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Family Fun Road Trip

When you have kids, it can be challenging to plan a vacation that everyone will enjoy. Luckily, Ventura County Coast is home to a long list of exciting and educational attractions for families to experience together. Airplanes, boats, museums, the beach, ice cream, pizza, and a magical island. This trip has them all and more! Come explore our beautiful region.

A Memorable Family Adventure – 5 Days, 50 Miles

Ventura County Coast is accessible from both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Start: Camarillo 
End: Ventura
Coming from the north? Flip the itinerary!

Don’t forget to tag your photos with #VCCVIBES and #VCCFAMILYFUN

Day 1: Camarillo

Stop 1: Commemorative Air Force Southern California Wing
455 Aviation Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010

Featuring a collection of working planes from past wars, CAFSoCal is something you, the kids and even grandma and grandpa will definitely want to see up close. In addition to the planes, CAFSoCal also has unique historical items on display, such as photos, uniforms, weapons and other equipment. If you’re age 12 or older, you can even go for a plane ride!

Stop 2: BLVD BRGR Co.
2145 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93010

BLVD BRGR Co. makes a killer cheeseburger, fries, and shakes for those who appreciate the classics and more unusual flavors for those who want to branch out, including craft beer for mom and dad. As their website states, they “take burgers very, very seriously,” and so will you after you get a taste!

Camarillo Details

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Day 2: Channel Islands

Stop 1: Island Packers
Channel Islands Harbor, 3550 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard, CA 93035
Ventura Harbor, 1691 Spinnaker Dr #105B, Ventura, CA 93001

Take the kids on an island adventure they’ll never forget by hitching a boat ride with Island Packers from either Channel Islands Harbor or Ventura Harbor to Channel Islands National Park. Known as the Galapagos of North America, the Channel Islands have some of the world’s most breathtaking sea caves, which can be explored on a kayak with older children. Younger ones will love getting an underwater view of the local sea life while snorkeling! If you’re more interested in the islands themselves, there are plenty of hikes with beautiful views. Guests on the islands are allowed to bring food, so more sure to pack a picnic lunch before you go.

In addition to ferrying between the mainland and the islands, Island Packers offers some spectacular whale watching and wildlife tours! There’s a trip for every season, including year-round wildlife tours, whale watching in the winter and summer, and seasonal birding trips.

Channel Islands National Park Details

Visit Oxnard and Ventura
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Day 3: Port Hueneme

Stop 1: Port Hueneme Beach Park and Pier
E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme, CA 93041

Spend the day picnicking and building sand castles at Port Hueneme Beach Park or relaxing under the shade of a nearby palm tree. If you’ve had your fill of the beach, head over to Moranda Park for playtime on the jungle gym or a game of basketball with locals.

Families love the Ventura County Coast

Stop 2: U.S. Navy Seabee Museum 
3201 N. Ventura Road, Port Hueneme, CA 93043

Located close to the Ventura County Naval Base in Port Hueneme, the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum pays homage to the work of the Civil Engineer Corps and Naval Construction Force, better known as the Seabees. The museum is free and displays photos, equipment, and memorabilia from Navy building projects at home and abroad, during peace and wartime. People of all ages will enjoy learning about this lesser-known facet of our military!

Port Hueneme Details

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Day 4: Oxnard

Stop 1: Channel Islands Maritime Museum
3900 Bluefin Circle, Oxnard, CA 93035

Children of all ages will love learning about the whales that swim off our coast, the Port of Hueneme, Chumash people, and early explorers at the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. Make sure to ask for the museum’s kids’ activities packet when you arrive for your visit! For older children, the museum also has an extensive collection of model ships and maritime art, as well as special, seasonal events for the whole family.

