There are so many things to do in Ventura: it is the perfect base for a family adventure on California’s central coast. The vibrant downtown and harbor offers nostalgic beach-town fun, while the incredible Channel Islands National Park is a short ferry ride away. It can be tricky trying to please everybody on a family trip but this little gem is packed full of fun.

Ventura Facts

• It’s located on the coast, five and a half hour’s drive from San Francisco and just over an hour from LA
• The city is actually called San Buenaventura but the name was too long to print on railroad tickets, so it was shortened and stuck
• Ventura is the gateway to the Channel Islands
• Outdoor outfitters Patagonia has its headquarters here

Have A Beach Day

Ventura has several clean, sandy beaches where you can spend an afternoon relaxing. Our kids could not get enough of the surf, which was big enough to jump in but not so rough as to be dangerous. 

Best Ventura beaches to visit with your kids: 

• Ventura Pier Beach is the closest to downtown. There are lifeguards in the summer and a small playground. 
• Marina Park Beach is near the harbor and has a pirate ship playground, although the play area was closed for repairs when we visited in July 2021.
• Surfer’s Knoll is a lovely stretch by the harbor, perfect for watching the surfers do their thing. As the name implies, the water is better for surfing than swimming and there are no lifeguards.
• Harbor Cove Beach is the quieter, calmer beach next to Surfer’s Knoll. Protected by jetties either side, this beach is ideal for families.

Wheel Good Fun, located by the pier, has boogie boards and other beach equipment for rent. I also have a beach packing list, which helps me to remember everything I need.

Walk The Historic Ventura Pier

Take a stroll down Ventura Pier, built in 1872. The wooden structure has been destroyed several times over the years but always carefully restored. Information boards placed along the boardwalk explain the pier’s history and importance to the city.

It’s a great spot for fishing, or just watching other people try their luck. According to a local I spoke to, thresher sharks are the goal – but occasionally they hook a great white instead!

If the fresh air has made you hungry, head back along the pier to Beach House Tacos, a local favourite.

Cycle The Coast

Wheel Fun Rentals rents bicycles at the pier, which you can rent by the day or by the hour. Ventura has a beautiful paved cycle path along the beach, the San Buenaventura Riding Trail, which takes you to the neighboring town of Carpinteria. Adventurous families can follow the river inland 17 miles to Ojai.

You can rent adult bikes, kid bikes, tag-alongs, or a Surrey for four. Helmets, bike locks and a basket to store your stuff are included in the price. If you prefer to stay at the beach, you can also rent toys, an umbrella and boogie boards here.

Thrift Shopping Downtown

Ventura’s downtown has a good mix of bars, restaurants and interesting stores. We loved hunting for treasures in the many thrift stores and antique shops. There is also a great book shop, inviting art galleries, a vintage movie theater and a travel-inspired boutique to browse.

When we visited in the summer of 2021, Ventura had pedestrianized much of the downtown area and added a stage for live music. At night, the area’s festive vibe attracted a diverse crowd. Teens practiced their Tik Tok dances, families dined out under heat lamps and surfer kids drank craft beers outside microbreweries.

I love this idea, it reminds me of towns in Spain where quiet streets come alive after dark. I hope more cities keep their main streets car-free even after the pandemic is over. You can find the pedestrianized area on E Main St, between 1st St and Palm St.

San Buenaventura Mission

Full disclosure: we skipped this one. I thought it looked really interesting but my kids are probably a little too young to appreciate historical buildings. However, older kids – especially those studying the Missions in history – would enjoy San Buenaventura Mission.

Located on E Main St, the original church was finished in 1782 and has been in almost continuous operation as a mission, school and place of worship ever since. Visitors can take a tour, check out the museum with its Native American artifacts and enjoy the beautiful gardens. Worshippers are also welcome to take part in the morning Mass.

Day Trip To The Channel Islands

If you do one thing in Ventura, make it this! Island Packers runs the ferry out to the Channel Islands, an archipelago off the coast of California famous for its plant and wildlife. 

Santa Cruz is the best island for families. Visitors can do this as a day trip or an overnight camping trip. There are no cars, hotels or even food on the islands, so you have to pack everything in and out yourself.

My recommendation is to take the earliest ferry then spend the day kayaking with Channel Islands Adventure Company. If your kids are too young (kayakers must be five to ride), take a hike or just play on the beautiful beach. I have way more details on what to do on Santa Cruz Island in this post.

Arcade Games At Ventura Harbor

Harbor Village, to the south of Ventura’s downtown, has lots of fun family activities – including Ventura Village Carousel. This games arcade is a blast. We were able to get 20 tokens for $5, which worked out to be about six games. It’s a mix of video games and other entertainment, including air hockey. 

