Ventura Vacay: 10 Activities Your Family Will Love

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!