Things To Do
Wheel Fun Rentals | Ventura Pier
Rent a bike and ride the bike path along the ocean! Or don't! We're not the bosses of you!
Santa Cruz Island
This beautiful island is part of The Channel Islands National Park, and is just a one hour boat ride from Ventura Harbor. Plan a whole day for this excursion... the island has some beautiful hikes and unique kayak tours. Be aware-- you'll need to book your round trip boat tickets ahead of time, and it's recommended that you book kayak tours ahead of time too. Dolphin sightings can't be booked ahead of time unless you're a witch, but they happen frequently.
Santa Barbara
Drive up the 1 to Santa Barbara, just 30 minutes north of Ventura. Take in coastal views from the famous Pacific Coast Highway and grab lunch or do some shopping in this beautiful city named after Saint Barbara-- patron Saint of wine glasses and cardigans. Plenty of beaches along the way!
Old Creek Ranch & Winery
Super cute winery and tasting room, just 15 minutes from downtown Ventura. They recommend making reservations for wine tastings-- check their website for more info.
Ojai
This is one of our favorite towns... it's small and walkable, with lots of little shops, art galleries, and restaurants. There's a lovely path that runs parallel to main street-- enjoy strolling or biking through the trees (there's a bike rental place in the middle of town). Bart's Books is a cool used book store we love (built in and around an old house), and Tipple and Ramble is a great outdoor patio that serves (expensive, but lovely) wine and cheese spreads. Also check out Ojai Olive Oil-- listed below!
Ojai Olive Oil
Working olive oil farm (vineyard? grove?) that offers tours (which we've never done) and an olive oil tasting room (which we've done more times than we can count). If you like infused olive oils (and/or vinegars), this will be your Club Med. Or like, a Club Med for your mouth. You get it.
Meditation Mount
Quiet meditation garden on the outskirts of Ojai with a beautiful view of the very quaint, always photogenic Ojai Valley.
Surfers Point at Seaside Park
Great place to surf, or watch surfers from the turf.