Love Marina Park! Such a beautiful place with areas for fishing, two beaches, a kids play ground,…read moreand nice grassy areas for a picnic. It's handicap accessible with some paved paths and makes for a nice short walk to view the inside of the harbor. Bathrooms are usually well kept too. Easy street parking or in their large lot.

This is my FAVE park in Ventura because - IMO - it has everything you need for a great day at the…read morebeach. 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"

Positives: lots of trails and grassy areas that are wonderful when it's cooler or in the evenings…read more Picnic spots to eat and great views of the ocean when hiking. Lots of parking. Negatives: So many dog owners are complacent about their dogs here- they let them roam around and poop wherever and don't pick it up! It's ridiculous. I'm a dog owner myself and used to let my little dog off leash here occasionally, but after realizing there is a lot of unpredictable behavior from dogs and their owners, I don't bring her here that often anymore (unless there are not that many people)! So use caution when bringing your dog / dogs here. Trails can get super hot. Bring lots of water!

First time visiting this park. It's like a mini valley where you have to large hillsides on each…read moreside. When you first drive it, it's a lot of grass and picnic tables. In the middle of the park is the toddler playground and then at the end of the park is the larger playground area for older children. There is lots of grass and a grass hillside. The highlight for me was the toddler playground. I work with children and often like to meet at parks to see their gross motor skills and work on them. This is one of the few parks left I have seen with sand. The park was very clean and even though there were many dogs off leash running around, pet owners were quite aware of where their dogs were and I didn't see any dog poop in the grass. You also can't beat that gorgeous ocean view. I came on a Friday late afternoon when they don't charge a park fee. Big plus!

Very clean and nice park with a baseball dugout and areas for bigger kids and little kids to play…read morein. It's very peaceful and in a nice neighborhood. No strange people hanging around and no people sleeping or living at the park. There are restrooms as well but I can't comment on those because I didn't use them. Plenty of street parking in front of homes. Overall a very nice place to bring the family. I saw lots of people having birthdays and hanging out on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of big trees for shade.

Visited this place on Saturday. I liked the size of the play area. Gives kids space to run and…read moreplay. I was a little dissappointed that the trash cans didn't have lids. Because when the wind blew the trash would fly out. The bathrooms at the park were locked except for one and when you have kids they need to have at least two open. Some parts of the front play area should have some coverings. But its a nice place.

Grant Park in Santa Barbara is seriously so pretty The views of the coastline are amazing and it's…read moresuch a great spot to just stop and take everything in. At the top there's a big cross that makes it feel really peaceful and kind of special. There are also a few different trails you can walk, some easy, some a bit more of a hike, plus little fun details along the way like bird statues. It's a great place whether you want to hike, chill, or just enjoy the view. Super relaxing overall and definitely worth checking out if you're in Santa Barbara

Dear Hubby and I took a drive out to Ventura for my birthday, which happened to be mid-week this…read moreyear. Big hooray - it was sunny; no fog in sight. It was on the coolish side, but the abundance of sunshine made it seem warmer. We had an early dinner down on Main Street. Where we parked there was a sign indicating that the eastern entrance to Grant Park was nearby. We had been up there perhaps only once in the past, and we'd gone in from the west. The drive up in the late afternoon / early evening had the golden glow magic to it. The light was amazing! I was driving and marveling at every twist and turn on the roadway while ascending the hills. The wildflowers and green groundcover from winter's rains made the scenery even more breathtaking than it might be when the grasses start to turn golden instead of green. I was able to drive all the way to the top parking lot, which overlooks the Serra Cross, and the entire Ventura coastline. The view encompasses the pier, the harbor, then beyond out to Channel Islands Harbor, Port Hueneme, and the western edge of the Santa Monica Mountains. It solidified my feelings in that moment of gratitude for enjoying life in Ventura County for the past 40 years. A gorgeous view on a clear day can do that for a person. When a sunny day happens, and the winds are calm, I can recommend taking a drive up to the top of Grant Park to make some of your daily cares seem very small. Looking down on the city / county from on high helped lift my spirits and added joy to my birthday celebrations.

Big park w/ restrooms and easy access to the 101 in Ventura. Good place for a picnic or pit stop.read more

Beautiful Park!! We had not been here in a long time, but this is truly a beautiful park. The park…read morehas 2 separate play structures to accommodate for different ages. Bathrooms are available, but I did not use them to note the cleanliness. Large open grassy areas to play lawn games or just come for a picnic. The neighborhood is quiet, and there was ample parking when I came twice recently. There is also a covered gazebo with tables. I think it is a first come, first serve for usage. Oh, and basketball courts! Overall, I think this is a wonderful park.

