The Ultimate Escape Rooms at Ventura Harbor Village

The Ultimate Escape Rooms are a recent addition to Ventura Harbor Village. There are four different themed rooms that a group of up to eight people are have to escape within a 60 minute time frame.

But how? The room is full of puzzles, riddles and props that the group must decipher to come up with the ultimate "code" to escape the room. Using the combined efforts of your group, you must review the clues and solve a series of puzzles to make your way out of there.

Yes, I have tried it with a group of 11 to 14 year old kids and we had a fun time trying to get out of there. Although we were unable to figure out the final piece to our puzzle, we enjoyed it. And don't worry...if the group needs clues, you can all raise your hands and you will be given a bit of help.

They do not allow you to bring personal belongings like cell phones into the rooms, but lockers are provided. 

Learn more at www.theultimateescaperooms.com.

Ventura Harbor Village

Ventura Harbor Village at 1583 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura is home to 33 acres of harborside activities, shopping and restaurants.  The weather is always so cool over there it makes for a nice retreat.

Go for a walk along the boardwalk or at the beach or enjoy activities like kayaking, sailing, pedal boats, sport-fishing and cruises. Ventura Harbor Village hosts events and activities year-round, including music performances, kids' activities, themed events, festivals and more.

Eateries at Ventura Harbor Village include Andria's Seafood Restaurant, Baja Bay Surf N' Taco, Boatyard Pub, Brophy Bros. Clam Bar & Restaurant, Coastal Cone Ice Cream, Deep Sea Wine Tasting Room, Le Petit Cafe, Bakery & Restaurant, Margarita Villa Mexican Restaurant, On The Alley, Sugar Lab Bake Shop, The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood and The Parlor. You won't go hungry here.

The Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center is located adjacent to Ventura Harbor Village. Free admission and an awesome resource for learning more about the Channel Islands and its protected habitat.

Island Packers at the Harbor has numerous boat rides and is the only authorized concessionaire to transport folks to Channel Islands National Park. 

Ventura Boat Rentals rents out electric boats, paddle boats, kayaks, power boats and charters cruises in the Ventura Harbor.  So much fun to be had!

Across the street from Ventura Harbor Village is beach access at Harbor Cove Beach (a safe beach protected by jetties) and Surfer's Knoll Beach. Local area beaches at THIS LINK.

More information at www.venturaharborvillage.com or call 805.642.8538 (or 877.89.HARBOR).

Ventura Boat Rentals at Ventura Harbor Village

Ventura Boat Rentals, located at Ventura Harbor Village at 1575 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura rents out electric boats, paddle boats, kayaks, power boats, surf bikes. jet skis and sail boats to the general public.  They also offer narrated harbor tours on weekends and select holidays, public dinner cruises, sunset cocktail cruises, private charters, private parties and public holiday tours. 

Visit www.venturaboatrentals.com or call 805.642.7753 for more information.

We enjoy exploring the Ventura Harbor, thanks to Ventura Boat Rentals.  Lots of small crabs hang out in these rocks.

Seaside Sunday Flea Market at the Ventura County Fairgrounds

There’s a new monthly flea market at the Ventura County Fairgrounds on designated dates. The Seaside Sunday Flea Market will be open from 9am to 2pm for $5 admission (ages 13 and under free) with early bird admission 5am to 9am for $10. Fairgrounds parking $10.

Current planned dates are: June 25, July 9, Sept 3 and Nov 12.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=987743032504597&set=pb.100038067289863.-2207520000.

Since this is a new flea market, we suggest you check the organizer’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VenturaWednesdayFleaMarket805 before going.

Ventura Flea Market - Ventura County Fairgrounds (CLOSED)

NOTE: Although this flea market is no longer in operation, a new Ventura flea market - Seaside Sunday Flea Market - commence May 28, 2023 on designated Sundays.

---

The Flea Market has been closed since mid-2020 due to the pandemic. Stay tuned for reopening dates.

THE VENTURA FLEA MARKET IS NO LONGER LISTED AS AN R.G. CANNING EVENT. SO UNLESS WE HEAR OTHERWISE, THE VENTURA FLEA MARKET IS NO LONGER IN OPERATION.

The Ventura Flea Market features antiques, used and new merchandise sold by over 500 vendors and thousands of visitors. It is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. six Sundays a year at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. A special Early Bird admission is available from 6am to 9am at $10.00 per person. Regular admission starts at 9 a.m. at $5.00 per person. Children under 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.  (Prices current as of October 2020.) Pets are not allowed. Event is held rain or shine! Parking is $5 (though there is also “non-preferred parking available free of charge).

Upcoming Dates:

• 2023: NO UPDATES AS OF April 2023

Visit www.rgcshows.com/ventura or call 323.560.SHOW (7469) for more information.

Players Casino in Ventura

Players Casino reopened in February 2022 at its new location at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Blvd., 2nd Floor, Ventura. Open daily from 11 am to 3 am.

Players Casino is one of only about 70 active cardrooms in the state of California. Although it is called a casino, technically is it a cardroom. There are over 60 Indian casinos in the state that can offer games other than card games, such as roulette, slots and craps. Another distinction is that in a cardroom, you cannot play against the house; you can only play against other players.

Games offered at Players Casino include Texas Holdem, “21st Century Blackjack,” “EZ Baccarat,” Pai Gow Poker and Three Card Poker.

For more information, visit www.pcventura.com or call 805.643.1392.

