This is my FAVE park in Ventura because - IMO - it has everything you need for a great day at the beach. Let's start with FREE PARKING! Some local beaches are starting to charge, but this one still offers PLENTY of free parking. In addition, there are multiple playgrounds - including a pirate galleon from when the park was established during my childhood, a THOUSAND years ago! It doesn't have the zip line that caused me to smash my leg into the concrete side, leaving a still visible scar 1,000 years later, which is probably for the best, but a kinder/gentler playground with more modern amenities for today's active child. There is also an expansive grass area, where you will find many local pups bounding about with joy. On the grassy areas, BBQs! Also a protected, man made beach cove with an easy enter, small to no wave water entry. Lots of families prefer to set up their space on the green grass and then make their way to the beach, which is an ideal way to have your picnic sand free! A foot shower is also available to rinse the beach off before you settle back onto your blanket. Plenty of benches, tables and a bathroom that is, if I'm being completely honest, acceptable, but could use an upgrade. If you're more active, make your way to the public dock to launch your kayak, paddle board, etc. I've also seen people fishing from this dock and launching remote control boats - so cute! If you haven't brought your own board or boat, there is a rental kiosk handily available. This is also a great park to stroll through. A clear path goes from the parking lot to the tip of the Ventura Harbor entrance, known as Soter Point, where a beautiful sculpture stands. When I think of the perfect beach park, I think of Marina Park in Ventura. Cheers! "CC" read more

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Marna Park is a city park that offers close and comfortable access to the beach. There's plenty of parking, broad lawns, varied picnicking spots and bathrooms. There's a nice oceanfront walkway that leads to a sitting area at the end of the north jetty that guards the entrance to the Ventura Marina. read more

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I came here to meet up with friends for a little gathering. It's an actual park with the beach right behind it. The marina is off to the side, lots of boats. My friends got a table (picnic bench) at the park with a grill so we can make lunch. It was over cast all day with it being in Ventura but it was a good time and it wasn't busy for a weekend. read more

Marina Park - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

We were visiting friends in the area and they thought this would be a nice place to go with my one year old. I was excited at the prospect of a playground on the beach being from las vegas. Its so beautiful and the park specifically she said had just been redone. It has lots of fun spaces for kids to physically challenge themselves and play make believe. They had sand boxes along the perimeter to play in as well. My son was mostly in there because the paly ground for little kids had the sun hitting the slide which made it dangerously hot. I didnt realize this at first because it was so nice out and I saw he was having trouble pushing up to get off the end of the slide. When I touched it I was shocked. In vegas its always hot but we have shade structures to counter act it. My mom also said there are programs where you can make sure when placing a structure here they sun will hit. So sadly that was not thought out, so just be mindful of it when having your little one play. Outside of the play area is a small beach to go down to, and also a walking trail that has seating and statues. They have bathrooms there as well for thr public. Overall a special experience for a desert dweller. read more

Great park. Fun spot for kids. Parking is easy. Loved that it was close to the beach. However the beach itself ruined the visit bc there were oils (like tar) washed ashore and in the water. Didn't pay any attention at first until it was stuck on our legs and feet and boogie board. It was a pain to remove. Left early to get stuff to help remove it. It was stuck on everything including the kids beach toys and blankets. read more

If you have a pirate obsessed toddler, this is a gem of a park to find! A real tall ship buried in the sand with a brand new wood park attached . I didn't get pictures of the park, but I wish I had because they aren't up here yet. Here's the ship read more

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This park is so beautiful. I had never been to Ventura before, but google maps made it look like this would be a good place to go. It truly is! There's tons of free parking, there's many paved paths to wander along, and there's so much beautiful nature to see. Watching the waves crash upon the rocks was so peaceful. It's also easy to walk on the beach itself. The public restrooms were acceptable, and there was a neat old ship that kids and kids-at-heart could play on. I had thought there would be a normal playground as well, but it was under construction. I highly recommend stopping here. read more

Marina Park - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

Beautiful park! I went around noon on a weekday (after school started up again). Parking lot was almost empty. Had my dog with me. The park is nicely maintained. There are many picnic table spots with bbq's. Lots of grass and a really nice playground for the kids. read more

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We drove 2 hours to come here for a church event this past weekend, and it was totally worth it! The weather was perfect, and there was plenty of free parking. We set up on the grassy area and walked over to take a dip in the water -- super convenient. They have outdoor showers to rinse off the sand and the bathrooms were decent. Definitely a great spot to spend a few hours and enjoy the day! read more

