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Grab some sunscreen, your favorite game gear, and get ready for an action packed day (or more) of play! Whether you like surf or turf activities, Ventura County Coast is the G.O.A.T. for getting out on your own, with your family or with your team. Here are the top sports activities for scoring big on your next trip.
Surfing
There’s a reason why Ventura County Coast is home to professional surfers. Riders like Kelly Slater, Ventura’s Mary Osborne and surfers from all over the world come to hit the waves here. Rincon Beach, a.k.a. “The Queen of the California Coast,” offers steady year-round sets. New to the board? Uncrowded Hueneme Beach Park has plenty of peaks for surfing, boogie boarding, or body surfing. Don’t forget to pack something tasty for a picnic and sand toys for building sandcastles with the kids. For those wanting to take surf lessons, Silver Strand Surf School in Oxnard offers private individual and group sessions with all equipment included. This beautiful beach is just a short distance away from restaurants at Channel Islands Harbor for a refreshing post-surf brew and mouth watering grub.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Set sail with Island Packers for an unforgettable forest adventure—kelp forest, that is. With its giant kelp forests and otherworldly marine life, Channel Islands National Park is a year-round playground for snorkelers and scuba divers. Channel Islands Adventure Company offers a guided snorkeling tour along the coast of Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. The rocky sea caves above water and sea life below are absolute must-sees. Gear rental is included in the price of the snorkeling tours, which are open to all levels. Both 60- and 90-minute boat rides are available to the islands from Channel Islands Harbor and Ventura Harbor.
Kayaking
Want to explore the sea caves but don’t feel like swimming? Sign up for one of Channel Islands Adventure Company’s sea cave kayak tours. Kids ages 6 and older are welcome with an adult.
But Channel Islands National Park isn’t the only place for some awesome kayaking. Take in the local sights and even a selfie or two while cruising around the harbor on a kayak. Check out Ventura Boat Rentals or Channel Islands Kayak Center and choose between single or double kayaks. Ventura Boat Rentals also has stand-up paddle boards, wave runners, and electric and paddle boats. Both harbors have plenty of dining options, boutique shops, and games for the kids, making them great all-day destinations.
Yoga
Breathe in the rejuvenating ocean breeze while getting a core workout doing yoga on a SUP (AKA stand-up paddleboard)!! Paddle into Fitness, YOGAqua, and Sea Dog Yoga all offer water-based yoga, stand-up paddle boarding, and more. Not feeling your sea legs? Center your soul during a class with instructors from the Camarillo Yoga Center. This local favorite does a mix of indoor and outdoor classes at a handful of secluded gardens and parks. Meditate under majestic oak trees and listen to the soothing sounds of wildlife while stretching your body.
Hiking and Biking
Lace up your shoes and get ready for an amazing hike or bike ride! Each of Ventura County Coast’s four cities have mixed-use trails fit for all skill levels, whether you’re going by foot or bike. Get your heart rate up by hiking or biking Camarillo’s Hill Canyon Trail, which has stunning views of Pleasant Valley and the Camarillo hills. Trade oak trees for palm trees on the Coastal Trail, which begins at Emma Wood State Beach in Ventura and takes you along the Pacific Coast Highway for some unbelievable coastal scenery. Hikers can also trek to Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura for miles and miles of trails (make sure to track your steps!) or take a hike up to the Ventura Botanical Gardens for a glimpse of the sparkling Pacific. Wheel Fun Rentals has locations throughout Ventura County Coast, including ultra laid-back Port Hueneme, which boasts 12 miles of sprawling biking and walking trails.
Football, Rugby and More
Calling all football fans! Oxnard is the West Coast home of the Dallas Cowboys, who fly in every summer for training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields. People of all ages get to watch America’s Team train for the upcoming football season and enjoy football, food, and fun at special events like the NFL Fan Fest and Heroes Appreciation Day. In Camarillo, families come from all over California and beyond to play youth baseball and softball at Bob Kildee Community Park, which also has lighted tennis courts, an aquatic center, and playground.
Golf
With nearly a dozen courses to choose from, Ventura County Coast is a golfer’s paradise! Oxnard’s River Ridge Golf Club has links for both avid and experimental golfers. There’s even a learning center to improve your game. Sea Bee Golf Course in Port Hueneme is ideal for golfers and soccer lovers. This 18-hole course offers all players an opportunity to hone golf and foot golfing skills (yes, it’s a thing!). And not to be forgotten are Buenaventura Golf Course in Ventura and Camarillo’s four award-winning golf courses, all of which provide natural backdrops to your game that are sure to inspire.
BMX and Skating
Let the good times roll! Grab the groms and cruise on down to Camarillo’s Freedom Park for a “wheely” fun day filled with BMX, roller hockey, and R/C racing! The tracks and skating arena are all located less than a mile from each other, so it’s super easy to spend the day here. Into skateboarding? Practice your ollies, flip kicks and landing the perfect nollie at skateparks across Ventura County Coast including Westpark or Hobert Skate Park in Ventura, Bedford Pinkard Skate Park in Oxnard or Pleasant Valley Skate Park in Camarillo.
Indoor Sports
Jump into a wall-to-wall experience that makes you go “Wow!” at Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Located in Ventura, Sky Zone is one of the first indoor trampoline parks offering a bouncing good time. This is the place people of all ages can discover the exhilarating feeling of freedom you get from leaping on a trampoline.
Smell the ocean breeze as you squat, clean and swing kettlebells at BeachSide CrossFit. Ventura County Coast local Nathan Doud started his fitness business in 2010. Today BeachSide CrossFit has seven expert coaches and more than 40 classes a week, plus personal training and nutrition coaching. If you’re the type who never wants to skip out on your routine, drop-in for a day pass or even the week while on your Ventura County Coast vacation.
Beach Sports
Like to get a little sandy? Head to San Buenaventura State Beach or Oxnard State Beach for a pick-up game of volleyball. Both beaches have courts on soft sand so you can dive to your heart’s content. The crashing waves and sunny skies are sure to inspire some memorable sets. There are two public courts for men and two for women on the sand at Harbor Cove Beach at Ventura Harbor Village. If you’re in Camarillo, Mel Vincent Park has some premium sand volleyball courts that are absolutely worth checking out. Wherever you end up going, you’re going to dig it!
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