Ending our weekend getaway, we took a stroll down Main Street in Downtown Ventura to do a little…read moreshopping. On a Sunday most stores open at 11am. So, it's best to grab brunch or visit nearby sites like Serra Cross or the Ventura Pier before you shop. There are free parking lots in the area, but by the time we headed over around 11:30 am, all the free spots were taken, so we used the metered parking which was pretty reasonable. Mission San Buenaventura is located on Main Street and offers services. The church is beautiful and Sunday service was very well attended. You'll also find many thrift and antique stores with reasonable prices. I loved that Main Street included a variety of stores and restaurants without including the cheesy and touristy gift shops. We had an enjoyable lunch at Immigrant Son caffe, purchased some sodas at a really cool candy store called Rocket Fizz and visited Very Ventura, a gift shop with a nice collection of Ventura related gifts. I purchased some stickers for my Yeti and a hat.

The weekend is a great time to visit DT Ventura. Main street is blocked off from…read moreVehicle traffic letting pedestrians and pets stroll through the shops and pop up vendors carefree. There is a small stage in the center of downtown with live music. We had a great time exploring the area. There are a lot of thrift stores and even more places to eat lol. There are multiple free public parking lots so it might be a little hunt for a spot but it's free all day. Great place to spend a day or evening.

Happy Earth Day to my fellow tree huggers. In honor of the occasion, I'd like to share one of my…read morerecent faves - a gem of a botanical garden that's hidden in the heart of downtown Ventura. When driving up the 101 from LA to the Bay Area, I love to make a pit stop in Ventura. It's the perfect place to stretch your legs out. And if you're looking for a little more to get your heart rate up, Ventura Botanical Gardens offers a lovely stroll-style hike to unwind from the one-hour-plus drive. The grounds are a mix of tiered levels, winding walkways, and lots of exotic plants. There are stretches of shaded areas, but SPF/hats are advised as it's still exposed to the seaside sun & haze. There are quotes carved in stones along the pathway that are nice to read. And when you get to the top, you get sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Time it right, and you can watch the sun dip into the sea. Admission is very reasonable. $7/person and FREE on Fridays. Feel free to bring your dog on a leash on Fridays too. I went on a random Tuesday and arrived at 9:15am, close to opening time. There was lots of free parking near the entrance. That's also where the cutest little gift shop greets all guests. Here, you'll find lots of charming gifts & knick-knacks & small plants to take home too. For those who prefer to lend a hand and yank out the Mustardweed to save the natives, then Tuesdays are a good volunteer day Note: The bathrooms take a little bit of patience. They're built on a septic tank system so just try to follow instructions if you see them posted. According to some intel, permanent bathrooms are in the city's near-future plans. Also note that they are CLOSED on Mondays. So take in all that natural beauty, breathe out all that stress. And make sure you've roamed the gardens enough to work up an appetite. Downtown Main Street is nearby and there's a strip of charming diners, cafes, restaurants, and specialty shops. For the true eco-conscious tree hugger, you'll find stores with handcrafted souvenirs, artisan plant trinkets, and even vintage/used books just about any day of the week. After all, every day is Earth Day, right?

We escaped the fog of the San Joaquin Valley for Ventura. We stopped by the Ventura botanical…read moreGardens around 11 AM. It was seven dollars to get in. There are about 3 miles of trails. A lot of interesting plant life. What we liked is that you can't get lost even though we tried. There are some great views from the higher elevations. This is a great place to visit as it will always be changing

So, this Motel was the first of 3 establishments we stayed at during our trek up the PCH. The first…read morething I noticed when we arrived was the outstanding dining area for breakfast. The other only dining location that was better than this one was a hotel we stayed at in Dubai. My wife had requested a 2nd floor unit because we wanted a kitchenette but initially they put us in a ground level unit. The gentleman at the check in desk was more than happy to give us a 2nd floor unit with a kitchenette since it was there mistake. The room was very spacious and the kitchenette was awesome. The neighborhood is a bit sketchy as described in other reviews but we had no issues at all. This establishment is near restaurants, shopping, and grocery stores so you can pretty much get anything you need. I was also very impressed with the Ice Machine, you have to actually use your key card in the machine to get Ice. There is a CVS across the street and please be advised there are railroad tracks about 100 yards from the motel. Traffic could be a slight issue because actual freight trains do come through the area. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, my Friends!!!

First of all this is a motel, not hotel. This was not mentioned anywhere on their site. That means…read morethat you will have people yelling from their rooms into the parking lot at all times of the night. Rooms have an a/c window unit, meaning that the bed by the a/c will be freezing, but the other bed will be too warm. The rooms are SMALL. Breakfast was from 6 to 9am only. Every time any of the room's a/c units turned on, it was loud enough to wake you. The door had a gap when fully closed, which didn't help any noise cancelation. The new paint was very poorly done and the bathrooms are not cleaned. The vent in the restroom was extremely dirty. There is no security so people will be fighting and yelling until 2am and then again at 6am with no one to tell them anything. Kids were running through the hallway and again, nothing was done. Definitely will not recommend or return to this place.

I've been visiting Oxnard PACC twice a year for 20+ years minus Covid-19 time…read more Great venue, parking is suitable. Bathrooms are good , and the staff are always friendly and easy to work it.

Took my mom to the Mother's Day Mariachi Festival. The performances and music were great, and we…read morereally enjoyed the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the sound system was terrible, which made it hard to fully enjoy the event. That's the main reason for my low score.

just visit for the first time today, though i've passed it in old town several times and finally…read morewandered in, needing to know what a drink named after mother earth would taste like. pretty sure i'm crushing now on the super nice barista, (she was the brunette,) who let me taste my drink for sweetness before adding any of my extras.. who does that?!

