Ventura County–Small Town Feeling–Huge Attractions

By Stuart J. Faber

Aerial view of Ventura. (Broc Ellinger)Across the United States, there are so many destinations competing for the tourist buck, it’s often difficult for the traveler to make a decision–especially when your family or group has a variety of interests. One kid loves the water, another hates it, dad wants to explore the wine country, mom loves museums. Perhaps one family member wants to play golf or go fishing. Another wants to pick strawberries.

Some destinations have one or two of these features. Ventura County is one place where you can have them all. And that’s not limited to the human members of the group. My gentle pit bull, Clara Belle, breaks out in a victory dance at the mere mention of an excursion to dog-friendly Ventura County. Plus, it’s a pilot’s paradise. Two fabulous airports with superb facilities are within miles of each other, not to mention Santa Paula Airport with its legendary assemblage of antique, hi-performance and homemade airplanes. Ventura County, with its three major cities, Ventura, Camarillo and Oxnard, has something for everyone. Pick strawberries under the warm sun in the morning and cool off at a quiet beach in the afternoon. Cycling, hiking, diving, golf, theater, top-notch cuisine–the list of exciting activities is endless. If these do not fill your plate, you can take a painting class or attend a local beer festival.