Ventura Attractions
Ventura County
Location and importance
Ventura lies on the U.S. 101 and is 60mi/96km northwest of Los Angeles, 30mi/48km from Santa Barbara, and about 190mi/300km from San Diego. Ventura is an abbreviation for the San Buenaventura Mission. Around this center the town of Ventura has developed over decades. It lies in the middle of an agricultural region. During the previous century people began to grow citrus fruits, avocados and other produce. Today it is the USA's most important area for the cultivation of citrus fruits.
In the early twenties oil was discovered very near to Ventura. This led to the town's economic upswing, and today there is a large oil refinery here.
Since the end of the Second World War holidaymakers have been enticed to Ventura by the superb beaches, especially the San Buenaventura State Beach, a marina which will accommodate 1,500 motor and sailing boats, as well as by the excursion boats plying between here and the Channel Islands.
Location and importance
Ventura lies on the U.S. 101 and is 60mi/96km northwest of Los Angeles, 30mi/48km from Santa Barbara, and about 190mi/300km from San Diego. Ventura is an abbreviation for the San Buenaventura Mission. Around this center the town of Ventura has developed over decades. It lies in the middle of an agricultural region. During the previous century people began to grow citrus fruits, avocados and other produce. Today it is the USA's most important area for the cultivation of citrus fruits.
In the early twenties oil was discovered very near to Ventura. This led to the town's economic upswing, and today there is a large oil refinery here.
Since the end of the Second World War holidaymakers have been enticed to Ventura by the superb beaches, especially the San Buenaventura State Beach, a marina which will accommodate 1,500 motor and sailing boats, as well as by the excursion boats plying between here and the Channel Islands.
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Channel Islands National Park
Five islands make up Channel Islands National Park off the coast of Southern California. They offer a great opportunity for wildlife and bird watching, and also contain more than 800 endemic plant varieties.
A J Comstock Fire Museum
The A. J. Comstock Fire Museum has displays of fire fighting equipment and photos of the firefighters from the turn of the century.
Albinger Archaeological Museum (closed)
The Albinger Archaeological Museum is in the same street as the Ventura County Museum of History and Art. It has valuable finds from Indian culture (1500 BC), as well as Chinese and Mexican artifacts.
Evidence of an early Indian culture dating from 1600 B.C. and the later Chumash Indians from 1500 onwards. The original mission foundation and an earth oven are in the dig area outside.
Evidence of an early Indian culture dating from 1600 B.C. and the later Chumash Indians from 1500 onwards. The original mission foundation and an earth oven are in the dig area outside.
Hours
May 29 to September 7
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
September 8 to May 28
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Olivas Adobe Historic Park
The Olivas adobe was one of the few two-story homes in the area when constructed in 1847. The family had 21 children and Rancho San Miguel prospered until the drought of the 1860s. The Olivas Adobe Historic Park in Ventura is home to the adobe, rose and herb gardens, family artifacts and furnishings.
The Olivas Adobe Historic Park stands as a monument to theRancho Period ofCalifornia history.
All values are in United States Dollars
The Olivas Adobe Historic Park stands as a monument to theRancho Period ofCalifornia history.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
| Family | $ 10.00 |
| Adult | $ 5.00 |
| Child 11 & under | $ 3.00 |
| Senior over 65 | $ 3.00 |
| Child 3 & under | FREE |
Docents in period costumes give interpretive historical tours Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Opening hours refer to the grounds. The house is open 10-4 Saturday and Sunday.
Closed on all federal holidays
Facilities
Gift shop
Ortega Adobe
Built in 1857, Ortega Adobe is typical of the homes ordinary people lived in, which are very different from the homes of the wealthy. There are places where the adobe is peeled back to expose the structural materials beneath.
Hours
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Labor Day - USA (1st Monday, September)
Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November )
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Easter - Christian (Apr 08)
Ventura City Hall
Ventura City Hall was designed, and built, by Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin, in 1912. The Beaux-Arts style features neo-classic columns, arched windows, and a terra cotta facade complete with 24 faces of Fransiscan padres, the order that founded the city in 1782. The foyer features an Italian marble stairway and three stained glass domes, which were a gift from Albert C. Martin.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | 8:00 | Closed | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Ventura Harbor
Ventura Harbor, built in 1963, is a man-made commercial and recreational harbor. The harbor is home to two yacht clubs and a harbor village with many eateries and shops.
Ventura Surroundings
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