Beautiful Autumnal day and wanting to walk with an ocean view. Thought about going down to Santa Monica or Malibu. But then thought about the crowds and the difficulty parking (plus the charges just for parking by the beach). A friend recommended driving north to Marina Park. Great suggestion!!! No problem parking. A large FREE lot with lots of available spots. The walking path right by the water was fairly empty with beautiful marina views. Lots of benches and picnic tables. Great find. My New favorite spot to walk. read more

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Excellent place to visit! There are a lot of activities and places to eat. We rented a small paddle boat and went out to the marina. We had got very lucky with the weather. I recommend this place to anyone. You can come here 100times and each time is unique. The restaurants are amazing and all the staff is always smiling. read more

Stopped here as we were walking around the area. Nice clean park. There were people having picnics and playing music. I loved to see that. The grass entire area is well maintained. We walked over from the Ventura Harbor which was a great walk for us. I hadn't been here before. I am happy we made out here on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. There weren't too many people. It was nice and relaxing. read more

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Beach day on Labor Day 2023 was beautiful. We took our son and nephew to the beach for a walk at the Marina park then a swim at the beach. There are many benches and picnic tables along the pathway with great views from all around. You can pack a picnic and easily spend a few hours here. Free parking, close by bathroom and showers available. read more

Marina Park - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

Beautiful location nice park for kids. view was breathtaking. Love it . Lovely location to spend weekends.

We had a really great Saturday afternoon here with our husky. It was our first dog trip to the beach and it was the best. It was 90 at home and mid 70s here, so that was great. Bathrooms were pretty clean for the beach. Families were having fun. We kept the dog on the leash as required and she had fun. Plenty of FREE parking, grassy areas, playing places for kids and just enough sand to have fun. Highly recommended! read more

Marina Park - Ever try to get a selfie with two people and a dog? September 2022 - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

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This park is so awesome! All our kiddos love it. Whenever we're in town we stopped by because it's so much fun. A lot of space in my room for plenty of people to come and have picnics, play in the sand/ocean, play in the grass and do whatever floats your boat. It's a great place to chill relax and have a good time. read more

I love Marina Park! Beautiful Ventura seaside scenic beach park. Offers lovely trees that produce shade with picnic tables, and grills. There is a large wooden pirate ship for children and families to explore. A couple of years ago they had a nice playground, but it looks like they have recently removed it. I hope they install a new one (it would make this park perfect). Nice walkways and harbor to explore. Bathrooms are clean for beach bathrooms! To avoid parking costs you can do street parking, which usually isn't a problem. Ventura Pop Yoga offers outdoor classes at this location (use their app to register and pay). I enjoy the little beach in the cove here because I don't have tote all of my things and littles too far. The only downside to the beach is that sometimes there is oil and tar. Still a great option for a beach day, especially during the week! read more

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This park is close to our home we visit it regularly. We love flying kites, taking long walk or just sitting on one of the benches and taking in the beautiful views of the ocean. My kids miss the playground there, but from what I've heard they are going to rebuild it. The playground is the only this missing to make this park a 5 star park. read more

Unfortunately this beach is not what it used to be! The restrooms are super filthy, the playground is gone, the boat used to have a rope kids could slide down & that's gone too!! This park is not kept up anymore. Trash everywhere dog poop everywhere people in general are so disgusting & disappointing to see how they've trashed the place. Some people find a cool spot & instead of maintaining it nice it all goes downhill! read more

Such a beautiful and peaceful park- dog friendly with very nice people big open field and a nearby path with ocean views.

Just a short drive from the valley you'll find a gem in Ventura county. If you navigate the parking correctly you cannot pay a fee but park for free, make sure you look for a no fee zone. We ventured here last Saturday and ended up staying for about six hours it was pretty awesome, great atmosphere with lots of amenities for the patrons like kids area bathrooms and barbecue grills. Definitely will be visiting this place a lot during the summertime and also might even go camping it seems like there's so much to do. I spent about an hour and a half digging a hole for my son which him in about 40 other kids and ended up enjoying for 15 minutes before they totally destroyed it and collapsed it :-) Overall great place to bring your family for a nice outing. read more

