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Bring the kids along for a memorable vacation, fun for all ages!
Ventura County Coast offers a surprising amount of free and fun activities perfectly suited for families looking to keep their vacation expenses low. From beach days to museum trips and hiking to surfing, families will experience a relaxing and affordable California vacation when visiting Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura and Port Hueneme.
Family Friendly Beaches
Spending the day at the beach is one of the best family activities enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Here’s our top picks for the best family friendly beaches on the Ventura County Coast.
Mother’s Beach: Great for swimming with little to no current or waves
Marina Park: Beautiful seaside park nestled in between Ventura Harbor and the beach. The kiddos will love the playground and pirate ship. Parking is free.
‘olołkoy Beach Park: A large park with BBQ grills, a massive playground, sand dunes, and a bike path. There’s a small parking fee or park for free at Mandalay beach then walk over to ‘olołkoy.
Sycamore Cove State Beach: A picture perfect beach situated on California’s Pacific Coast Highway. BBQ grills, fire pits, and picnic benches line this photogenic beach. Go under the highway to access the park’s hiking trails. Park on Highway 1 for free parking.
Silver Strand Beach: Located at the south end of Channel Islands Harbor, Silver Strand Beach provides free parking and beach access.
Hueneme Beach Park: One of the coast’s most gorgeous beaches. The beach park features plenty of sand and space for the kids to play. The beach features a large wood pier, bike path, and miles of coastline and wetland to explore. Paid parking by hour or by the day.
Looking for more family friendly beaches?
Ride a Bicycle
The coast is filled with family friendly bike paths at some of our beaches and parks. Here’s our list of the best bike paths for you and the family.
Hill Canyon Trail: This is a perfect trail for beginner mountain bikers looking for an easy ride along it’s 3.6 mile path.
Bridlewood Trail: Bridlewood trail is a creekside multi use trail perfect for moderate to easy mountain biking.
Calleguas Creek Bike Path: This scenic bike path begins at pleasant valley fields and splits to a north/south route with access to parks alongside the Calleguas creek.
Point Mugu Scenic and Overlook Trails: Known for its scenic views of the pacific ocean. Its the perfect mountain biking trail for those looking for a more challenging ride.
Hueneme Beach Bike Path: A short but picturesque bike path along Hueneme Beach Park’s shores.
Ventura River Bike Trail: A bike trail that runs along the Ventura River that takes you all the way to Ojai California!
Ema Wood River Trail: Ride from Surfer’s Point to Emma Wood State Beach along a seaside bike path.
Ventura Beach Bike Path: Starting at Ventura State Beach, ride all the way to surfer’s point or the Ventura River Bike Trail.
Discover more bike paths in Ventura County Coast
Channel Islands National Park Visitor’s Center
Learn all about Ventura County Coast’s national treasure located at Ventura Harbor Village. Discover the wide variety of wildlife through exhibits as well as an aquarium filled with sea creatures from the islands. Be sure to check out the center’s observation deck for sweeping views of Ventura Harbor and the Channel Islands.
Location: 1901 Spinnaker Dr, Ventura, CA 93001
Admission: Free
Free Fishing Spots
Did you know that fishing from a public pier in California doesn’t require a fishing license? Ventura County Coast is home to three prime fishing spots where no fishing license is required. So get out there and spend quality time with the family.
Free Fishing Piers in Ventura County Coast
Port Hueneme Pier
Ventura Pier
Marina Park Fishing Dock
Port Hueneme Lighthouse
One of many Ventura County historic treasures, the Port Hueneme Lighthouse has been shining since 1874. The lighthouse is open the third Saturday of each month for free tours.
Learn more about Port Hueneme California
Family Friendly Surf Spots
Most of the surf spots in Ventura County Coast are family friendly for different levels of surfers. Here’s our top three surf spots for families and beginners.
Mondos Beach: Mondos is a point break that features really long rides with slow and forgiving waves. It’s the perfect spot for people who’ve never surfed or are just beginning.
Solimar Beach: Solimar is a great place for a family beach day filled with fun, sun, and plenty of waves for everybody. The waves are soft and beginner friendly with plenty of peaks to enjoy without the pressure of the region’s more crowded surf breaks.
Summers Beach: Located in between Solimar and Emma Wood State Beach, Summers is a beach break wave with paper thin waves making them very forgiving for beginners and experienced surfers alike. Just like Solimar, you can surf here without the large crowds and surf as many waves as you can catch.
Discover more family friendly surf spots.
Family Friendly Free Events
Ventura County Coast is home to a large variety of exciting events. Here’s our top picks of free family friendly events.
July, Oxnard Salsa Festival: Celebrate all things salsa from the popular latin music genre to one of Mexico’s most popular condiments.
Summer, Seaside Movie Nights at Ventura Harbor: Ventura Harbor Village hosts free outdoor movies nights along the village lawn during the summer. Arrive early for giveaways and live music.
September, Port of Hueneme Banana Festival: Port of Hueneme is the largest importer of bananas on the west coast. The late September celebration features boat rides, port tours, a pie eating contest, fun activities, and live music.
September, Aloha Beach Festival: Celebrate culture, hula, and good vibes with live performances, food vendors, and more.
September, Hueneme Beach Festival: This seaside carnival is a great way to spend the day at the beach with family. Enjoy live music, DJs, and contests at Hueneme Beach Park.
September, Ventura Art & Chalk Festival: Bring the kids to watch chalk artists create masterpieces along Ventura Harbor Village’s promenade. The Kid’s zone has face painting and chalk art workshops for kids.
October, Parade of Frights: Boaters at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard put on spooky decorations to celebrate Halloween.
December, Parade of Lights: Just like the parade of frights, both Channel Islands and Ventura Harbors put on a dazzling display to celebrate the Holidays.
December, Oxnard Tamale Festival: Embark on a culinary adventure with one of Mexico’s oldest traditions, eating tamales.
Discover more family friendly events in Ventura County Coast.
Hikes for the Entire Family
Ventura County Coast is brimming with scenic hikes, vistas, and hidden natural wonders. Here’s our top picks of family friendly hikes that everyone can enjoy.
Scenic Trail Loop
Location: Sycamore Canyon State Park
Difficulty: Easy
CSU Channel Islands Park Loop
Location: Old Dairy Rd, Camarillo, CA 93012
Difficulty: Easy
Camarillo Grove Park
Location: 6968 E Camarillo Springs Rd
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Arroyo Verde Park Loop
Location: Foothill Rd, Ventura, CA 93003
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Discover more hiking trails in the Ventura County Coast
Plan Your Next Adventure
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