Winners get tickets they can trade in for prizes and thanks to some kind teens who donated their winnings to our kids, our kids won a very annoying whistle. There is also a vintage carousel. 

Eat Ice Cream Out Of A Fish

Not an actual fish, a fish-shaped waffle with a scoop of ice cream inside! Coastal Ice Cream, located at Ventura’s Harbor Village, is one of a handful of ice cream spots serving this Japanese treat. There is another in LA and San Francisco.

I apologize for not taking a photo, but I am not a multitasker and trying to hold a dripping ice cream in one hand and a camera in another was beyond my capabilities.

The menu is enormous, with 40 flavors plus toppings to choose from. The kids had soft serve, I tried a malted chocolate and my husband opted for a salted caramel. They also had some intriguing green tea and ube flavors which looked amazing. 

Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center

Located in the Harbor Village, the National Park Service has a great free museum for the Channel Islands in Ventura. It’s a good place to learn about the wildlife from interactive exhibits and knowledgeable rangers. 

This is where kids can pick up a Junior Ranger program to complete at the center and earn a badge. I especially enjoyed talking with the rangers, who are all so passionate about their work. Give yourself some time to walk around the native plants garden, which is full of tips on how you can grow some of these plants yourself (you can buy some here too).

Pedalo The Harbor

Explore the harbor in a pedal boat from Ventura Boat Rentals for an hour of fun. The protected harbor is the ideal place to do this as there are no waves or ocean currents. You can also get closer to the sea lions, who love to sunbathe on the docks.

Stand up paddle boards and kayaks are also available to rent.

Where To Eat In Ventura

Thanks to some recommendations from a local, we had some wonderful meals in Ventura. All of the following are family-friendly.

Lure is a seafood restaurant in downtown selling both the local catch and seafood from across the world. The food and service is high-end but the atmosphere is relaxed, perfect for a beach town. It’s popular, so turn up early to get your name on the list. A kid’s menu is available. 

Finney’s Crafthouse serves craft beer and food. The flatbread pizzas were delicious and we all enjoyed dining outdoors under the heat lamps (dress warmly, the sea breeze is bracing). Great selection of beer and as we were within a ten-minute walk, we could both enjoy a drink.

Rincon Brewery is another kid-friendly brew pub in downtown, serving excellent craft beer alongside food like burgers, tacos and fresh salads.

Fluid State has a lively pub garden, tasty beer and sourdough pizza: it’s a winning combo.

For fish tacos, check out Beach House Tacos on the pier or our favorite, Spencer Mackenzie’s. The hot sauces are amazing.

If you still have the room after all that, Ventura has a Ben & Jerry’s. 

Where To Stay In Ventura

We stayed in a cute two-bedroom Airbnb apartment ten minute’s walk from downtown. It was great value, conveniently located, clean and the host was responsive. 

As we had an early start, we wanted to be closer to the harbor for the night before our trip to Santa Cruz. There are several hotels in the area: we stayed in the Sheraton Four Points. Our room was pretty spacious, the beds were comfy and it was a quick five-minute drive to the ferry.

If you prefer to stay in a hotel near downtown and the beach, the Marriott Ventura Beach is ideally located on Sanbuenaventura State Beach. It has a pool, a good restaurant and beautiful views.

Getting Around Ventura

Ventura is a very walkable city. If you stay near downtown, you can easily walk to the pier and the beach. The harbor is a ten minute drive but there is a free tourist bus running between Thursday and Sunday, departing from the visitor center.

The Pacific Surfliner runs right through the town, making a stop at Ventura Station. If your kids are fascinated by trains, this is a really nice alternative to a road trip.

If you are driving, there is plenty of free parking all around the city, especially at the harbor.

And that’s it! Everything you need to know to stay and play in Ventura. Let me know in the comments if you are planning a trip!

The post Ventura Vacay: 10 Activities Your Family Will Love appeared first on Tiny Trailblazers.

Finding it hard to make a reservation at Yosemite this year? Skip the crowds and head to one of California’s best and least visited National Parks: the Channel Islands. Described as the “Galapagos of North America”, these unique islands just off the coast of Santa Barbara are home to some of the rarest (and cutest) animals on the continent.

In 2019, around four million people visited Yosemite – compare that to the 400,000 tourists who came to the Channel Islands in the same year. The Channel Islands National Park is a hidden gem, ideal for a day trip or a camping adventure.

A spokesperson for the Channel Islands National Park, John Donoghue, says the destination is very family friendly. “If your family likes to hike, camp, kayak, snorkel, or dive, we have all these activities for a family.

“We also have bird watching and many other marine animals to see such as dolphins, seals, sea lions, whales, and many kinds of fish. You may even see an island fox while you are there. Just don’t feed them please!”

Channel Islands National Park: Which Island Is Best For Kids?

