Travel Guide to California

2017 Travel Guide to California

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2 0 1 7 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 111 Family Fun & Outdoor Adventures For families, Port Hueneme Beach Park with its fifty acres of landscaped parkland (com- plete with picnic areas and barbecue pits) and long strip of soft white sand is espe- cially inviting for a day of fun. Adventuring families can take a boat from Oxnard's pic- turesque harbor to Channel Islands National Park for kayaking, snorkeling, birdwatching, whale watching and island hiking. Other family focused stops include the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum in Port Hueneme, Camarillo's Old Town, Ventura Harbor Village, Oxnard Beach Park, Marina Park and Camarillo Grove Park. San Buenaventura State Beach runs for two miles along the Ventura coast, with sand dunes, bike trails, great swimming and surfing options, and is perfect for pic- nics and barbecues. Hollywood Beach in Oxnard is popular with surfers, beach vol- leyball players and those who want to slow things down and enjoy the sand and sun. Fabulous Food One key to having great cuisine is having fresh food. Ventura County Coast is located along an agricultural greenbelt—ideal for sampling fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean and locally sourced produce. Farms in and around Camarillo, Oxnard and Ven- tura have free tours and u-pick fun, where you can get your own taste of what's avail- able. Outdoor farmers markets provide great opportunities to sample fresh sea- sonal produce, artisan cheeses, gourmet sauces and olive oil, and to pick up plants, flowers and handcrafted items. Oxnard's multicultural influences and farming heritage make it an ideal place to try authentic Mexican, Brazilian, Thai and Italian dishes. Or even just dine on seafood in the harbor—whatever you have a craving for. Camarillo is best known for its fresh farm stands, farm-to-table cuisine and deli- cious craft beer. Grab a glass of wine with your fresh seafood in Port Hueneme for optimal enjoyment. In Ventura, you can start your day with tasty coffee, relax midday with local beer, and wind down at sunset with inventive cocktails. For a foodie behind-the-scenes experi- ence, the Ventura Food Tour allows culinary fans to meet local chefs, brewmasters and chocolate makers. Plentiful opportunities exist for wine tasting, with eleven wineries in Camarillo, Oxnard and Ventura, as well as a combined wine-and-dine experience at the award-winning Tierra Sur inside Herzog Wine Cellars. Even better, plan your visit around one of the region's signature events, such as Ventura County Farm Day (Nov. 4), Oxnard's annual California Strawberry Festival (May 20-21) or the Ventura County Fair (Aug. 2-13). There's never only one thing to do in Ventura County Coast. It's fun for beach lovers, wildlife fans, art appreciators, his- tory buffs, shoppers, wine and beer enthusiasts and foodies. Fit in time to do it all, and you'll find out which combination is your personal favorite. FIELDS IN CAMARILLO, opposite top; a whale breaches on the way to the Channel Islands, opposite boXom; California State University Channel Islands, right; Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, below.

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