There is just something to be said about being in the outdoors that I simply just can't get enough…read moreof. Maybe it's the sound of the free flowing water, the birds chirping or just watching wildlife do its thing. Maybe it's the sun beaming down on my skin, which truly makes me feel alive. or maybe, Just maybe, it's just being one with Nature and simply feeling the gratitude for all it has to offer. Hey, maybe it's all of the above! Whatever is it is.... I. Love. It. And for me, one of the best parts of living where I live; I am always amazed on how close nature is right in my own backyard or within just a short drive from my home. Well this past April, my wife's friend introduced us to yet another great destination right here in Ventura County and it was the perfect start to our Spring Break. ----------------------- Welcome to Foster Park located in Ventura right off the California 33. The morning of, we packed a picnic style lunch, snacks for the kids, our water bottles, our bathing suits, some sunscreen and off we went to Ventura to meet our friend with her two little kids. Upon our arrival, we parked in a small dirt lot under the 33 freeway overpass adjacent to Foster Park and loaded all of our stuff onto our stroller and off we went. A paved bike path with bicyclists, walkers, joggers, and families, were all making their way into the park. Of course, our friend who is a Foster Park regular showed us the way and guided us to her normal spot which happens to be right on the creek side water front. Yes, we made our way down the short path to the water which is perfect for all ages, but especially if you have littles (our youngest who is 2 had a blast). It's an area with water that's flowing in parts, but still an area for the kids to go ankle to knee deep to play. We did find tadpoles, frogs, and dragonflies. There are areas to plop down next to the water, set up an umbrella or find a spot under some shade and watch your kids have fun or eat your picnic lunch you packed. The park also has areas to visit that are historical to the region; we will definitely check those out next visit. The one thing I forgot, but will not forget again are some water shoes. There are lots of rocks on the water that can be tender to your feet as well as some mossy rocks that are slippery... I found out the hard way and let's just say I took a little unexpected dip into the water. Hey it cooled me off! Haha. There is a campground here so definitely look into that if you are traveling or want to book some camping with the fam. So.... Who is ready to put that phone down, power off that iPad, and get outdoors and escape some screen time! I guarantee this place will refresh your heart, your soul and your mind. Now, get outdoors & Enjoy!

It's been awhile since we have been to foster park... since it closed... it was such an awesome…read morepark but just before closing people started throwing trash and it started to look bad... to be honest this is why I thought they closed it!!! I hope they open it soon so we can enjoy it once again...but if they do and if I see anyone throwing trash and leaving their mess there...I definitely will make sure they know that it is our park and they damn well better respect it!!! Citations/ fines given out might help to STOP these vagrants from on trashing this beautiful park.. and ALL others also!!!!

As a nanny, Camino Real Park is one of my absolute favorite parks in Ventura. I've taken multiple…read morekids here over the years, and it's such a great setup for families. What really sets this park apart is that it has three different playground areas, so kids of different ages always have something to do and don't get bored easily. The park is spacious, well maintained, and feels safe, which is huge when you're responsible for little ones. There's also a dog park and tennis courts, so it works for everyone--families, dog owners, and people just looking to be active. I love that it's easy to spend a long afternoon here without feeling cramped. Plenty of space to run around, sit, relax, and let kids burn off energy. It's one of those parks that's clearly designed with the community in mind. If you're a parent, nanny, or caregiver in Ventura, Camino Real Park is definitely a go-to spot.

Super huge park, with two play areas and baseball and softball fields…read more however, This park is slowly going downhill. The road to get in and out needs to be repaved, very bumpy ride in and out. The parking lot is beginning to fill up with homeless people.

We were so full from our breakfast at IHOP that we felt the need to walk. In looking around at the…read morearea, 'olołkoy Beach Park was less than a mile away. The park is small, but well maintained and clean. The palm tree lined walking path is wide and flat. Nice playground. The beach is a short walk over -- just follow the sand. :) We ventured into the neighborhood behind the park to check out the lovely homes, each with their own personality. The people were so friendly to wave and say 'hi' as we walked by. There's two good size parking areas -- pay to park machines are easy to find.

This is amazing city park located next to the beach. You will find this park located in between a…read moreresidential area and the Hilton curio hotel. This city park offers plenty of green space to relax, play at volleyball courts, parking and more. Plus throughout the week you will find yoga pop up classes going on. I was pretty impressed with this park right along the ocean. Perfect for those who do not want to get their feet dirty in the sand. Enjoy!

I visited Plaza Park yesterday. I loved seeing the Moreton Bay Fig Tree as the sheer size of it is…read moreimpressive. I also liked seeing the Phoenix statue and admired the craftmanship that went into making it.

Such a fun place to just chill at...when we walked by and hung out yesterday after the Ventura…read moreMarathon, there was a huge crowd of adults playing Pokemon Go! LOL! Love it! Beautiful, old trees and lots of grass to run around on.

Beautiful views and worth the 7.25 mile round trip hike. It was about 2.45 h in and 2.5 h out…read more Plenty of arrows to help lead the way. If you can weather the whole hike up to the punch bowls, you won't regret it! Lots of maneuvering rocks and it can get sketchy at some times. But there are plenty of families and furry friends that take this hike so that should give you an idea about difficulty. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen and you will be fine. You might step in some water crossing a pond or two so bringing an extra pair of socks wouldn't be a bad idea either. Have fun and don't leave your trash behind!

DO NOT LET YOUR DOGS GET IN THE WATER AT THE START OF THE TRAIL!!!!! I'm not sure how it is further…read moreup, but we got in the water as soon as we could, and our three dogs immediately covered themselves in thick tarry oil. We had to rush to the nearest park bathroom and scrubbed them as much as we could, but it ruined a bunch of clothes and towels, and I'm worried for their health after watching them drink some of the water and try to lick themselves clean. There needs to be some sort of warning sign about the oil in the water.