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Back in 1980 when I drove out to California from Michigan in my van, I landed in Redondo Beach where I picked up a young blonde surfer in a yellow bathing suit hitching down PCH with her board. She told me she lived in Ventura, loved it, loved surfing there, told me how wonderful it was there generally, but was out for the day checking out other beaches -- esp. south-facing ones which she said were best -- because the waves weren't happening on her usual beach that day. During the drive down the coast she advised me not to stay in LA, but said San Diego would be much nicer. So after dropping her off in Long Beach, I took her advice and that's where I headed and stayed for about two months before coming back to LA to pursue a career in the music business. Although SD was beautiful, nothing was happening for me. Several months later in spring 1981 I decided to drive up to Ventura, stayed in the Motel6 near the beach, and discovered Marina Park in an ethereal otherworldly white mist. The zip line was still on the San Salvador at that time, so I rode that a few times, standing in line with children and other young adults for the happy zip. Too bad they've taken that away. Maybe someone got hurt. Anyway, walking north down the beach toward the jetty, who did I meet? The young lady I'd given a lift to months earlier! Superstitious as I apparently am, I considered this a cosmic coincidence of note, and every time I visit Ventura now I come to Marina Park with its zip line- less San Salvador and walk the forlorn beach half expecting to see my (now aged) surfer girl. That would be so cool. Even without my little surfer girl (Brian Wilson smiles), Marina Park's beach and waves are to me Southern California magic. read more

Marina Park is another one of my fave parks in Ventura! Gone are the days where we could rope slide from the ship, but I'm so glad they left the ship in place. Perfect place for a variety of activities. Marina Park has the beach, the green grassy area for family bbq or kite flying, the children's play equipment and at times a volleyball net. There are several benches located in the grassy area and above the dock for those who prefer not to sit on the grass or sand. There is a beautiful walking path that leads out to the jetty. The walking path is paved and is a great opportunity if you or a loved one are in a wheelchair or it is hard to walk in the sand. Or, maybe you just don't want sand in your shoes or you just got a fresh pedicure ;). Along the path there are several benches which are good for a rest and/or good conversation. At the dock you can also rent an assortment of water activity equipment or fish. This park has several great photo opportunities, especially as the sun is going down. This park has lots of FREE parking for both handicap and non. The weekends can get busy but it doesn't usually take more than a few moments to get a spot. The restrooms are generally clean and well maintained, but there is always someone who would rather throw their trash on the floor. You can't blame maintenance for rude people! There are also trash cans placed throughout the park which make it easy to dump your trash. All in all, you can spend anywhere from a few minutes to the whole day here! read more

Marina Park - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

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I used to only consider going south of Kanan Rd to see the ocean along PCH but recently it has been a nice alternative to head north towards Ventura. This park in the marina is a clean and safe place to take a break on the grass and enjoy the ocean view. Street parking nearby fills up fast but the park is rarely too crowded because lot parking is limited. Mostly dog friendly (on a leash). An ideal place for a daytime picnic. read more

We came here hoping to find a playground but sadly the play area is completely fenced off and shutdown. Otherwise nice green grass, easy parking and basic bathroom facilities. read more

My go-to park for a beach walk and coastal views with plenty of paved walkways and access to the state park beaches to the north. At low tide, the sandy beach appears. Great views of the marina, harbor mouth and Ventura hills. Flush toilets are kept clean and the children's play area is usually full of happy kids. read more

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We brought our 2 year old to play on a playground and it is CLOSED! What kind of park does not have a children's playground?! She kept saying open, open and starting crying when she couldn't play on the structures. Please repair the structure or take them down! The kids get their hopes up and then can't play on the playground. So disappointing!! Apparently it's been closed for over 2 years. read more

A very pretty park. It has enough parking and a close walk to the beach. The sunsets are magical and the playground stuff is super cute. The kids loved it. read more

Beautiful scenery. Ocean on one side, Harbour on the other. Great walking path, easy access for those who don't want to walk far. Fun ship/beach access area for kids as well. Picnic tables available. Lots of dogs out walking. Bathrooms are easily accessible. One of my favorite spots. read more

Awesome way to spend the evening with the family. Nice paths to wander and open places for the kids to run around.

