Summer Road Trip with Dad

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A 100% Dad-Approved Road Trip

Get away from it all with Dad to Ventura County Coast, a friendly, down-to-earth community known for its rad beaches, A-game Nothing beats the gift of quality time with loved ones, so we designed a dad-approved road trip to appeal to all kinds of dads. Outdoorsy dudes, good vibes givers, super family men, you name it! Friendly and down-to-earth, Ventura County Coast is always here for you with amazing beaches, A-game golf courses, must-try restaurants, cool craft breweries and epic trails. Think of our mountains, islands, the Pacific and chain of laid-back communities as your playground. Be as active or as chilled out as you want to be. This entertaining line-up is all about making memories with pops.

4 Days, 40 Miles

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

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

When planning your trip, remember to check for the latest on COVID-19 in Ventura County.

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

Destination: Camarillo

Stop 1: Camarillo Grove Park
6968 E Camarillo Springs Rd

Start your day with a leg-stretching, fresh-air breathing hike around Camarillo Grove Park. Nestled near the base of the Conejo Grade at the end of Camarillo Springs Road, the rustic park offers a variety of hiking options. The lower loop is an easier, gently sloping trail with oak trees, sage and volcanic rock formations. The upper loop is considered moderate at over one mile in length, with an approximate 600-foot vertical differential. If you’re traveling with kids, they’ll enjoy the park’s nature-based play equipment and native gardens.

Stop 2: Camarillo Barrelworks
2024 Ventura Blvd, Camarillo

Hit The Mark for lunch and afternoon refreshments. The gourmet marketplace is home to Freda’s Kitchen, Topa Topa Brewing Co., Rori’s Artisanal Ice Cream and Café Ficelle. Nosh on pizza, sip an IPA and cleanse your palate for the next adventure with a coffee or ice cream.

If you want to carry on with a brew trek, find more good vibes at the one-of-a-kind Camarillo Barrelworks. Dad will love this family-owned and operated establishment, which serves locally made beer from Flat Fish Brewing Company and wine from Cantara Cellars. Check their weekly event schedule for live music and food offerings from local restaurants and food trucks. And if you’re traveling with your favorite canine, bring them along! The patio is dog friendly.

Stop 3: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA, USA

History buffs might opt instead for a visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Here, you can step into the very same Air Force One that flew our nation’s 40th POTUS to 25+ countries and 45+ states.

In the evening, pair dinner and a game at a spot like Cronie’s Sports Grill or Harley’s Camarillo Bowl.

Plan Your Trip

Eat and drink in Camarillo
Learn more about Camarillo
Stay the night in Ventura County Coast

Destination: Oxnard

Stop 1: River Ridge Golf Club
2401 W. Vineyard Ave., Oxnard

It doesn’t get much better than a round of golf with Dad and an ocean view. Book a morning tee time at River Ridge Golf Club where you’ll find two 18-hole courses and killer views. Up for some multi-generational play? The whole family will feel like they’re on top of the world at the Vineyard Course, a beginner-friendly setup with 360-views of the ocean and nearby Santa Clara River. The Victoria Lakes Course is all about strategy with a par-five hole right off the bat that has lakes straddling both sides.

Photo Credit: @riverridgegolfclub

Stop 2: Hook, Line & Sinker
2077 N. Oxnard Blvd., Oxnard

After time on the links, head just a mile or so up the road for some fresh local catch at Hook, Line & Sinker. This casual, family-friendly restaurant and fish market serves fresh fish served fried, hot off the griddle or in sandwiches. The chowder is renowned as are the oysters on the half shell. The retro, cookout vibe and ocean-inspired decor sets a great backdrop for chowing down on seriously good seafood.

Stop 3: Mullin Automotive Museum
1421 Emerson Avenue, Oxnard

If there’s a car buff among you, there are two spots to cruise by. Open Fridays and Saturdays, Mullin Automotive Museum is a showcase of 20th-century French automotive styling and design. Founder/Collector Peter W. Mullin is a devoted supporter of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and other concours events around the globe and has driven his cars in vintage races and rallies in the United States and abroad. The equally impressive Murphy Auto Museum houses a collection of 50+ classic, vintage and antique American cars—plus an art gallery and tiki lounge! It’s open Saturdays and Sundays.

Close out the day at The Waterside Restaurant, where you can soak up harbor views and a stunning sunset. If you’re craving a margarita, Yolanda’s serves up delicious Mexican cuisine and is also at the Oxnard Harbor.

Plan Your Trip

Eat and drink in Oxnard
Learn more about Oxnard
Learn more about Channel Islands National Park
Learn more about Island Packers
Stay the night in Ventura County Coast
Get inspired with our Things to do in Ventura County guide.

 

Destination: Port Hueneme

Stop 1: Port Hueneme Beach
550 E. Surfside Drive, Port Hueneme

Spend the morning at delightfully uncrowded Port Hueneme Beach, the ultimate place to toss around the Frisbee or build sandcastles with the kids. Swimmers and surfers will dig the glassy waves rolling into shore, and fishing enthusiasts can perfect their cast-off on Port Hueneme Pier. 

Do some more sightseeing on a mellow bike ride. Wheel Fun Rentals has an outpost in the Holiday Inn Express and Port Hueneme offers 12 miles of trails to explore, including a smooth beachfront path.

Stop 2: U.S. Navy Seabee Museum
3201 N Ventura Rd, Port Hueneme

If Dad likes a bit of military history, check out the U.S. Navy Seabee Museum. This truly unique museum sits outside of the perimeter fence of the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme. The exhibits memorialize the work of the Civil Engineer Corps and the Naval Construction Force (a.k.a. Seabees) through photos, equipment and artifacts from U.S. Navy building projects at home and abroad. 

When hunger strikes, hit Dave’s Hot Chicken in the Mandalay Village Marketplace. Or get your fill of fresh catch at Surfside Seafood back at the beach. The halibut fish & chips are a true local classic!

Plan Your Trip

Learn more about Port Hueneme
Stay the night in Ventura County Coast

Destination: Ventura

Stop 1: Ventura Boat Rentals
1567 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura

From kayaks and SUP boards to pedal or power boats, it’s all about getting out on the water in Ventura. Let “Captain Dad” take the helm of an electric boat from Ventura Boat Rentals and cruise around the harbor. If you’re feeling more ambitious, they’ll also rent kayaks and paddle boards for human powered adventures at sea. If Dad prefers to chill out, let him sit back and relax while a pro takes you on an informative private guided harbor tour (40-minute minimum) where resident sea lions are known to make frequent cameos.

Photo Credit: @visitventura

Stop 2: Beach House Fish and MadeWest Brewing Company Taproom
Ventura Pier, 668 Harbor Blvd., Ventura

Back on land, sip award-winning brews at MadeWest Brewing Co. Taproom on the Ventura Pier. Their American Pale Ale and IPA are total crowd pleasers that pair well with the mouthwatering surf and turf from the taproom’s next-door neighbor, Beach House Fish.

Take a late afternoon hike in Harmon Canyon Preserve or grab an afternoon tee time at Olivas Links. Cap off the day strolling and browsing around downtown Ventura. Come dinner time, foodies will be down with Model Citizen, who put an artful twist on their cuisine and cocktails. And it’s all about the burgers at Bombay Bar & Grill.

Photo Credit: @madewestbeer

Plan Your Trip

Eat and drink in Ventura
Learn more about Ventura
Stay the night in Ventura County Coast
See more amazing things to do in Ventura County Coast

Tag your Ventura County Coast photos with #VCCVibes for a chance to be featured!

Good Times Ahead

Find Your Vibe in Ventura County Coast

Book Road Trip

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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