Pretty frustrating experience this morning. My wife put in a door dash order for my favorite coffee…read morelast night for my birthday. It was set to be delivered this morning. Order went through no problem. Trouble started this morning when my wife received a message from the driver that Tree Lounge doesn't have the order (first screenshot). My wife looks and sees she received a cancellation text for the order 1 minute after the driver's message (second screenshot). From the outside this looks like the driver walked in, asked for the order, they said they didn't have it and then cancelled it. So, my wife called Tree Lounge to see what is going on and was told that they cancelled the order because they were "in the middle of their rush". It's easy to see how poorly this situation was handled in general, but also clear no one checked online orders to prep the work for the morning. This order shouldn't be a surprise and the choice to just blind cancel it instead of making it because of what equates to "we're busy" is pretty bad. Takes a lot for me to leave a review. If you don't want to process online order during your rush then set those hours up in door dash. If you screwed up and just didn't check your online orders in the morning, then just make the drink as the next up order. I'm happy to discuss the situation - Tree Lounge, feel free to reach out to me.

We stumbled upon Mission Basilica San Buenaventura by chance and didn't even realize it was right…read morein downtown Ventura! Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see the whole place, but we did get to step inside the church, and it was absolutely beautiful -- peaceful, historic, and full of charm. We're definitely planning to come back to tour the entire mission next time. A lovely hidden gem in the heart of Ventura!

First time actually checking out VTA properly and had to make a stop at the Mission, which is…read moreprobably the most OG thing in the city. It is a bit whitewashed (real talk: The Chumash were not as happy as portrayed) but regardless, it is a part of California history, and I respect that. I visit cathedrals/churches/missions whenever I travel internationally (Mexico, China, and Italy already this year), and would place the historical significance of the Missions near the top of any global list. $8 at the door, and worth it, if for nothing else, the peacefulness and tranquility...

It's been almost a decade since I've been to the library. This library is spacious, clean, and…read moreorganized. The circulation desk staff helped me to obtain my library card and answered any questions I had about the library. You no longer pay any overdue/late fees if you're late retuning your book. You only pay if you lose or damage a book. There's an online collection of books, which your library card number and PIN (last 4 digits of your phone number) is the key to opening. You can read a novel on your phone if you decide to use the online collection. If someone has checked out a book either online or physically, you can place a hold on it for whenever it's returned. I placed a hold on a couple of physical books, got an email that they were ready to be picked up, and they scanned my library card and handed me the books. It's just an incredibly easy process. I'm also reading a book online from their digital collection. I feel incredibly foolish not having taken advantage of the library in years! There's free WIFI, plenty of events for kids and adults alike in the library (check the flyers in the library or go online), and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful in helping you find what you need and explaining what the library has to offer. The only bummer is that the library is closed on Fridays and Sundays, but you have 5 other days to make use of the library's free resources!

Very inviting staff upon entry. Large kid's section on the ground floor, along with audiobooks…read more Upstairs is everything else. The graphic novel section is about a fifth of our Fresno Library's size, but do appreciate that they have one.

It's a beautiful set up. Nice to see not everyone has forgotten their history. Enjoyed the…read moreatmosphere and friendly people. Nice little restaurants in the area.

Interesting little spot under the freeway…read more There are plenty of neat art pieces, murals, etc. Showing the area's history and heritage. There is art of both sides of the street. We were walking around checking out the town and stumbled across it, but it is not on the main street with shops so I am not sure how many people will see this location. It is worth a visit to check out the art. Enjoy my photos.

Bells Art Factory is one of Ventura's true gems. Located in a beautifully repurposed former…read moremattress factory, this nonprofit community arts center is deeply rooted in creativity, accessibility, and community care. The space is home to 30+ local artists working in painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and more. In addition to artist studios, Bells offers youth art classes, artist-led workshops, and cultural programming including Ballet Folklórico, Aztec Dance, and yoga (Monday-Friday) with a suggested donation, making wellness and movement accessible to everyone. I've personally attended donation-based sound baths and their Día de Muertos event, and both were thoughtfully organized, welcoming, and grounded in community and cultural respect. The value here is undeniable. You are getting high-quality programming, meaningful cultural experiences, and direct support of local artists and educators, all without high price barriers. Parking is available in a small lot on site, though spaces are limited. Street parking is also available in the surrounding neighborhood. They also host First Fridays, which are always a great way to experience the space, meet artists, and support local creativity. Everything here feels intentional and community-driven. If you're looking for an affordable, enriching space that truly invests back into the community, Bells Art Factory is absolutely worth visiting and donating to.

Checked out a free Zumba class tonight! I had a blast! It was only 45mins but I really got a…read moreworkout!! Lots of smiles and so much fun!!! I think they also offer free art classes. I had never been here before and I'm so happy my friend recommended this place. What an maxing community center. I was told there is a Day of the Dead event November 2,2023. Not sure if I will be able to make it but will try :)

I posted a Review on 04/14/2017.there are no updates as of now that I can share. Except that the…read moremuseum has a lengthy schedule of up-coming Events that will shed more light on activities available to the Public. If you're in the vicinity, drop by and meet Larry & Johnny. expand your culture. It will be well worth it.

This museum is a true Gem for Port Hueneme! I was quite impressed with all the interesting…read moreartifacts and history that is stored in this beautiful Myron Hunt building ( formerly a bank). I truly recommend this wonderful museum to all!