Great park by the beach Beach had a funny smell from the old seaweed, but grass area was very clean read more

Great days out at Marina Park! Girls had a surf camp for the week with Ohana Surf and had the BEST start to the summer!! There's a grassy area with tables and bbqs, trails and a cosy beach. Get there early to get free parking and a beach spot! Its pretty a mall so gets crowded pretty quick. read more

Marina Park - Ohana Surf Camp!! - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

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If you have kids you need to come to this beach. There are lots of playground toys to keep the babes busy when they are done building sand castles and filling their diaper with Sand. Lots of room for families to have BBQs and get togethers. The beach was clean and the life guards were extremely attentive and on alert since there were strong currents. read more

Marina Park - Beach Life - Parks Near Me - Ventura, California

Great beach/park for families. Worth a visit if you are in the area but prepare yourself for the crowds and a less than clean area. Pros: Free parking. Grassy area with picnic benches and BBQs. A playground and pirate ship for the kids to play on. Small beach areas with rock jetties to climb on. Marina. Bathrooms. Dog friendly. Cons: Smells like fish and urine on the grass. Crowded on a summer weekday afternoon. Bathrooms have tiny, dirty toilets. read more

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This updated review is for the park on 4th of July this year. We visit this park on July 4th every year and had, as of late, been noticing how increasingly crowded it was becoming. This year was probably the worst we've seen it. Every spot on the grass was occupied, whereas in previous years, there was always room for some organized game of frisbee. Not so much this year. The bathroom situation was AWFUL, beginning around the early afternoon and progressively worsening from there. There is a ladies and mens room onsite. The ladies room has two stalls. Even around 8am, there was already a small heap of trash beginning to form in one of the stalls (there isn't a receptacle for disposing of feminine items). My husband reported that the toilet in the mens room was already clogged around that time. There were 4 portable toilets right outside the restrooms. Around 3pm, one of them was in awful condition and it was literally "enter at your own risk". The others were tolerable after you got acclimated to the smell. The line for the actual ladies room was probably 3 dozen women long. Even the beach area was super crowded. Once the grassy area becomes occupied, people move down to the sand. In the children's playground, some of the equipment had caution tape around it, yet kids took no heed to that and tore it down and continued to play on it all despite the hazards. If you're arriving after 12pm, don't bother trying to find a spot in the lot. Parking is indeed free but fills up quickly. We got there around 7:15am and spots near the side loading area were already taken (or claimed by rude people leaving a lawn chair in the parking spot). I'm sure during regular days (uncrowded, non-BBQ holiday type days) this park is perfectly lovely. But we will be searching for a new hang-out for next year. read more

This was a gem of a beach. The parking is free, bathrooms are clean and there's a playground right near the shoreline. People were already setting up for bbqs and parties on the grassy area by the time we got there around 8am. The waves were perfect for little ones, soft and gentle. Loved the recreation of a huge boat for the kids to explore on. There was a neat bike path/walking trail that takes you along the channel with tons of benches and picnic tables to stop and enjoy the peaceful view. read more

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this is a great little park that has it all! A great play area. Lots of grass area with plenty of BBQ's, picnic tables and restrooms. The beach is nice hear and it also has a boat dock to dock so you could sail in or drive and play. They have car shows here and its a great place to bring the kids, or grand kid in my case. We have been coming here for a couple of years and we have a great time. Dog friendly! however its irritating that a lot of people don't follow the leash rule. I have seen a couple of dog fights and gotten jumped on by some ones sandy-wet dog because they didn't have it on a leash. read more

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Went here once last year and loved it! Going again this weekend. The negative reviews on here are so ridiculous. For one thing, $10 for an entire day at the beach is nothing, especially when you can park close to your picnic area and walk to the beach in two minutes. Secondly, the whole mask thing outside( and inside for that matter) is such a joke! If you're that afraid of living your life, please do us all a favor and stay home! Nobody wants to be around people like you anyway! read more

This place reminds me of my childhood.. my family would always come here early on weekends and enjoy the day playing at the beach and the playground.. now I take my kids here! The pirate ship used to have a zip line for kids, but it looks like it has been removed. Not sure if that is temporary. This park is a GEM and it really hasn't changed much over the years. It is a fantastic spot for family picnics and relaxation. You definitely want to get here early to get a good parking spot, especially on weekends!! There is a parking lot (free) and some nearby street parking. You can bring meat to grill, there are bbqs available. There is also an In and Out burger right down the street. There are several picnic tables and restrooms on site. (Restrooms are small and there is usually a line) there are big open grassy areas, so you can play games, pop up a tent, or put up a canopy for shade. The beach is a short walk from the park. I would bring beach chairs, an umbrella, towels, and a cooler for drinks/snacks. The weather is always nice in Ventura! I can't tell you enough how much I love this park. I hope you get a chance to experience it for yourself! read more

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I did love coming here but not anymore! They started charging $10 for parking. I guess they are trying to make up for the money they are losing during the virus and closures. Everyone's parking in front of people houses. Not good! read more