Went for a walk along the water. Very calm and peaceful. Saw lots of family's enjoying their day…read more Not overpacked or too busy. Would go back.

Very easy access I was shocked Wasn't too busy and perfect for family and friends. Of course, it…read moreis a prominent surfer beach so you'll see a lot of surfer traffic walking back up and down. Bars and restaurants within walking distance- overall beautiful views! I love the salty beach air, but if you're not into that, might not be your favorite. Either way you'll LOVE it no matter what. I already Miss it!!!

We recently held our 2026 Corporate Games at Harbor Cove Beach for a day of Beach Volleyball, and…read moreit couldn't have been a better choice. Whether you're looking for a spot for a large-scale organized event or just a relaxing day by the water, this beach delivers. The conditions were quintessential California. While it started with a breezy chill that kept us on our toes, the sun ultimately came out in full force. That cool breeze actually ended up being a blessing during the more intense matches, keeping everyone from overheating while we enjoyed the clear, sunny skies. If you're planning a team-building event or a sports outing, Harbor Cove Beach is a top-tier pick. Great views, manageable wind, and plenty of sunshine made our Beach Volleyball tournament a massive success!

This beach is located very close to Ventura Harbor Village and Shopping Center, as well as the…read moreRobert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center, Channel Islands Nat'l Park, so if you visit the area it's a quick walk over to enjoy the beach! I visited on a morning weekday, and there were only an handful of people there. The beach is very clean; I didn't see any litter anywhere. The water smelled fresh. There are shorebirds to watch and a few surfers in the ocean, and the waves near the shore were calm. There is ample free parking on the paved lots as well as street parking, and flush toilets. There's even a little mesh path to the water to help people in wheelchairs or strollers navigate the sand.

This is one of my favorite parks in Ventura, and I come here often. There's free parking,…read morerestrooms, plenty of green space for picnics, and easy access to the beach. There's also a short walking path if you want to get some steps in, along with oceanfront benches where you can relax and enjoy the view. It's the perfect park for me and has everything I'm looking for.

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"

Great dog beach with easy parking! Waves are consistent, good place for beginner surfers. Parking…read moreis free on the right side of the street, never had an issue with finding parking.

This is a great spot for beginning surfers…read more My friends and I used to surf here often. Lately we have been surfing at County Line, but we are planning on coming back soon. This is a real nice place to surf. The break is gentle and rolls in and sometimes reforms, so it is great for longboards. The atmosphere and friendliness of local surfers here is better than anywhere else and this is a great beginner spot to surf; granted, it is up there and way up, just north of Ventura. It is worth the drive though and parking is free just off PCH next the railroad tracks. Be warned, you cannot park here prior to 7am. So if you are here for a dawn patrol be ready to move the car if the park rangers are ticketing. Also, during parts of the year, their are many rocks on entry and exit so booties can be a must here for beginning surfers. Also, the Yelp map for this location is slightly wrong. Keep driving NW (north on PCH) until you reach a distinct white bicycle set up as a memorial to a fallen rider/surfer and you have arrived. As far as the below reviews about the steep rocks, this is true but there is a concrete step like path down next to the chain link fence next to the 1st residential house at the beginning of this spot. See my photos and it is just left of the photos.

We enjoyed a lovely sunset here. Easy parking right off the 101. The beach is super long and wide…read moreand quiet considering how close it is to the road. A local told us that this is one of the best beaches for sunsets and they were right!

Beautiful beach!! Clean and beautiful! Family friendly! Highly recommend! Gorgeous view.read more

Ventura pier is a long walk over the ocean. Offering cool breezes, the smell of fish and lots of…read morepelicans and seagulls hoping for a bite. I spent many cool summers here as a kid fishing with my dad. The slits in between the wood used to be a lot longer when I was a kid. The pier is a great way to get away from the world. Sometimes you can catch sight of dolphins and seals.