The National Park is made up of five islands and the ocean surrounding them, just off the southern Californian coast: Santa Cruz, Anacapa, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa and San Miguel. All can be visited by taking a ferry from Ventura, operated by Island Packers.

The National Park Service recommends Anacapa Island, the smaller island next to Santa Cruz, for first-time visitors. However, access is trickier: there is a steel-rung ladder to climb from the boat to the dock.

If your kids are older and can handle the ladder, or you can carry your infant on your back, Anacapa is perfect for a day trip. It’s small, but full of opportunities to spot birds and has a historic lighthouse.

The other three islands are further away. Santa Rosa Island is a two to three-hour crossing and a bumpy one at that. If conditions aren’t ideal, your trip may get cancelled – or you may get out there but the captain cannot land. 

San Miguel Island is for the more adventurous travelers. There is no pier, so landing involves a skiff. Travel time is three to three and a half hours. Santa Barbara is the smallest island and although accessible to the public, you will have to make your own way there: the dock is currently under repair and the ferry cannot land.

If you can’t choose just one, it is possible to visit several islands in one trip.

We visited Santa Cruz as this is the nearest and easiest to get to with kids. It’s only one hour away by ferry and there is a pier on the beach, so getting on and off the ferry is easy. 

There is also plenty to do here, so this is the island I would recommend for families who want to visit Channel Islands National Park.

About Santa Cruz Island

• There are no cars on the island, or food to buy. Water is available at the campsite
• The ferry service run by Island Packers, or your own boat, is the only way to get there
• The boat ride over to Santa Cruz Island takes an hour
• You can visit for a day or camp but there are no other accommodations
• At 96 square miles, it is the largest island off the West Coast: around four times the size of Manhattan.

A spokesperson for the local tour operator Channel Islands Adventures, Will Adams, says: “Located just shy of 30 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, Channel Islands National Park is home to one of the most biologically diverse concentrations of marine life in the world and 23 endemic terrestrial animals including the island fox.

“This precious refuge beckons visitors from around the world to experience its remote beauty and take part in its unique adventure opportunities. Some great activities on the islands include hiking, camping, birdwatching and exploring sea caves by kayak or snorkeling.”

How To Get To Santa Cruz Island

Entry to the park is free but you will need to take the ferry, operated by Island Packers, to get there. The ferry to Santa Cruz leaves from Ventura Harbor year-round, with several crossings a day during the summer months. Return tickets for adults are between $60 and $80, depending on whether you are going for the day or overnight as a camper.

There are two stops on Santa Cruz Island: Scorpion Cove and Prisoners Harbor. All of the activities listed below are for Scorpion Cove. If you want to see Painted Cave, the world’s largest sea cave, you will need to go to Prisoners Harbor.

The crossing was not rough but we took Dramamine in advance to be on the safe side. The non-drowsy pills are good for adults but kids can only take the original formula – ask your pharmacist for advice if you are concerned.

Island Packers asks day trippers to check in 45 minutes before departure time, or one hour for campers. As there is no food sold on Santa Cruz, pack a lunch in closed containers (seriously, the animals WILL steal your lunch if it is not secure) and take a water bottle. A lightweight jacket and good walking shoes are a must have.

The first boat out departs at 8 or 9 a.m., so staying nearby will make life easier. We stayed in Ventura Harbor at Sheraton Four Points the night before and it was just a four minute drive to the ferry.

Things To Do On Santa Cruz Island

Wildlife Spotting

Before we got to the island, we saw a pod of around one thousand dolphins, playing and jumping in the ferry’s wake. Depending on the time of year, you might spot whales too.

Due to their isolation from the mainland, several native animals evolved into separate species, so this is the only place in the world where you can see an island fox or an island scrub jay.

The foxes are adorable. Descendants of mainland grey foxes, they became smaller when adapting to island life. The National Park Service brought the species back from the brink of extinction several years ago and the foxes are now thriving on Santa Cruz Island.

The campsites are the best place to see them, as they hang around hoping for scraps, but I also saw foxes from the trails. A ranger warned us “they will use their cuteness against you” and it’s true: store your lunch well away from these sweet little thieves.

But the ravens were my favourite creatures. I had to admire these intelligent birds as they worked to steal food from tourists, calling over their pals whenever they spotted an opportunity. I saw one carefully peeling someone’s orange before enjoying its treat.

While we were there, we also saw dolphins, seals, sea lions, brown pelicans, a bald eagle, and hummingbirds. I really wish we had brought a pair of binoculars to get a closer look at everything. 

View Wildflowers

The unique and stunning plant life on the Channel Islands is another reason to visit. If you can time your trip during spring and early summer, you will be rewarded with fantastic displays of wildflowers, some of which you will find nowhere else in the world.