Stop 2: Toppers Pizza Place, Channel Islands Harbor
3500 S. Harbor Blvd., Ste. 1-100, Oxnard, CA 93035

Located not far from the museum in the Channel Islands Harbor is Toppers Pizza Place, a family-friendly pizza joint that looks like an old-fashioned factory. The restaurant features an extensive menu with classic and more adventurous creations, as well as a salad bar and build-your-own pizza option. It’s a great place for lunch or dinner!

Oxnard Details

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Day 5: Ventura

Stop 1: Marina Park and Beach
2950 Pierpont Blvd., Ventura, CA 93001

Get the best of surf and turf at Marina Park and Beach, which has a sheltered shoreline and large grassy area for tossing around the Frisbee or just hanging out. The kids will love watching boats cruise around the harbor or climbing the play equipment, which includes a replica of an antique sailing ship.

Marina Park, Ventura Beaches

Stop 2: Coastal Cone & The Parlor, Ventura Harbor Village
1583 Spinnaker Drive #104, Ventura, CA 93001

A visit to Coastal Cone at Ventura Harbor Village will be the literal cherry on top of your Ventura County Coast vacation! This beloved local favorite has more than 40 flavors of ice cream and serves it in a variety of ways, from on top of a plain cone to on top of a fish-shaped zookie. What’s a zookie? You’ll have to go see for yourself!

Ventura Details

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Gather the Family

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Visit these regions of Ventura County Coast

Visit California
Camarillo
Oxnard
Ventura
Port Hueneme
Channel Islands National Park

Regions

Ventura County Coast

Ventura County Coast is a string of four communities that radiate warmth from welcoming people and California sunshine. The region embodies the casual and active spirit of classic, where the seafood is fresh, the beer is handcrafted and the weather is the kind you dream about. Spend the day exploring miles of beaches, incredible harbors or lush green golf courses. Hop on a boat for a day trip to the Channel Islands National Park, where you can see breathtaking views of the Southern California coastline. With a bustling culture, high end and vintage shopping, a lively culinary spirit and beautiful outdoor experiences, Ventura County Coast calls on every visitor to find their vibe. From hiking and biking to sailing and snorkeling, from shopping and dining to just plain relaxing, Ventura County Coast will fill your days with a lifetime of memories.

Camarillo

Camarillo

An hour north of Los Angeles, Camarillo is nestled at the base of the Conejo foothills surrounded by verdant green fields and cool ocean breezes. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, enjoy Camarillo alfresco. From outdoor shopping and concerts, to delicious dining and fun events, Camarillo has it all. With small town charm and a rich history, it is the place for romantic weddings and corporate venues. Visit the historical sites and museums during the day, and walk along Old Town for dinner and drinks at night. A great getaway for everyone, Camarillo is the ideal place to Come for the Sun, Stay for the Fun.

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Oxnard

Oxnard

Rally your tribe and head for the Central Coast. California cool, panorama-perfect, culturally authentic and vibrant beyond measure. Oxnard is home to miles of pristine white sand beaches, electric nightlife, some of the best taquerias in the state, historic Victorian era architecture, the California Strawberry Festival, and an expansively picturesque harbor that serves as the closest access point to the Channel Islands National Park. Just sixty miles northwest of LAX and in close proximity to Santa Barbara and other major destinations, Oxnard is one of California’s best kept secrets.

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Ventura

Ventura

A place that embodies a casual soul and unexpected allure, Ventura is a vibrant town that checks stress and pretense at the door.  Its artistic culture, enduring history and privileged locale is crazy-inviting, very much alive, and refreshingly human.

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Port Hueneme

Port Hueneme

Just sixty miles northwest of Los Angeles, in the heart of the Central Coast, you’ll find Port Hueneme, the friendly city by the sea. Port Hueneme is the place for travelers looking to dig their toes in the sand, take a long walk, drop a fishing line off the pier or just kick back and relax. With walking and biking trails winding throughout the city and a perfect climate almost year round, you can revive your soul in Hueneme.

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Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park

Channel Islands National Park is an American national park that consists of five of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of the U.S. state of California, in the Pacific Ocean.

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