Majestic Ventura Theater in Downtown Ventura

The Majestic Ventura Theatre offers a 1920's Mission Style Architecture ambiance - you can see and feel close to the band from practically anywhere in the theater. All genres of music. 1200 capacity venue with multiple full bars, ballroom and occasional dinner shows. The theater is located at 26 S. Chestnut Ave., Ventura.  For more information, visit www.venturatheater.net or call 805.653.0721.

Ventura Music Hall

Ventura Music Hall is located at 1888 E. Thompson Blvd in Ventura, hosting live music and offering craft food and drinks. Visit www.venturamusichall.com for more information.

Pacific View Mall in Ventura

Pacific View Mall, located at Mills Road and Main Street in Ventura, is anchored by Macy's, JC Penney and Target. Over 140 shops, restaurants and department stores in one million square feet. Sit-down restaurants include a California Pizza Kitchen, Red Robin and Wood Ranch BBQ.

More information at www.shoppacificview.com.

Lake Casitas Recreation Area in Ventura

The Lake Casitas Recreation Area is operated by the Casitas Municipal Water District, which supplied water to 70,000 people and hundreds of farms in western Ventura County, encompassing Ojai, the Ventura River Valley area, the city of Ventura to Mills Road, the Rincon and beach area to the ocean and the Santa Barbara County line.

Lake Casitas is a reservoir that was completed in 1959, with a capacity of 254,000 acre feet. The lake was used for canoeing and rowing events for the 1984 Summer Olympics. While swimming is not allowed in the lake because it is a water supply, boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing is indeed allowed here.

There are a lot of fun things to do in the Lake Casitas Recreation Area:

• Camping: There are over 400 campsites at Lake Casitas. More information and reservations at www.casitaswater.org/recreation/camping.

• The Casitas Water Adventure is a summer water park with a lazy river, splash pad, lagoon and aquatic play structure (removed in summer 2022 - currently under construction). www.casitaswater.org/recreation/casitas-water-adventure

• Boating and Fishing: Described above. You do need to have a fishing license if you are age 16 or older. Boat rentals, fishing licenses, bait and tackle and more is offered at the on-site Casitas Boat Rentals. casitasboatrentals.com

• Picnicking: You can enjoy picnicking and exploring at 13 different picnic areas at Lake Casitas. it’s also a nice place for bike riding. www.casitaswater.org/recreation/amenities/picnic

• Disc Golf: Coyote Point Disc Golf Course overlooks Lake Casitas and is set in rugged terrain with concrete tee pads. Free of charge. www.casitaswater.org/recreation/amenities/disc-golf

Day use hours are 6 am to 7:30 pm daily. $10 entry fee for vehicles during off season (Labor Day to Easter) and $20 on weekends during “on” season (Easter to Labor Day). Or you can be a cheapskate like me and park on Santa Ana Road and walk in. Location is 11311 Santa Ana Road, Ventura. For more information, visit www.casitaswater.org/recreation or call 805-649-2233.

Front entry to Lake Casitas Recreation Area in the summer of 2022.

Wheel Fun Rentals - Bike Rentals - Ventura

With a number of locations in Ventura and Santa Barbara, Wheel Fun Rentals provides an assortment of bicycles, quads, coupes, surreys, tag-alongs and other two to four wheel human powered vehicles for rides along the beach. They also offer a wide assortment of water vehicles...boats, surfboards, boogie boards, etc.

Santa Barbara is my favorite nearby daytime destination with the kids as there are so many things to do that we all enjoy, one of them being riding bikes along the ocean.

Nearby locations as of September 2022 are:

Oxnard- Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, 2101 Mandalay Beach Road (805.984.1994)

Oxnard - Channel Islands Marine Emporium Landing, 3600 S. Harbor Blvd (805.910.7257)

Oxnard - Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge, 2101 W. Vineyard Avenue (805.278.2200)

Port Hueneme - Holiday Inn Express, 350 E. Port Hueneme Road (805.986.5353)

Ventura - Crowne Plaza, 450 E. Harbor Blvd (805.648.2100)

Ventura Pier 850 Harbor Blvd., Ventura (805.765.5795)

Ventura State Beach Picnic Area 901 San Pedro, Ventura (805.650.7770)

Santa Barbara - Hilton Beachfront Resort 633 East Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara - Near Stearns Wharf 24 E. Mason Street (805.966.2282)

Santa Barbara Train Station 215 State Street (805.966.2282)

For more information visit www.wheelfunrentals.com or call 805.650.7770.

Ventura County Fairgrounds Swap Meet and Farmers Market on Wednesdays

There is a weekly Swap Meet and Farmers Market at Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W. Harbor Boulevard, every Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Free parking. Admission is $2. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Ventura-County-Fairgrounds-Swap-Meet-Farmers-Market-279401113415.

Surfer's Knoll Beach in Ventura

Surfer's Knoll Beach is located in Ventura adjacent from Ventura Harbor Village and as its name implies, is geared towards surfers, as well as others looking to relax and explore. Riptides are common here so be careful if you're a novice swimmer. There are restrooms and showers available. Lifeguard service on weekends only in May until Memorial Day weekend, then daily through Labor Day weekend. There is a relatively small parking lot available at 1596 Spinnaker Drive; parking is free.

One great thing about this beach is that it is one of the few almost completely westbound facing beaches throughout the area, meaning...it is a great place to catch the sunset! And several of the Channel Islands - Anacapa and Santa Cruz.

Though this is a nice, sandy beach, a better beach for kids/families is just north up the road at Harbor Cove Beach, which is calmer water, protected by jetties. 

Surfer’s Knoll Beach, Harbor Cove Beach and South Beach is managed by the Ventura Port District at venturaharbor.com/beaches.

DOZENS OF BEACHES STRETCHING FROM VENTURA TO CARPINTERIA