If you are interested in California’s native plants, Designing California Native Gardens is a great book with sections on all the different habitats found throughout the state.

Snorkel From The Beach

Bring your own snorkel, mask and fins or rent a set from Channel Islands Adventure Company located on the beach. The water is warm-ish (around 70F in the summer) but you can stay out longer if you have a wet suit. 

A life jacket is a good idea for kids even if they are strong swimmers, as it will keep them comfortable and buoyant in the water. Go straight in from the beach and head for the kelp forest under the pier – look out for lobsters, sea stars and Garibaldi, a beautiful golden fish.

Channel Islands Adventures offers snorkeling tours, with a minimum age of ten. Going with a guide is a great way to spot wildlife you might otherwise overlook and adds an element of safety if you are on your own.

Kayak

If you have your own kayak, you can take it across on the ferry. Alternatively, book a kayak tour with Channel Islands Adventures. 

Channel Islands Adventures offers kayak and snorkeling tours of the island from the beach. All the tours involve paddling in and out of the sea caves, which is an amazing experience. 

The 1.5 hour Discovery Sea Cave adventure is perfect for young kids (children as young as five can take a kayak tour). The guide will point out wildlife as you go and give you tips on how to get the most out of your paddle. 

Our five-year-old daughter was happy to be a passenger but our seven-year-old got stuck in with his paddle and was determined to be the fastest boat on the water. Bear in mind even the shortest tour is pretty tiring and our little girl fell asleep at one point!

Longer tours, including snorkeling, are also available.

This was absolutely the highlight of our trip and the guide was very knowledgeable, pointing out wildlife and guiding us through the caves.

If you want to go, you will need to book a few months in advance for the popular summer season. If you want to take any items with you, a dry bag is essential.

Explore The Visitor Center

The old farming ranch is now an information center for the island’s history and nature. It’s a good starting point before going on a trail. Santa Cruz Island has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Chumash and more recently, by ranchers. The visitor center tells the stories of the people who lived here and can help you identify the island’s wildlife.

Hiking Santa Cruz Island

There are several trails suited to kids, with the best being the two-mile Cavern Point loop. This is the best trail to do if you only have one day as it is fairly short but has fantastic views. To avoid a steep climb, start the trail from the campground (head for the pit toilets at the far end) and end at the visitor center.

Another good hike is out to Potato Harbor. Follow the same route as the Cavern Point trail but take a left at the fork, following the signs. There were fewer people on this path and we saw ravens, a fox as well as sea lions. It’s an extra two miles on top of the Cavern Point loop.

If you have time and your kids are happy hikers, explore the interior and find an old oil well on the Scorpion Canyon loop. It’s a long climb but you might spot bald eagles soaring above and island scrub jays. The loop is 4.5 miles but harder than Potato Harbor due to the climb. Start this one at the beach, not the campground. 

We attempted to get to Smugglers Cove, where there is access to a beach, but it would have added approximately three miles to the hike: too far for our little explorers. 

Camping

By taking the first ferry and leaving on the last, you could fit many of these activities into one day. But camping overnight on this unique island is a really special experience. It’s a little tricky if you are used to car camping, as you have to lug all your gear from the ferry to the campsite, but a worthwhile endeavor.

Reserve your site at Recreation.gov (but make sure you can book a ferry crossing for the same dates). The lower loop is a shorter walk from the ferry than the upper loop, which is an extra five minute stroll.

Sunset At Cavern Point

If you’re camping, take headlamps and snacks to Cavern Point to enjoy a spectacular sunset over the ocean. We were able to see dolphins from our vantage point and watch the huge container ships go by as we watched the sun sink down. We had just enough light to get back down to the beach afterward.

Junior Ranger Program

If you have time, check out the Channel Islands Visitor Center on the mainland in Ventura before you go. Ask for the Junior Ranger booklet. This is a wonderful program that really engages kids with National Parks. We learned so much more from taking part than we would have if we were just wandering around. 

Don’t have time? Request a booklet when you check in for your ferry and your kids can fill in the questions while on the island. Once they are finished, track down a ranger for a badge, they deserve it!

When To Go To Santa Cruz Island

We went in July and the weather was great, we had no issues doing any of the activities. However, coastal California is often at its best in September and October, when there is less fog and fewer crowds.

I would also love to visit in April or May, when the flowers are in full bloom. The island would be stunning in the spring. I would not recommend a trip in the winter, when seas might be rough and ferry crossings more difficult.

Santa Cruz Island Weather

The island sees similar weather to the mainland. During the summer, expect cooler temperatures and cloud cover in the morning, followed by sunshine as the fog burns off later in the afternoon. Light layers work well. May to October is generally dry throughout California but you could experience showers, so bring a light waterproof jacket.

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