Ventura Harbor

I have been coming to the Ventura Harbor since I was a kid. My mom and I would drive to Ventura to visit my aunt and we would always make a stop at the Harbor. We would park down at one end and walk to the other end and back. Sometimes we would look in some of the little shops just to see what they had. T-​shirts, hand painted shells and vintage clothing were and are common goods you can buy. We would eat up stairs at the Hornblower restaurant that is no longer there. There is a little ice cream parlor that is still at the harbor and is still good. It is always nice to walk along the waters edge with your cone and look at all the boats. Sail boats. Fishing boats. Paddle boats. Kayaks. So many varieties to see. Plus there is always some sort of sea life. I have seen crabs, clams, octopus, star fish, pelicans and seagulls. To go back there as an adult brings back some good memories. To spend an afternoon there with my mom again was even better.
This harbor is still packed full of boats. The sea life is still there. The bushes have grown up a lot so the crabs are harder to see. But people still hang out and shop. They leave for area tour cruises and rent kayaks. It is a fun place to visit and when you are done here, walk across the street and hit the beach. It is right there afterall.

The Ventura harbor is fun always, lots of cool little shops, arcade, merry go round fun for the whole family. Very good places to eat and the best ice cream shop in town!

I found this place through a brochure at the hotel we stayed in. I loved walking around the Ventura Harbor Village, with cute shops and restaurants. There were so many beautiful yachts and boats, it was quite a Photo Op for me!!! Ventura is a lovely town not too far from Santa Barbara. Small and not as crowded as southern California beach harbors.

Ventura is a beautiful city known for its inviting harbor :)
Great weather, nice boats and good times for the 4^th of July fireworks or any maritime fun. 5 stars for that: D

What’s not to love? The Ventura Harbor has it all:
Several marinas of varying price and amenities for those who wish to rent slips
Many fine restaurants offering everything from seafood to Italian and even Greek.
Plenty of shops with wacky items like kites, hats and pewter dragons with amethyst eyes.
Best of all, you can rent boats. I rented a 15′ Coronado and took my daughter for an hour-​long sail around the calm waters of the harbor.

When my dad used to have a sailboat, this was where he would dock his boat. They have showers at the main rental building and the boats are accessible via ramps with gates that required you use a key pass.
They also have water hook ups so when you wanted to wash your boat down while it’s been sitting there as you worked your 9 to 5, or after sailing around the coast you can wash it down from the day’s adventures.
It was also a treat to see all the different shapes/​sizes of all the different types of boats, yachts, and what not. I also loved the little crabs on the rocks and just seeing the sea life around. Once in a while a sea lion would make it’s way into the channel only to swim away before I could catch him. One day, you’ll be mine.
This was also the first place I pulled an all nighter with a girl. She was really cute, but I already had feelings for another girl (which bombed), so, if I could take it back, I would’ve probably gotten my first kiss this night, lol.