I visited there two days after that Ventura-to-Barstow CHP chase, where a Subaru drove 200 miles in…read moretwo hours while being pursued by the CHP the entire way. Even NBC 7's helicopter eventually ran out of fuel while trying to film the event! It took me almost an hour in the morning to drive from Pasadena to Ventura Beach. I set the GPS to navigate to the pier, where there is a garage nearby. I drove in and found it completely unattended; the fee booth was empty. After driving around inside, I found an outdoor parking lot that was even closer to the pier. There was no one at the entrance, likely because it is the "off-season." It was less than 20 meters from the parking lot to the wooden steps of the pier. There were fewer than 20 people on the pier that morning, even though it was nearly 8:00 AM. The restaurant wasn't open yet, and they likely don't open during this time of year. Walking on the pier is very peaceful, even if the sound of the sea is quite loud. The public restrooms were clean as well. It is a wonderful break to have on the drive from Los Angeles to San Jose. My recommendation: go there early during the quiet season.

I really loved this National Park! Not too far from LA in Ventura and you have to take a ferry to…read moreget to it. Your America the Beautiful Pass does not work for the ferry. We went in January so the greenery was still that winter brown but it was not very busy which is nice. We decided to do a kayaking tour with the Santa Barbara Adventure Group so they booked our ferry times for us. Beware of the specific ferry times cause if you miss it your S.O.O.L After the kayaking tour we got to walk a little bit around parts of the island before heading to the ferry. On the way home on the ferry we say killer whales which was truly mesmerizing! One of the best things I've ever seen.

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and truly experience it. On this trip, we visited 14 national parks, and Channel Islands National Park was one of the most unique adventures. Unlike most national parks, getting there is part of the experience. There are no roads leading into the park, you have to take a ferry from Ventura across the Pacific Ocean. Just boarding the boat and watching the mainland disappear behind you makes the trip feel like an expedition to somewhere special. We visited Santa Cruz Island, the largest of the Channel Islands, and immediately understood why these islands are often called the "Galápagos of North America." Thousands of years of isolation have allowed unique plants and animals to evolve here, including the adorable island fox, found nowhere else on Earth. Seeing one of these tiny foxes wandering near the trails was an unexpected highlight. The hiking was beautiful, with dramatic coastal cliffs, sweeping ocean views, wildflowers, and peaceful trails. One of the things we appreciated most was the feeling of solitude. Unlike many of California's more famous parks, Channel Islands feels wonderfully wild and uncrowded. The absolute highlight of our visit, however, was kayaking through the sea caves. Paddling into enormous ocean caves carved by the Pacific was an unforgettable experience. The water changed from deep blue to brilliant turquoise as the sunlight reflected inside the caves, and every turn revealed another incredible rock formation. It was exciting, peaceful, and just a little adventurous all at once. It became one of the most memorable experiences of our entire six-week trip. Because there are no restaurants, hotels, or stores on the islands, you need to come prepared with food, water, and everything you'll need for the day. That lack of development is exactly what makes the park so special. It feels wild, protected, and beautifully untouched. Channel Islands National Park is unlike any other national park we have visited. Between the ferry ride, spectacular coastal scenery, abundant wildlife, wonderful hiking, and unforgettable sea cave kayaking, it was an experience we will never forget. If you're willing to plan ahead and make the journey across the water, you'll discover one of America's true hidden gems.

Our go-to spot for a relaxing day at the beach with our husky. It is a bit of a drive from LA, but…read morenot much further than getting to Long Beach or Huntington Beach for us (the other dog friendly beaches near LA). This beach is on-leash and has never been crowded. That makes it a good spot for our senior dog to walk a bit and then curl up by our beach blanket for bird watching and napping under the sea breeze. The humans like the fact that it is usually clean, parking is very easy and inexpensive in the two large lots, and the restrooms are usually clean enough (bring hand sanitzer, though - the soap and paper towels often run out). There's also paths for people riding bikes and jogging, and a large park that is often lively with picnics, barbeques, volleyball games, and people working out. As people in our early 40s, it is refreshingly unpretentious and un-scene-y, too. Most people are friendly and there are a lot of families. One tip: The water here can be rough with rip currents, and there is no life guard present.

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.