Ventura County

Around Ventura County

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Metro area · California · 835k people

Ventura County

“the 805”

Oxnard · Thousand Oaks · Ventura · Camarillo

Sun-soaked coasts and fertile valleys

deep bluegold

Join the room Ask the neighbours

Welcome to Ventura County—where the mountains meet the sea. Whether you're here for the surf, the strawberries, or the small-town charm, there's always something to explore. Come say hi at the pier or the farmers market.

Clubs for Ventura County

No clubs for Ventura County yet.

The room

One room for everyone around Ventura County. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Ventura County. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Channel Islands National Park Boat trips from Ventura Harbor.
  • Ventura Pier Historic wooden pier, great for fishing and sunset.
  • Point Mugu State Park Coastal bluffs, hiking, and surf beaches.
  • Lake Casitas Boating and fishing, near Ojai.
  • Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Air Force One pavilion and hilltop views.
  • Ventura County Fairgrounds Hosts the county fair and events.
  • Outdoors Hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains
  • Outdoors Surfing at C Street
  • With kids Visit the Channel Islands Visitor Center
  • With kids Ride the Ferris wheel at the county fair
  • Evenings Live music at the Ventura Theater
  • Evenings Bar hopping in downtown Ventura
  • Locals love Coastal harbors
  • Locals love Farm stands

Through the year

  • California Strawberry Festival May Celebrates the region's strawberry harvest in Oxnard.
  • Ventura County Fair August Classic county fair with rides, livestock, and fair food.
  • Ventura Music Festival June Summer concert series featuring a range of genres.
  • Simi Valley Street Fair September Annual street fair with vendors, food, and entertainment.
  • Moorpark Country Days April Small-town festival with a parade, games, and local crafts.

Mediterranean climate: mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal with mild temps and fewer crowds.

Talk like a local

“The 'Nard”
Nickname for Oxnard
“Ventucky”
Playful nickname for Ventura, referencing its rural feel
“805”
Area code, used as a regional identifier
“Surf City”
Sometimes used for Ventura, though not official

Getaways

Local flavour

Rooting for Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans

Eat and drink

  • fish tacos coastal staple from Ventura Harbor
  • Oxnard strawberries signature crop, celebrated at the annual strawberry festival
  • avocado locally grown, often served fresh

Where people go

  • coastal harbors Ventura Harbor and Channel Islands Harbor
  • farm stands strawberry and avocado stands along rural roads
  • surf beaches C-street and other breaks in Ventura and Oxnard
  • oak-studded hills hiking trails in the Conejo Valley and Santa Monica Mountains

Heritage and traditions

Ventura County is proud of its blend of coastal beauty, agricultural bounty, and historic Spanish missions, from strawberry fields to surf breaks.

This time of year in Ventura County

  • Ventura Harbor Seafood Festival October Fresh seafood, cooking demos, and harbor activities.

Say it like a local: “Harbor” — Refers to Ventura Harbor, a popular spot

Festivals

  • Oxnard Salsa Festival July Salsa tasting, live music, and cultural performances.
  • Ventura Harbor Seafood Festival October Fresh seafood, cooking demos, and harbor activities.
  • Ventura County Greek Festival September Greek food, dance, and music at the Greek Orthodox Church.
  • Oxnard Tamale Festival December Dozens of tamale vendors and live entertainment.

Landmarks with a story

  • Mission San Buenaventura Founded in 1782, the ninth Spanish mission in California.
  • Strathearn Historical Park Historic buildings and gardens in Simi Valley.
  • California Oil Museum Located in Santa Paula, tells the story of the local oil boom.
  • Point Hueneme Lighthouse Active lighthouse with panoramic views, a local landmark.

Food traditions

  • Tamales during the holidays Mexican tradition of making tamales for Christmas, reflecting the county's Latino heritage.
  • Elote (Mexican street corn) Grilled corn with mayo, cheese, and chili, sold at food trucks and fairs.
  • Citrus fruits from local groves Winter harvest of oranges and lemons, a nod to the county's citrus history.
  • Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl A harbor favorite at Ventura's seafood restaurants.

Music and arts

  • Surf rock and indie music scenes in Ventura and Thousand Oaks Local bands and venues celebrate coastal and alternative sounds.
  • Chicano murals in Oxnard Colorful murals reflect Mexican-American heritage.
  • Classical performances at the Ventura Music Festival Annual festival brings world-class musicians.
  • Chumash basket weaving and traditional crafts Indigenous arts preserved by local communities.

A little history

  • Pre-1800 Chumash people inhabited the coast and islands for thousands of years.
  • 1782 Mission San Buenaventura founded by Junipero Serra.
  • 1830s-1840s Mexican ranchos dominated the area after independence.
  • Late 1800s American settlers developed agriculture, especially sugar beets and citrus.
  • 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse flooded the Santa Clara River valley, impacting Ventura County.
  • Game day Surfing contests at C Street and other breaks
  • Game day Fishing tournaments at Channel Islands Harbor
  • Outdoors Whale watching from Ventura Harbor
  • Outdoors Tide pooling at Point Mugu
  • With kids Strawberry picking at local farms
  • With kids Visiting the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula

People speak with a general California accent, but with a strong Spanish influence due to the large Latino population. Common terms include 'the 101' for the freeway and 'surf's up'.

Only here

  • The Channel Islands are visible from many beaches.
  • Oxnard is known as the Strawberry Capital of California.
  • The Reagan Library is the only presidential library in California.
  • Point Mugu is a missile test range with public access to some beaches.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn to pronounce place names: 'OX-nard', 'ven-TOO-ra', 'cam-uh-REE-oh', 'SEE-mee'.
  • Expect the marine layer (June gloom) in early summer; mornings are often overcast.
  • Traffic on the 101 can be heavy during rush hour; consider alternate routes.
  • Try the local strawberries and fish tacos early.
  • Respect agricultural areas; don't pick without permission.

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Part of Greater Los Angeles

Nearby

Every area
Los AngelesCaliforniaSun, surf, and a thousand stories.BakersfieldCaliforniaCountry roots, valley sun.Santa Barbara–Santa MariaCaliforniaWhere the mountains tumble into the seaInland EmpireCaliforniaSun, citrus, and mountain air.San Luis ObispoCaliforniaWhere the Pacific meets the vines.VisaliaCaliforniaRooted in the valley, reaching for the pines.HanfordCaliforniaGolden fields, warm hearts.San DiegoCaliforniaWhere the desert meets the sea

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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