Ventura is a city in Ventura County, a region of Southern California. Ventura mixes old charm with new modern facilities to blend a rich and wonderful background to living. Ventura, still officially called San Buenaventura, was founded in 1782 by Fray Junipero Serra with the establishment of his mission . Along Main Street you will find fabulous food, excellent shopping from amazing thrift stores to upscale boutiques, a movie theater, coffee shops, and other attractions.

Get in

Ventura is located 70 miles north of LAX on Highway 101. Amtrak service is available at the Ventura station, and nearby Oxnard sports both a cruise ship port and an airport with connecting flights to LAX. Santa Barbara Airport can be a good alternative to LAX or Oxnard with flights to LAX, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix as well as other destinations and it is only about 30-40 minutes away up the breath taking 101. Camarillo Airport is a dominant general aviation hub, though Oxnard and Santa Barbara take their share as well.

Attractions

 • San Buenaventura Mission. Church services, funerals, and weddings are still performed there today. There is an original well still standing in the back of the church, and a school for children attached to the side. This mission sits on Main Street in the heart of old town Ventura.
 • A cross street of Main is California Street, where you can stand on the corner, look up and see the old county courthouse and jail, which is now city hall. The Perry Mason show used to be filmed there.
 • If you turn around and head towards the ocean you'll come across more shops, and even a haunted hotel. Keep going to the ocean and check out the surfers next to the pier every morning.

Shopping

The Pacific View Mall and surrounding area (located about 3-5 miles southeast of old town, toward Oxnard) tend to be the shopping hub for the locals while tourists will appreciate the kitsch and variety of Old Town. Still, serious shopaholics are better off in Camarillo at the outlets, in Thousand Oaks at The Oaks or up in Santa Barbara. Ventura has a hidden gem in the music/stoner/alternative mecca known as Salzer's which is located on Victoria near Oxnard and Montalvo

Lodging

 • Best Western Inn of Ventura, 708 E Thompson Boulevard, (805) 648-3101, Fax: (805) 648-4019
 • Holiday Inn, 450 E Harbor Blvd, (805) 648-7731 - Sits right on the beach, towering above old town. It's a fabulous view of both Ventura's city charm, and her beautiful ocean shores
 • Motel 6 Ventura Beach, 2145 East Harbor Boulevard, (805) 643-5100, Fax: (805) 643-4519
 • Motel 6 Ventura South, 3075 Johnson Drive, (805) 650-0080, Fax: (805) 339-0926
 • Ventura Beach Marriott, 2055 Harbor Boulevard, (805) 643-6000, Fax: (805) 643-7137