http://ventura-ca.parentclick.com/Event-Calendar.html

http://venturarocks.com/

http://www.venturacountyfair.org/pages/3028/

http://happenings.com/

http://www.vcstar.com/events/

http://www.venturatoday.net/currentevents.html

(15 miles ) Just a few miles up Highway 33, but a world away from the headaches and traffic that thwart much of Southern California is the small town of Ojai.
Ojai’s charms are many.  The community has long been known as a haven for artists, musicians and health enthusiasts.  A village ”as we locals call it”of about 8,000, Ojai is a vibrant place with so much natural beauty that it gained fame decades ago when the area was photographed to represent Shangri-La in the 1939 movie, The Lost Horizon.

Filled with delightful shops, art galleries and a host of places to retreat from the fast-paced lifestyle that can knot the nerves, Ojai invites you to walk its oak-shaded paths taking some time to drink in the serenity of it all. http://www.ci.ojai.ca.us/

Santa Barbara

(40 minutes North) Santa Barbara is sometimes referred to as the American Riviera. Her beautiful beaches, majestic mountains and colorful culture make Santa Barbara a premier resort destination.
http://www.santabarbaraca.com/things-to-do/

http://www.santabarbaradowntown.com/

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/http2007/

http://www.venturamuseum.org/
The museum displays Native American, Hispanic and pioneer influences in the area. Located at 100 East Main St, the museum is 0.7 miles northwest of our Ventura Hotel.

San Buenaventura Mission

http://www.sanbuenaventuramission.org/

Founded in 1782, the mission includes a restored church, Holy Cross School, and a small museum. The San Buenaventura Mission is located less than a mile away.

http://www.ventura-usa.com/things-to-do/ventura-beaches/

http://www.askusventura.com/ventura/ventura_beaches.htm

Ventura has a long coastline of beaches including San Bueanaventura State Beach which has picnic areas, barbeque pits, a snack bar, and summer bike rentals.

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

The Santa Cruz Island Reserve is the largest NRS site and the biggest of the Channel Islands located off the Southern California coast. The island has two major mountain systems flanking a central valley that formed along an active fault zone. The mountains are rugged and cut by steep-sided canyons, some with perennial streams and freshwater springs. The coastline is mostly steep and rocky, with some protected coves and sandy beaches. Diverse habitats include rocky intertidal zones, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, grasslands, oak woodlands, and bishop pine forests. The reserve contains breeding grounds for harbor seals, seabird nesting colonies, many endemic plant and animal species, and well-preserved archaeological sites. Santa Cruz Island Reserve is protected, owned, and managed by The Nature Conservancy (TNC); the remainder of the island is managed by the National Park Service as part of the Channel Islands National Park.

ANACAPA ISLAND

Crossing the channel to Anacapa Island, one begins to understand why the island’s name was derived from its Chumash Native American Indian name, “Ennepah.” Seeming to change shape in the summer fog or afternoon heat, the three islets of Anacapa look like an island of deception or a mirage

SAN MIGUEL ISLAND

Wind and weather constantly sweep across the North Pacific to batter the shores of the westernmost of all the islands, San Miguel. This extreme weather creates a harsh but profoundly beautiful environment. The 9,500-acre island is primarily a plateau about 500 feet in elevation, but two 800-foot rounded hills emerge from its wild, windswept landscape.

SANTA BARBARA ISLAND

The smallest of the Channel Islands is deceptive. From a distance, this one-square-mile island looks barren, uninteresting, and forlorn. Upon closer examination, the island offers more than one would expect—an island of resting elephant seals, blooming yellow flowers, tumbling Xantus’s murrelet chicks, and rich cultural history.

SANTA ROSA ISLAND

Santa Rosa Island was included as part of Channel Islands National Park upon the park’s inception on March 5, 1980. However, it wasn’t until December 1986 that the island came under the ownership of the National Park Service.

Eighteen of these species are seen frequently and are thought to be residents. Throughout the year it is possible to see common dolphin, risso’s dolphin, minke whales, bottlenose dolphin, pacific white sided dolphin, dall’s porpoise and an occasional pod of orcas.

http://www.islandpackers.com/schedulewhales.html

Ventura Hillsides Music Festival
Saturday, September 25, 2011

http://www.venturahillsides.org/festival/index.shtml
Saturday, September 25, 2011
Arroyo Verde Park, Ventura, CA 
Gates open for marked early entry tickets and Gold Circle reserved seats at 11 AM.  Regular entry begins at 11:30 AM. Entertainment begins at 1 PM.

July 23-24

The Westside Artwalk unites Ventura’s vibrant arts community in one weekend of coordinated events. The two-day celebration of the arts will provide entertainment for all ages.

Venues: http://westsideartwalk.org/art-venues/

Artists: http://westsideartwalk.org/artists/

http://www.venturaarts.org/gallery.cfm

http://westsideartwalk.org/

http://www.fun-in-ventura.com/ventura-art-galleries.html

Museums in Ventura

http://www.venturamuseum.org/

2011 VENTURA COUNTY FAIR
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 14

General Admission Prices
Adults 13 & older $12.00
Children 6-12 $9.00
Seniors 62 & older $9.00
Children 5 & under and Super Seniors (100 years & older) admitted Free.

FAIR HOURS
The Fair will open at 11:00 a.m. daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Seniors & Persons with Disabilities Day (Tuesday, August 9) when it will open at 10:00 a.m.

We take admissions until 10 p.m. Fair closes at 11 p.m. carnival closes between 11pm and midnight.

Check the website for more information: http://venturacountyfair.org/pages/3441/

Click here to buy your tickets on line.

Guide to Fair Facts

Check in is 11 am. Check out is 3 pm.

Hotel Facilities
24-Hour Front Desk
All Public and Private spaces non-smoking
Allergy-Free Room Available
Designated Smoking Area
Express Check-In/Check-Out
Free Parking
Gay Friendly
Heating
Luggage Storage
Newspapers
Non-Smoking Rooms
Pets Allowed
Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests

Services:
Free Wi-Fi Internet Access Included

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Photo Credits:
Tree — http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenlund/
Ventura Sunset — http://www.flickr.com/photos/randysonofrobert/