Location: Ventura
Top Things to do in Ventura
10 Things to do Good for Kids in Ventura That You Shouldn't Miss
Ventura, officially the City of San Buenaventura, is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States. European explorers encountered a Chumash village, referred to as Shisholop, in Ventura while traveling along the Pacific coast. The eponymous Mission San Buenaventura was founded nearby in 1782 where it benefitted from the water of the Ventura River. The town grew around the mission compound and incorporated in 1866. The development of nearby oil fields in the 1920s and the age of automobile travel created a major real estate boom during which many designated landmark buildings were constructed. The mission and these buildings are at the center of a downtown that has become a cultural, retail, and residential district and visitor destination.
Restaurants in Ventura
1. Mission San Buenaventura
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 341 reviews
Reviewed By fergken - Washington DC, United States
Easy to pass by (the necessity of first entering a gift shop might confuse potential visitors) Mission San Buenaventura is a serene sanctuary. Awaiting inside is a hidden gem of serenity, beauty and history. This includes centuries-old historic artifacts in an intimate museum, and a meticulously maintained Spanish colonial-era Roman Catholic mission (circa 1809) whose sanctuary area contains an exact replica of “The Pieta” marble sculpture in Vatican. Only one hundred of these copies were created.
2. Ventura County Museum of History & Art
3. The Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 172 reviews
Reviewed By AnnaRabea - California, United States
After visiting Santa Cruz Island on a day trip, this was the perfect place to deepen our knowledge of the Channel Islands. It's on the small side, but well kept up with very friendly staff. Worth a visit!
4. Olivas Adobe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By SMGrandma - Santa Maria, United States
Lovely area to visit. Not many people the day we went. They have helpful staff in the gift shop to direct you. You can do a self-guided tour for free, or buy a booklet with more detail for $2 or pay for a docent-led tour. We did the self-guided since we wanted to move at our own pace and take lots of pictures. They have a small museum next to the gift shop. There's a beautiful rose garden, too. The two-story Olivas Adobe is furnished with period furniture and accessories. Large courtyard outside the adobe where they happened to be setting up for a wedding the day we were there. Garden area in front of the adobe, too.
5. Ventura Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 60 reviews
Located in Historic Downtown Ventura, the Ventura Visitors Center is a great place to stop for information, souvenirs, and friendly assistance! Stop on by with any questions you have, then take a short walk up to Main Street for eclectic shopping and eateries or walk down to the Ventura Pier and the never-ending beachfront.
6. Serra Cross Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 179 reviews
Reviewed By 34regisk - Arcadia, United States
What a view of the Ventura beach and the city. This vantage point also has the best view of the sunset in Ventura. Erected by Mission Buenaventura, one of several Missions planted by Father Junipero Serra in the 1700’s, this highly visible cross served as a road sign for travelers in search of the Mission. The cross has been lost to elements many times, but it is always replaced and continues to stand above Ventura. Today, this Cross is still a land mark in Ventura city and the land where the cross sits was dedicated as Serra Cross Park within Grant Park recently. We had passed by this area many times on our way to Santa Barbara but never had a chance to visit here. Today, being the weekend, we finally decide to come to Venture to visit the pier and the Serra Cross Park. After, finished walking on the pier and had lunch, we drove about 10 minutes to reach the Cross Park. What a view!! From the park, we had a panoramic view of the city and the beach. Since this is part of Grant Park, we hiked to take advantages of many great trails at Grant Park. We planned that we would hike first before coming back to the Cross Park to enjoy the sunset in the evening. There are several hiking trails at Grant Park. We chose the one that goes up from the Cross Park. Once we reached the top, we had another magnificent view of the mountains and the beach. That view was just awesome. After the hike, we came down to the Cross Park around 7PM just in time to see the sunset. With the amazing white scale-like clouds, the sunset view from this vantage point was just spectacular with red and orange colors splashed all over the hills surrounding the Cross. We saw many people were just sitting around the benches over the Park, rejoicing and totally emerging in the beauty of the sunset scenery. What a way to end a day! There are many parking spots at the Park and you can park your car along the road as well.
7. Surfers Point Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 63 reviews
Reviewed By johnsR9569RO - Kapolei, United States
Surfer's Point Park is really a parking lot that fronts the walkway promenade along the beach. If you surf, go in the morning before it blows out. Ventura catches south swells poorly but the winter's NW swells come in fine. Families can rent pedal vehicles. The walkway goes a long way along the coast.
8. Marina Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By PCfan - Idyllwild, United States
Lovely park for picnicking, walking, or just relaxing. Great walking paths and lots of tables scattered throughout. Our dog loved the visit!
9. Lake Casitas Recreation Area
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By barfiemermaid - Costa Mesa, United States
Was camping over the weekend, lots of facilities and a camp store. The campsite has a picnic bench and a firepit and a flip over grate. Lots of fingers in the lake to explore. We rented a pontoon boat and toured the area. Saw a young deer swimming across the lake. Our camp site was in Osprey area.
10. Ventura Harbor Village
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 373 reviews
We love our Harbor! Our Facebook page is a place for our local community, as well as welcome tourists stopping through, to enjoy our views, to post and share what's happening at our Harbor: from a day on the beach, a beautiful sunset, whale spotting, bird and seal pictures, to restaurant, nightlife or new water excursions taking place at Ventura Harbor Village! Ventura Harbor Village is California’s seaside playground brimming with fresh seafood and a wide variety of cuisines to tantalize your palette, boutique shops and art galleries around every corner, SUP, kayak, pedal and electric boat rentals to get on the water and see the seals, family fun at the arcade, kite flying, or playing in the sand at one of the safest beaches in the County “Mother’s Beach” (Harbor Cove Beach), daily boat trips, as well as sailing and dive charters to explore the Channel Islands National Park, coastal fashion and décor, a beautiful walking promenade with daily Happy Hours overlooking the boats, and a comedy club boasting top celebrity names to put a smile on your face. Now you can see why we Love our Harbor!
Reviewed By frankdF7077FX - Cambria, United States
Great Harbor Village restaurants, ice cream and chocolate’s stores, French Bakery and Restaurant, Greek Restaurant etc. rentals for kayaks and electric boats, and tour boats to the Channel Islands.
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