and campground.
On our way back from the excursion, we stopped at Coastal Cone, THE place to get ice cream in the Ventura area. It’s a mecca for ice cream lovers, with the largest collection of ice cream flavors on the West Coast with both churned and soft-serve varieties, along with milkshakes, malts, banana splits, and even savory options like taiyaki fish waffles.
I enjoyed a little relaxing downtime in my amazing trailer/room before heading to dinner with the group at Rumfish y Vino. Foodies will be in Heaven at this Central American Cuisine with Gastro-Bar. The sheer variety of foods and flavors is almost overwhelming but in a good way!
Surfing Lessons
Thursday started with some morning surfing. There were plenty of laughs as those of us who had never surfed before got guidance from our resident teacher, Chipper Bro. This larger than life – and LOUD – surfer is Ventura surfing institution, and it showed. He was super friendly, and we all learned a lot while having even more fun. The breakfast burritos provided were also tasty and paired well with the rest of the morning.
After our surfing lesson, we all got freshened up and headed to the Ventura Coast Brewing Company. The company was create to promote the craft beef culture of Ventura County by focusing on high-quality, approachable beer styles, getting creative with specialty ingredients. We attended a half-day board meeting followed by a delicious lunch on-site.
Ventura Botanical Gardens
Later that afternoon, the group headed to Ventura Botanical Gardens, a 107-acre site. This world-class botanical garden is home to over 120,000 plants in five Mediterranean climate zones, agricultural vistas, and gorgeous views of the California coastline.
After our tour, we enjoyed dinner at Paradise Pantry. They call it an experiential dinner, and it really is true. The entire thing really is a communal experience.
Although I was sad to leave, I was so glad I was able to discover so much about Ventura County. It’s such a gorgeous spot, and I’m already planning a family trip there with my husband and the kids as soon as we can possibly get there.
