Ventura can be explored through three distinct interests: the coast, cultural history and the harbor. To plan your trip, it helps to first decide whether to focus on the beach and outdoor activities, the mission and museums, or the harbor and Channel Islands National Park.
Coast: Ventura Pier and Sandy Beach
Ventura Pier is the oldest pier in California and is designated Ventura Historic Landmark No. 20. You can fish, picnic or take a stroll there at sunset. The pier offers views of the Ventura County coast and the Channel Islands, combining coastal scenery with a specific place for a walk.
San Buenaventura State Beach stretches for two miles and features a sandy beach, a small lagoon and abundant wildlife. Activities available there include swimming, surfing, picnicking, beach volleyball and Frisbee. The options range from water sports to games and a break on the beach. If you enjoy exploring several coastal spots by bicycle, bike paths at the State Beach connect to other nearby beaches and Ventura Pier; they extend your exploration into downtown Ventura.
Mission and Museums
San Buenaventura Mission was founded on March 31, 1782, and was the last mission personally founded by Saint Junípero Serra. Next to the mission in downtown is Mission San Buenaventura Historic Park, a collection of historic and archaeological sites. These include both public and private sites. The Mission Museum displays mission artifacts, including Chumash basketry and wooden bells.
The Museum of Ventura County features exhibitions focused on regional and local visual art and history; they change every two to three months. The museum also hosts lectures, panel discussions, author talks and gallery talks with artists. In this way, rotating exhibitions are complemented by a variety of discussion and event formats. If you’re planning a visit on a specific day, you can check the schedule in advance.
Harbor and the Channel Islands
Ventura Harbor Village offers water sports as well as boat and kayak rentals. The annual Pirate Days take place there in July, and the annual Parade of Lights and Fireworks in December. If one of these festivals is important to your travel plans, check the dates for that year’s event in advance.
Ventura Harbor is also home to the mainland visitor center for Channel Islands National Park. You can explore the park from there without a boat. Access to the islands themselves is different: they can be reached only by boats operated by concessionaires, by plane or by private boat. Check transportation requirements before traveling to the islands. This lets you plan a visit to the mainland visitor center and a trip to an island as separate activities.
Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests
The beach offers several activities to choose from, while the cultural sites bring together history, artifacts, exhibitions and events. If you’d like to include the islands, you should also take the available access options into account. This lets you search for hotels in Ventura based on the kind of stay you’re planning, without cramming every interest into a single itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Port Hueneme, Thousand Oaks, Santa Paula, Somis, Camarillo, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Oxnard.
For the broader travel overview: Ventura.
